SSTI Digest

On Jan. 18, the San Diego Union-Tribune ran a series of three interesting articles examining the biotech sector. One story considers, now that a number of local biotech firms are completing clinical trials, where will they develop their multimillion manufacturing facilities. The other two articles look at selected state and local efforts around the country to support the biotech industry, including Washington, D.C., St. Louis, and Marshfield, WI. Switching gears: As clinical trials for biotechs near completion, more companies will focus their efforts and funds on manufacturing: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/biotech/20040118-9999_mz1b18gears.html Biotech's lure: Cities and states are spending billions to emulate the success of the San Diego, San Francisco and Boston biotech clusters: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/biotech/20040119-9999-1n18biotech.html Three regions chasing biotech: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/biotech/20040119-9999-1n18regions.html Note: All three of these articles are available for a limited time in the San Diego Union-Tribune online…

Diane Wirth is new executive director of the Valley Economic Development Corp., a public-private organization for the San Jacinto Valley.

The Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance has appointed Tony Moon as its new president.

The University of Southern California (USC) will serve as the first Homeland Security Center of Excellence, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced last week. DHS anticipates providing USC with $12 million over the course of the next three years for studying risk analysis related to the economic consequences of terrorist threats and events. The first HS-Center is designed to address both the targets and means of terrorism, with emphasis on protecting critical infrastructure systems such as electrical power, transportation and telecommunications. As part of the agreement, USC will offer its expertise in natural disasters, system safety and nuclear threats. Two centers within USC's School of Engineering, the Integrated Media Systems Center and the Information Sciences Institute, also will contribute research in advanced computer modeling and cybersecurity. DHS and outside advisors reviewed more than 70 proposals to establish the first HS-Center. Other HS-Centers are planned for research and development areas such as agro-terrorism countermeasures and behavioral research on…

Does it matter whether a start-up takes money from a large venture firm or a small venture firm? According to the just-released VentureOne Deal Terms Report, the answer is a resounding yes. Using responses from executives at 269 companies that raised venture capital in 2002 and the first four months of 2003 paired with research from VentureOne, the report found that big venture firms – those with assets under management of $1 billion or more – take larger stakes in early rounds. In fact, investors in rounds led by large firms were likely to end up with 40 percent to 60 percent of a company more than half the time. In comparison, investors in deals led by small firms attained that kind of stake only 34 percent of the time. Large investors also were more likely to enforce so-called "pay-to-play" provisions — clauses that force existing venture investors to return in later financings or risk losing their stake in a company. However, the report suggests that while small firms may take smaller stakes and be less demanding of fellow investors, they are far more aggressive in getting…

The University of California, San Diego's CONNECT program will begin a search for a new director since Fred Cutler's resignation at the end of September.

In signing his state's fiscal year 2003-04 budget on August 2, California Governor Gray Davis shaved General Fund expenditures by $7 billion in an effort to address a $38.2 billion budget shortfall. Among those cuts was funding for the California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency (TTCA), the state's principal catalyst for innovation, investment and economic opportunity. Gov. Davis stated in a press release that "neither party would embrace" his original budget request, which included funding for TTCA. The approved $71.1 billion spending plan is minus $17 million to $18 million per year for the agency, to be phased out by January 1, 2004. Some of the work performed by TTCA will be carried on by the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, including management of the Small Business Loan Guarantee and Manufacturing Technology Programs. The elimination of TTCA means California will be without its lead technology-based economic development organization, the Division of Science, Technology and Innovation. Since 1999, TTCA has awarded 246 grants totaling more than $72 million through programs…

TOP Reauthorized and To Grow, Says Senate Commerce Committee The Technology Opportunities Program (TOP), a highly-competitive, merit-based grant program for stimulating digital network technologies in the U.S., might survive after all. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation adopted S. 1478 on July 31, reauthorizing the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) for four years and effectively restoring funding for TOP. Under the reauthorization act, NTIA would receive $18.9 million in 2004 and $21.2 million annually by FY 2008. TOP, which was proposed for elimination by the Bush Administration, would receive $15.9 million in FY 2004, $16.3 million in FY 2005 and $17.9 million in FY 2008. TOP awards matching grants to public and nonprofit organizations to demonstrate practical applications of telecommunications and information technologies and is managed by NTIA. To date, TOP has awarded 555 grants totaling $204.9 million and leveraging $282 million in local matching funds. Illinois Loosens Grip on $11M Fund to Eliminate Digital…

Joint Venture: Silicon Valley has named Russell Hancock as its new president and CEO.

Richard C. Atkinson, the president of the University of California system since 1995, will receive the prestigious 2003 Vannevar Bush Award from the National Science Foundation for lifetime contributions to the nation in science and technology.

Nonprofits looking for financial assistance, technology assistance or assistance in general may not need to look much further than one browser window. Two online resources, TechSoup and Gifts In Kind, offer a wide variety of tools that can help nonprofit organizations stretch tight budgets. TechSoup is a comprehensive source of technology information just for nonprofit organizations. Powered by CompuMentor, one of the nation's oldest and largest nonprofit technology assistance agencies, TechSoup.org offers nonprofits one-stop shopping for their technology needs. While TechSoup is aimed at the 650,000 small to midsize nonprofits, larger nonprofits also may find useful information. TechSoup's newest service distributes donated and discounted technology products exclusively to nonprofits. Software, hardware and other essential technology products can be ordered for a small administrative fee. This unique resource is made possible due to generous contributions from technology providers such as Microsoft, Cisco, and Symantec. In addition to having staff at CompuMentor, TechSoup has…

Perhaps in no other sector are efforts to grow an industry so dependent on a strong public-private partnership as they are for biotech and the life sciences. Most of the research funding for the field flows from the government to universities and research institutions. Industry then steps up for clinical studies and commercialization. While much that has been covered in the SSTI Weekly Digest on building bio-based economies has focused on local strategic plans and numerous state initiatives, a new paper by Anders Osthol and Johan Lembke for the Regional Innovation and Partnership Project takes a broader look at the role and construct of public-private collaborative relationships for economic development founded on life science growth. With detailed case studies of two North Carolina regions – the well established Research Triangle Park and the nascent efforts of the Piedmont Triad Region – Strategies and Partnerships for Biotech Regions offers recommendations for Sweden that are applicable throughout the Western world. The findings include: Biotech economic development is…