SSTI Digest

Since the pandemic, those working on local prosperity through the nexus of science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship—the four cornerstones of SSTI’s mission—have seen the largest investment yet by the federal government to catalyze and support their work. It awakened teams of organizations across the country in virtually every city, institution of higher education or region to start or improve innovation-centered economic development strategies. SSTI timed its 2024 annual conference for December 10-12 quite intentionally to talk after the election. We need to talk. The TBED and regional innovation community across the country needs an ideal setting: to gather from every state—we’re still a month out from the conference, and we already have participants from 40+ states and territories representing a broad swath of the various contributors to healthy innovation systems; to share common practices, learnings, and successful outcomes from past efforts; to uplift fresh ideas and revisit the messaging of your purpose to educate newly elected leaders and to appeal to a broader pool of potential stakeholders; and, to mentally…

As SSTI reported earlier this fall in its series of articles on higher education, college tuition and student loan debt are rising. In a recent report from the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL)—the first such comprehensive report from that body since they convened the Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education in 2006—a task force comprised of 29 legislators and four legislative staff from 32 states concluded that increased federal efforts to address these tuition and loan issues "quietly expanded the federal footprint in higher education," and so now calls for a rebalancing of the state-federal relationship regarding higher education. They propose a national strategy for the federal government, states, and higher education institutions to improve the public perception of higher education. The task force laid out bipartisan recommendations in its report. These recommendations are framed as actions that higher education institutions, states, and the federal government should consider. They emphasize in the report that, ultimately, higher education institutions are most responsible for ensuring the value of higher education. Some of the recommended…

When Tennessee reported on its first cohort of students after implementing Tennessee Promise, the nation’s first statewide free community college effort, SSTI reported on the program’s impressive early results. The graduation rate had increased over the previous year’s non-Promise cohort, and overall, 3,257 students in the 2015 cohort earned a degree or certificate within five semesters, an 82% increase over the pre-Promise 2014 group. Earlier this year, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) marked the program’s 10-year milestone, announcing over 150,000 enrolled students and $207 million in funding since its inception in 2014. tnAchieves, which implements Tennessee Promise, along with College Promise, a nonprofit that advocates for making college free, recently released a report, Preparing Tennessee Students for College, Career, and the Future, also marking the 10th anniversary of the program. They noted in the report that providing free tuition is not enough for all students. Consistent student engagement in their tnAchieves COMPLETE coaching program, which they designed for Tennessee Promise students with high levels of financial need, led to higher…

The European Union is engaged in a debate about changing its systems for R&D funding, the first potentially significant changes since its current framework program began in 1984. A group of 15 individuals from research and industry selected by the European Commission last year has submitted a report, Align, act, accelerate, which gives recommendations for overhauling the system. These recommendations are aimed at the remaining three years of Funding Program 9 (FP9)—Horizon Europe (2025-2027) and preparing for the next European Research and Innovation Framework Programme, FP 10 (2028-2034). The report notes that changes are in order now, especially considering the decline in Europe’s global importance in research, innovation, and technology. The report acknowledges various weaknesses of research, development, and innovation (RD&I) in the current EU system, including: The EU stands third behind China and the U.S. as measured by the top 1% of most-cited publications worldwide and, over the past two decades, the EU's contribution to global scientific publications has dropped from 25.5% in 2000 to 18.1% in 2022; From 2005 until 2015, the EU was leading the…

The U.S. National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program announced that 71 teams are advancing to the next stage of the second NSF Engines competition. Of the 71 teams invited to submit full proposals to the NSF Engines program, 23—or nearly one-third—are led by nonacademic organizations; 13 are led by organizations new to NSF funding; 23 are led by organizations located in NSF Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) jurisdictions; and nine are led by a minority-serving institution. In addition, nearly half of the teams received an NSF Engines Development Award. These 71 teams are expected to submit full proposals by February 2025. This solicitation is consistent with NSF’s FY2025 budget request; however, NSF’s ability to make new NSF Engines awards will be based on pending congressional appropriations. According to the NSF announcement, the NSF Engines program aims to foster cross-sector connections. Nonprofits, foundations, state and local governments, tribal nations, community organizations, and investors have all expressed interest in connecting with emerging NSF Engines. By publishing the 71 invited teams…

Whether one calls them transformational or disruptive, challenging or exciting, topics like generative AI, Big Tech, climate change, and geopolitical/economic issues will have significant influences on the future focus and efforts of every organization employing readers of this newsletter. There hasn’t been a forum for the field to talk about all of it openly and honestly—until December, that is.  SSTI is quite excited to announce one of the most important conversations on the future of regional innovation policy and practice will be taking place at our Annual Conference when we get to eavesdrop on a conversation among two well-known, widely respected and acknowledged experts on global innovation policy and technology-based economic development. There is no hyperbole in that previous paragraph. On the morning of December 11, Rob Atkinson, president and founder of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), will sit down with Deborah (Deb) Cummings, principal and managing director of TEConomy Partners LLC, to explore the conclusions drawn and implications of a select group of “myths” included in Rob’s newest book, Technology Fears and…

