SSTI Digest

SSTI extends a huge “thank you” to all of the organizations partnering with us to make SSTI’s 2024 Annual Conference a success! Please take a moment now to learn more about our partners here and then be sure to visit them in person this December.   The Arizona Commerce Authority is our host partner. ACA) is the state’s leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona’s economy.   The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) has been recognized repeatedly as the world’s leading think tank for science and technology policy.   TEConomy Partners is a global leader in research, analysis and strategy for innovation-driven economic development.   EcoMap Technologies’ leading ecosystem intelligence AI software transforms the way hyperlocal information is accessed.   The UK Science & Innovation Network (SIN) is the science diplomacy team for the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology.…

The Association of University Research Parks (AURP) recognized Dan Berglund, SSTI president, with a Career Achievement Award at its International Conference earlier this month. In a press release, AURP said, "Through the course of his SSTI career, Dan’s leadership has made a significant contribution to the advancement and recognition of the innovation ecosystem, including the Innovation Advocacy Council.” In addition to the Career Achievement award, AURP presented the Outstanding Innovation District Award to Tech Port San Antonio, an innovation and technology campus and dynamic hub for aerospace, manufacturing, cybersecurity and robotics, the Innovation Award to BlueHalo's LOCUST Laser Weapon System, a laser weapon for short range air defense, the first confirmed operational deployment of a Directed Energy laser weapon by the U.S. military, the Innovation Award to Dreamscape Learn, an education company that uses VR technology that promotes STEM and other learning, and the Leadership Award to The Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation, which was founded to support specific charities in the state of Arkansas. Congratulations to all the winners.

The United States Department of the Treasury’s (Treasury) new 2022-2023 State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) 2.0 Annual Report highlights the nearly $10 billion program to enhance access to capital for small businesses, particularly those in underserved communities. Data from the participating jurisdiction’s first 18 months—from August 5, 2022 through December 31, 2023—reveals approximately $750 million expended SSBCI dollars, resulting in $3.1 billion in overall new financing, including $2.6 billion in private investments, and 46,200 jobs reported expected to be created or retained (20,600 created and 25,600 retained). These funds have supported nearly 3,900 loans or investments, with 75% of transactions directed toward underserved businesses, including 40% for minority-owned and 31% for women-owned or controlled companies. Of these transactions, the majority were part of lending programs. Loan participation programs had the largest number of total transactions at 1,295, or 33% of the total, in 2022-2023, followed by loan guarantee programs (1,032) and capital access programs (749). Overall, lending programs made up the lion’s share of total transactions, 84…

SSTI will continue the conversation about the SSBCI program at the Annual Conference. SSBCI director, Jeff Stout, will provide an update on the program in The latest on Treasury’s $10 billion investment in small businesses. The session will provide insights into Treasury's current thinking and to better understand how SSBCI might be better leveraged as a regional resource. SSBCI outreach team member Karl Fooks will moderate the session, How regions are adapting to trends in equity investment. This session will highlight how other states have been adapting to swings in private venture capital markets from all-time highs to mediocre activity, which, for many states, occurred just as they were rolling out their approaches to the SSBCI program. We’ll also discuss the implications of this volatility for designing future capital access initiatives.  Finally, SSBCI representatives will present as part of the Federal Funding Forum.

We’ve negotiated an extraordinary room rate for this year’s conference: $209 plus nominal taxes and fees at the conference venue, the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass in the Gila River Indian Community within the Phoenix, Arizona Metro Region. But our negotiated rate expires once the room block fills or after Monday, November 18. Reserve Your Room Additionally, our registration closes on December 3, so why not check both these items off your to do list and do them now? Register Now We've done all the leg work for you by locating the conference at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass! Now it’s up to you to book a comfortable, convenient, and affordable room. The property’s indoor and outdoor meeting spaces offer the perfect setting to connect with colleagues and refresh, all against a stunning desert landscape. We know you might prefer to stay at another chain where you get super-duper points, but please keep in mind that we’re able to offer three days for $495 only because of the room block. So, help SSTI and the community out and stay in our block. P.S. If you find the room block is full before November 18, email us at…

Forty-one states and Puerto Rico voted on 151 statewide ballot measures this fall. Many measures focused on abortion, citizenship, or electoral system reforms. Three measures with direct connection to innovation all were approved by voters, augmenting the strong track record tech-based economic development initiatives have when they are placed directly before voters. The three measures were for vocational-technical school scholarships in Arkansas, a $25 million R&D bond issue in Maine, and a $160.5 million higher ed facilities bond bill in Rhode Island. Voters have previously approved R&D bond measures in Maine and Rhode Island. SSTI highlights more information on those and other initiatives that could have or will impact economic development in individual states. Minimum wage increases and paid sick leave Voters in Alaska, California, Massachusetts, and Missouri decided on minimum wage increases, with voters in both Alaska and Missouri approving measures to raise the minimum wage while California and Massachusetts voters opposed their measures. Seventy-four percent of Nebraska voters approved an initiative requiring paid sick leave for employees.,…

