SSTI Digest

Too many communities continue to focus on business attraction in lieu of entrepreneurial support, according to the Kauffman Foundation leadership in their 10th annual State of Entrepreneurship Address. To increase the focus on entrepreneurs, the foundation indicated it plans to help 200 communities across the country, and 200,000 entrepreneurs in these communities over the next five years, with an emphasis on the middle of country and underrepresented populations, but it did not provide specific details on how it would provide that assistance. As part of the effort, Kauffman also released a checklist highlighting barriers and breakthroughs in entrepreneurship, as well as ways individuals can help grow more inclusive and innovative local economies. In the week leading up to the address, Kauffman also introduced four indicators at the national, state, and metropolitan levels as part of its new approach to tracking early-stage entrepreneurship. The four Kauffman indicators of early-stage entrepreneurship are: Rate of new entrepreneurs: The broadest measure possible for business creation by population. Opportunity share of new entrepreneurs: The percentage of new…

The number of U.S.-trained female science, engineering, or health (SEH) doctorate holders residing and working in the U.S. has more than doubled, going  from 119,350 in 1997 to 287,250 in 2017, according to a new report from the National Science Foundation (NSF). In 1997, less than one-fourth (23 percent) of the U.S.-trained SEH doctorate holders working in the U.S. were women. Twenty years later, that number had increased to 35 percent. While these percentages demonstrate a significant increase, they show that female participation is still lagging behind women’s share of the U.S. population. In the report, the NSF researchers also examined the growth in the number of female U.S.-trained SEH doctorate holders in several broadly defined S&T occupations including: Biological, agricultural, and other life scientists – from 26,200 in 1997 to 59,150 (40.9 percent of total life scientists) in 2017; Engineers – from 4,650 in 1997 to 16,950 (15.7 percent of total engineers) in 2017; Physical and related scientists – from 9,150 in 1997 to 19,350 (23.3 percent of total physical and related scientists)in 2017; Mathematical scientists – from 3,150 in 1997 to 10,750 (28.0…

The FY 2019 federal budget was completed last week, finalizing funding for commerce, science and small business agencies. Most programs supporting innovation activities received the same funding as in FY 2018, although Regional Innovation Strategies will have $23.5 million, an increase of $2.5 million, for the current award solicitation. More details on each agency’s budget are below — SSTI members are also reminded to stay tuned to the Funding Supplement throughout the year for notices when each program’s funding opportunity is available.

As the states turn to tackling their budgets, governors are presenting their spending and revenue proposals, and SSTI continues to monitor these. Budget constraints and deficits are problems for governors in Connecticut and Illinois, and Connecticut’s governor is proposing expanding the sales tax base while focusing on loan forgiveness and clean energy. Education is on the agenda in Illinois where the governor is hoping to build prosperity through skills training and college affordability. And in New Hampshire, more money is being channeled to higher education initiatives, part of which could be funded by legalizing sports betting if the governor there gets his way. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont gave his first budget address, outlining his plan to address a looming budget deficit without raising the income tax as he promised on the campaign trail, and growing the state’s economy: “My sales tax reform would broaden the base so that digital goods are treated equally and more significantly that we are capturing a growing segment of the economy.  “Today, I’m inviting Connecticut businesses to step up and partner with me to help…

Fighting stereotypes, finding capital and scaling up are just some of the techniques outlined in a new playbook designed to bring more women in entrepreneurship roles and revitalize the U.S. economy. Elevating Women in Entrepreneurship, by Erika R. Smith and Brita Belli, published by the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA), is a playbook outlining common misconceptions surrounding women in entrepreneurship and a practical guide on overcoming obstacles and building on best practices.

For states and metropolitan areas across the country, cultivating a skilled and educated workforce is a critical part of economic development. In 2017, metropolitan areas anchored by major research universities – regions like Boulder, Ann Arbor, and Corvallis – had the highest share of adults 25+ with at least a bachelor’s degree, according to an SSTI analysis of recent census data. In a ten-year comparison of major metro areas, the share of population with at least a bachelor’s degree increased the most in Asheville (growing 6.9 percentage points to 34.1 percent), Pittsburgh (growing 6.3 percentage points to 33.5 percent), and Denver (growing 6.1 percentage points to 42.1 percent). For the purposes of this piece, “educational attainment” specifically refers to degrees at the bachelor’s level and higher (BA+). Data is based on three separate American Community Survey estimates:  The recently released 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, the 2008-2012 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, and the 2005-2007 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates. The map below shows educational attainment for…