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awarded $33.5 million to 12 collaborative, multi-state projects designed to drive large-scale economic transformation. Funded through ARC’s Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE), these projects bring together more than 145 partners across all 13 Appalachian states to strengthen workforce and educational opportunities, infrastructure, and entrepreneurship. Four of the 12 awards have direct ties to innovation and tech-based economic development. Among the recipients are:  DRIVE received $189,720 to evaluate the viability of establishing a multi-state network of rural incubators to provide resources to support and grow small businesses in rural areas in six Appalachian states. DRIVE and partners bring a combined $138,289 in matching funds. Click here to see their project snapshot. Tennessee Tech University received $500,000 to develop a plan to establish an Appalachian quantum network (AQN). They plan to conduct a feasibility study, expand partnerships, design a workforce development plan, and develop a business plan. Tennessee Tech University and partners Virginia…

A new White House national security memo (NSM) builds on last year’s Executive Order on AI and calls for the U.S. government to act quickly to the use of AI capabilities in service of national security. It also specifies actions to improve the security and diversity of chip supply chains, among other directives. The NSM states, “If the United States government does not act with responsible speed and in partnership with industry, civil society, and academia to make use of AI capabilities in service of the national security mission—and to ensure the safety, security, and trustworthiness of American AI innovation writ large—it risks losing ground to strategic competitors.” The NSM specifies these actions: Prepare an analysis of the AI talent market in the U.S. and overseas (within 180 days), Coordinate an economic assessment of the relative competitive advantage of the U.S. private sector AI ecosystem, the key sources of the U.S. private sector’s competitive advantage, and possible risks to that position, and recommend policies to mitigate them (within 180 days), and Convene appropriate executive departments and agencies to explore actions for prioritizing…

Manufacturing industries accounted for approximately $372 billion, or 54%, of all domestic business enterprise R&D (BERD) expenditures in 2022, up 36% from $274 billion in 2018. Despite this increase of nearly $100 billion over the past five years, the share of BERD expenditures in manufacturing industries has decreased eight percentage points from its 2018 value of 62%. Meanwhile, companies in nonmanufacturing industries captured by the BERD survey outpaced their counterpart’s growth, having increased $152 billion, or 91%, over the same period, leading to an eight percentage point increase in share of total—from 38% to 46%. By sector, BERD expenditures can be broken down into two major categories—manufacturing and nonmanufacturing—and then further by industry. This article will explore how the proportion of manufacturing and nonmanufacturing BERD has changed over the past five years of available data since 2018, diving into the various sectors and industries captured by the survey. The data used in this article are all available from the BERD survey, and cover funds spent for business R&D performed in the U.S. only, for 2018 and 2022. Due to differences…

Congress authorized $10 billion over five years for regional tech hubs to improve America’s competitiveness and regional economies. To date, Congress has appropriated only $541 million for the program—just 5% of the authorized level—of which a $459 million downpayment was provided though the FY 2023 disaster supplemental. SSTI is working with other technology and innovation organizations to encourage Congress to act and fund the program through annual appropriations, supplemental funding, and the proceeds of spectrum auctions—a new means that would be made possible by the Senate’s Spectrum and National Security Act. If you represent or participated in one of the 370 regions that applied originally or want to compete for funding in future solicitations, sign on to a joint letter by November 12. The letter can be found here with the form to sign here. The $541 million provided to date was just enough for the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to launch the initial program. Consortia representing 370 regions applied, from which EDA designated 31 as Regional Tech Hubs in 2023. The agency is now in the process of finalizing implementation awards to 12…

Last week, as the SSTI Board considered the year that is ahead, the Board asked Dan Berglund to reconsider his decision from earlier in the year to step down. While the election results are uncertain, one certainty now is there will be a change in presidential administration. The Board felt it was important for the field for Berglund to guide the organization through one more presidential transition-- this will now be his fifth. Presidential transitions and possible changes in party control of the House and Senate represent windows of opportunity for our field-- to explain what we do, the impact we're having and the resources needed to have greater impact. “I see the potential impact we can have and am excited about the opportunity this next year presents. To best achieve that impact, we're splitting the President & CEO role into two positions,” said Berglund. As President, Berglund will continue to lead SSTI as he has since its founding in 1996. He will also be the staff lead for SSTI’s Innovation Advocacy Council. The new position of CEO is being filled by SSTI's long-time second-in-command, Mark Skinner. Skinner will report to Berglund…

Growing your local or state economy through innovation and technology-based economic development most often feels like a full-sprint ultramarathon. It doesn't help that so many external influences on how you do your job seem to change the rules and landscape thrown at you all the time. Take Nov 5, for example. You need a break! But you also need time to pause, think, and strategize with your teammates for the coming year. There is a way to achieve both simultaneously, and I love it! More... SSTI's annual conference, December 10-12, is set within the beautiful property of the Gila River Indian Community at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass. The conference component of your trip is designed with a focus on the future, allowing you and your team to interact with like-minded people from across the country, taking the time to prepare for 2025 and all it might entail--together. The desert setting also provides an escape from your day-to-day grind to take in inspiration, relax, refresh and re-energize.  Affordably priced, easily accessible from most airports in the country, and heavily discounted beautiful resort accommodations--all…