About three-quarters of Americans (76%) say they have either a great deal (26%) or a fair amount (51%) of confidence in scientists to act in the best interests of the public, according to a new Pew Research Center report. These ratings are a slight improvement over the results of a similar Pew survey in 2023 when 73% said they had either a great deal or a fair amount of confidence in scientists, and represent a halt in decline in scientists' public image seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. (SSTI covered that survey here.) Pew based the new report on a survey of 9,593 U.S. adults conducted Oct. 21-27, 2024. The survey also asked how active scientists should be in debates on scientific issues. The responses were close to 50-50: 51% said scientists should take an active role in public policy debates about scientific issues, while 48% said they should establish scientific facts but leave the discussion to others. As for the current state of involvement, 41% said scientists do not have enough influence in policy debates, 37% said they have about the right amount of involvement, and 20% said they have too much involvement in policymaking. When scientists make…

The TBED community, similarly to research scientists, faces communication challenges with elected officials, regional stakeholders, and even their friends and family. SSTI has conducted three surveys over the last nine years to uncover problematic jargon, illuminate alternative approaches, and inform our members’ communication strategies. At the SSTI Annual Conference, we'll present the latest results from a focus group and survey that will help the community communicate better with non-TBED audiences. Learn more about the conference here.

The Wisconsin Center of Manufacturing & Productivity (WCMP) recently released its fourth annual Wisconsin Manufacturing Report, a comprehensive overview of the state's manufacturing sector. While the survey is specific to Wisconsin and manufacturing, the 58-page report will be of interest to policymakers across the country for possible replication, critical insights into concerns that manufacturers are experiencing, and guidance to manufacturers in other states to apply to their own situations. The WCMP, in collaboration with the Wisconsin Manufacturing Solutions (WMEP) and the University of Wisconsin-Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center, commissioned the survey of 400 manufacturing executives and several stakeholder focus groups across the state, with the report highlighting key issues and concerns gleaned from those interviews. These concerns included workforce, technological investments, and economic challenges. The report provides recommendations that will enable companies in Wisconsin and beyond to position themselves to navigate uncertainties and challenges successfully.   The report’s authors found that while participants noted ongoing workforce…

The Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) program is often compared to the U.S. Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program. And, like the SBIR program, ISC has faced criticism from skeptics despite metrics that show the program delivers high returns on investment. When Canada’s Budget 2023 Initiative recommended reallocating 14.1 billion Canadian dollars (CAD) in federal spending, each Ministry was tasked to identify programs that did not address the government’s top priorities. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) identified ISC as one such program. ISC’s budget of 147.6 million CAD in fiscal year 2023 was trimmed by 28.2 million CAD in 2024-25 and 70 million CAD annually thereafter. ISED has reallocated some of those dollars to target high priority industries. One other reason for the cut cited by ISED is, somewhat ironically, that many government departments have consistently failed to meet their spending obligations mandated under the ISC program (1% of R&D expenditures), resulting in significant shortfalls in funding for the program. ISC remains active and continues to support Canadian startups though the reduced funding will limit the…

NATCAST, the operator of the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) tasked with bolstering the United States' semiconductor industry, announced Albany NY and Sunnyvale CA as the locations for two major R&D facilities. The funding comes from the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, legislation aimed at revitalizing American semiconductor manufacturing and research. NATCAST selected Sunnyvale, California, as the location for the second CHIPS for America R&D flagship facility. This facility is expected to drive over $1 billion in research funding and is expected to create more than 200 direct jobs over the next decade. Semiconductor Design and EDA: The Sunnyvale facility will focus on advanced semiconductor design and electronic design automation (EDA), which are essential for developing cutting-edge chips. Innovation Hub: By concentrating research efforts in Sunnyvale, a region known for its tech industry, the facility aims to foster innovation and collaboration. Supply Chain Resilience: The facility will contribute to the resilience of the U.S. semiconductor supply chain, reducing reliance on foreign sources. NATCAST announced that the CHIPS…

While most of the country’s attention has been on the contests for control of the White House and Congress, eleven states and two territories, including Puerto Rico, held gubernatorial elections on Nov. 5. Voters in eight of those states (Delaware, Indiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Washington, and West Virginia) were choosing a new governor to replace either a term-limited incumbent or governors who chose not to seek re-election. In Montana, Utah, and Vermont, governors seeking re-election, handily won. Information on the winners and their views on economic development follows. Delaware   Democrat Matt Meyer won election as the state’s next governor on Tuesday and succeeds term-limited Gov. John Carney. As governor, Meyer pledges to create incentives for local governments to change regulations that make building housing, including rental units, difficult. He also intends to copy a Pennsylvania program that provides technical assistance and grants to startup businesses. A Meyer administration will continue to build upon Gov. Carney’s green economy, jobs, and infrastructure initiatives, including offshore wind and climate goals,…