A recent report by Breakthrough Energy, co-chaired by former Energy secretary Ernest Moniz, calls for a better policy approach to supporting clean energy. Their premise is that America has led the way in this industry, but that the way forward requires innovation on a greater scale than we have achieved before, and that this, in turn, requires better coordination of systems. The report makes recommendations for industry and all levels of government, and their proposals regarding regions should be particularly welcomed by the SSTI community. Two recommendations particularly speak to state and local activity. State and local governments can facilitate demonstration projects by easing regulatory requirements for certain types of clean energy innovations. This approach would enable more technologies to become validated — or sent back to the lab — improving the development and commercialization process in the space. The report also suggests that governments and nonprofits can also do more to leverage innovation within regional industry clusters, such as by providing incentives or facilities to encourage the acceleration of new ideas and businesses. Among…

Educating the next generation of workers, ensuring they will have the skills necessary for the jobs of the future and paying attention to the actions that will affect the climate are all on the agendas of the latest round of governors giving their state of the state and budget addresses. A focus on skills can be seen in addresses from governors in California, Maine, Michigan, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. States are also continuing with initiatives to forward attention on climate change, as reflected in Maine’s climate agenda and Michigan joining other states in the Climate Alliance. California Gov. Gavin Newsom gave his first state of the state address:  “We must map out longer-term strategies, not just for the utilities’ future, but for California’s energy future, to ensure that the cost of climate change doesn’t fall on those least able to afford it.” “California needs a comprehensive statewide strategy to uplift and upskill our workers, to ensure technological advancements in AI, blockchain, big data, are creating jobs, not destroying them, and to reform our institutions so that more workers have an ownership…

Recent research revealed that exposure to innovation (e.g., mentorship program and immersive K-12 STEM education experience) during childhood and young adulthood has a greater effect on the decision to pursue careers in innovation than financial incentives. Researchers Alexander M. Bell, Raj Chetty, and their co-authors developed a model to analyze the impact of several factors on inventor career choices. After conducting an analysis using the model, the authors predict that financial incentives, such as top income tax reductions, have limited potential to increase aggregate innovation because they only affect individuals who are exposed to innovation and have no impact on the decisions of star inventors, who matter the most for aggregate innovation. In the report, Do Tax Cuts Produce More Einsteins?, the authors contend that these results hold regardless of whether the private returns to innovation are known at the time of career choice. In contrast, initiatives intended to increase exposure to innovation may draw individuals who produce high-impact inventions into the innovation pipeline. In the study, the authors examined two types of exposure. The first type…

Late last year, the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation announced a $23.7 million investment to strengthen technology-based economic development efforts at the University of Arkansas. Additional details on this investment became clearer this week, as the university announced three subsets of its Chancellor’s Fund, which invests in strategic initiatives under the direction of the vice chancellor for research and innovation. A newly created Gap Fund will distribute up to $400,000 per year, with a focus on teams that have completed the NSF’s I-Corps training program.  The Commercialization Fund will award $1 million per year to develop university technologies with strong market potential, with typical awards between $5,000 and $50,000. The Innovation and Collaboration Fund, now in its third year, will distribute $1 million in seed money each year for interdisciplinary projects that have not previously received funding. The gift from the Walton Family Foundation will also go toward boosting student entrepreneurship programs, hiring star faculty in signature areas, and expanding industry partnerships. According to a November press release…

As the number of weather-related news stories increase, more Americans are recognizing the world’s climate is changing (see here and here, for instance). Cold temperatures and large amounts of precipitation may hold our immediate attention (we are, after all, a culture increasingly obsessed with the short-term, instant or immediate), but a larger story is unfolding that has the scientists who have studied various aspects of climate-related issues for decades increasingly using a two-word phrase that could have terrifyingly significant repercussions if, and when, we can look back to see it is truly happening. The phrase is tipping point – that moment when certain aspects fueling climate change will fuel themselves, creating feedback loops independent of our own future behavior. 

Could climate change negatively impact the defense installations important to companies and communities in your state? Chances are good that it already does. A new Department of Defense report to Congress reveals all but six of 79 mission assurance priority installations within DOD are experiencing negative climate change effects such as recurrent flooding, drought, desertification, wildfires, or thawing permafrost. Some of the installations are experiencing multiple effects.  Additionally, four of the final six are expected to see negative climate change impacts within the next 20 years, or, as the report states in “only” 20 years.     ]   Flooding is the most prevalent of the negative effects with 53 installations reporting it as a recurrent problem already. Seven more installations are considered vulnerable to flooding within the next two decades as either sea level rises or weather patterns change. One example cited to illustrate the nature of the problem is the Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia, which has seen a 14-inch rise in sea level since 1930 that is attributed to localized land subsidence and sea level…