SSTI Digest

Minnesota’s economic future may well be rooted in its historic leadership in agricultural production, according to a new report prepared by Battelle, Agbioscience as a Development Driver: Minnesota Agbioscience Strategy. The report includes an assessment of Minnesota’s key capacities and opportunities in agricultural research and a suggested strategy for the state with a specific focus on growing the state’s agricultural bioscience (agbioscience) research infastructure. After interviewing more than 100 researchers and research administrators, the authors identified four agbioscience research platform areas to target: Microbial Agbioscience — the total global market for microbes and microbial products is projected to exceed $259 billion in 2016; Resilient, Efficient & Productive Agricultural Systems; Biobased Industrial Products — Biomaterial demand in the U.S. is forecasted to reach $4.6 billion in 2016; and, Value-Added Food and Health Products. To unlock the potential of the state’s agbiosience industry, the report highlights several recommendations that include: Creating an integrated system for multi-use facilities and…

Recent court decisions regarding high-speed Internet competition and net neutrality have put U.S. broadband competitiveness on uncertain terrain. Despite two decades of publically supported high-speed data infrastructure efforts, many rural areas still lack access and even densely populated areas remain underserved.  New statewide efforts in Kentucky, Minnesota and Iowa have been announced to improve broadband services and boost economic competitiveness. In addition, Google has announced that it will expand its ultra-fast fiber services to nine more cities across the country. Last month, a court challenge to Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) net neutrality rules ended with the rules sent back to the FCC for revision, according to a report by Ars Technica. Net neutrality rules had been put in place to prevent anti-competitive actions by communications companies, such as blocking or slowing down particular sites. Yesterday, the FCC announced that it will not challenge the decision, but will regulate anti-competitive behavior on a case-by-case basis. At the same time, Comcast’s proposed acquisition of Time Warner Cable, if approved, could…

Several common themes surrounding higher education have emerged as governors across the country unveil investment priorities for the upcoming fiscal year or biennium. In many states, governors have proposed more funding to increase affordability by freezing tuition or creating new scholarship funds. Support for expanding research capacity, technology-related infrastructure and job training in high-demand industries are some of the proposed measures aimed at competitiveness.   College Affordability Governors in several states are requesting additional funds for higher education in exchange for holding tuition steady. The FY15 budget outlined by Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal proposes new funding streams to encourage more students to attend technical schools. For example, $5 million in new lottery funds would provide additional financial assistance above what is covered by the state’s HOPE scholarship for students pursuing in-demand certificates or training programs. A new Zell Miller grant also would be established to provide full tuition for students in technical schools who maintain a 3.5 grade point average, and the state’s traditional HOPE…

The second installment of SSTI’s Tech Talkin’ Govs series includes excerpts from speeches delivered in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont and Virginia. The first installment is available here. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, State of the State Address, Jan. 14, 2014 “We must create greater opportunity for Alabamians to acquire the skills needed for higher-paying jobs. Companies are looking for and jobs are waiting for skilled workers. ... “... We will present legislation creating a Statewide Workforce Council of business and industry leaders who will advise educators and colleges on the workforce needs on the types of jobs needed in each region. “We will expand the number of Career Coaches. We will expand Dual Enrollment Programs, so that students may attend high school and a 2-year college at the same time. ... Once implemented, this program will improve high school graduation rates and increase the number of higher-skilled workers.” Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, State of the State Address, Jan. 13, 2014 "This year I am calling on the legislature…

Ted McAleer has resigned as executive director of USTAR. Also Gary Herbert has announced the appointment of former Lt. Gov. Greg Bell as chair of the USTAR Governing Authority. Bell, now president and CEO of the Utah Hospital Association, takes the place of outgoing chair Dinesh Patel. Martha Connolly has been named director of bioentrepreneurship, a new program supported by the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech) and the A. James Clark School of Engineering. Matthew Nemerson, president of the Connecticut Technology Council for the past decade announced he has taken a new position as Mayor Toni Harps’ economic development director in New Haven. Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman announced  the formation of a two-state, regional economic development organization, Advance Southwest Iowa. Mike Dellinger, who currently works with the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce, will lead Advance Southwest as its executive director. Dellinger will have an office at the Greater Omaha Chamber.

Following a national economic development trend toward regionalism, governors in Iowa and Nebraska announced a partnership to provide more investment and talent opportunities for area businesses, and increased exposure for the region. Under the multi-county collaboration, Advance Southwest Iowa will join the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership. The group plans to implement a five-year regional economic development program focused on establishing a recognized brand and image for the region, growing and recruiting businesses, and retaining a trained workforce. The partnership is funded by public and private investors throughout the region, according to a news release.  

President Obama launched the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Steering Committee “2.0.” Former SSTI board member Luis Proenza, president of The University of Akron is part of the steering committee chaired by Andrew Liveris, president, chairman, and CEO of the Dow Chemical Company, and Rafael Reif, president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mark Kittrell has been appointed the president of the Iowa Innovation Corporation. OK Gov. Mary Fallin has named Secretary of State Larry Parman as director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and secretary of commerce. Both positions require Senate confirmation. The University of Alabama at Birmingham launched the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. David Winwood, CEO of the research foundation, will be executive director of the institute, and Kathy Nugent, director of the biotechnology program at UAB, the institute’s managing director. Tim Franklin has accepted the position of associate VP for business and economic development and special advisor to the president at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. James Ruble has been named director of the Ohio…

A continued trend toward improved fiscal conditions gave rise to targeted and riskier investments in research for several states this legislative session. In particular, lawmakers dedicated funds for life sciences research and for initiatives aimed at commercialization through partnerships with higher education and the private sector. Other states dedicated additional funds to expand promising research and technology-focused initiatives already underway. Lawmakers Support Efforts to Promote Research CommercializationNew funding commitments in life sciences occurred in Connecticut and Indiana. Connecticut lawmakers approved Gov. Dan Malloy’s proposal to create a $200 million fund to spur bioscience R&D as part of a broader economic development agenda announced in his State of the State address. With the passage of SB 842, Connecticut Innovations (CI), a quasi-public venture development organization, over 10 years will provide capital to early stage companies with the goal of driving efforts toward commercialization of new businesses and products. CI also plans to focus funds toward translational research and riskier investments for helping university…

Gov. Lincoln Chafee has nominated Deputy Director William Parsons to lead the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation. Gov. Rick Perry has appointed J. Bruce Bugg, Jr. as president and chairman of the Texas Economic Development Corp. Gov.-elect Steve Bullock tapped Meg O'Leary to be the Montana Commerce Department director. Thomas McDonnell, a Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation trustee since 2003 and board chairman since 2006, has been elected CEO of the foundation. Blake Perry has been appointed as the interim president of the Arkansas Science & Technology Authority. Charlie Moret has joined TechTown as managing director, entrepreneurial programs. Previously, he served as managing director of business development at Connecticut Innovations Inc. David Oliver, professor of genetics, development and cell biology, and associate dean of the Iowa State College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has been named interim vice president of research and economic development, effective January 1, 2013.

Caren Franzini, the CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, stepped down after leading the agency for 21 years. Michele Brown, Gov. Chris Christie's appointments counsel, will take over as CEO. Karen Merrick has joined the Iowa Innovation Corporation as CEO. Merrick previously had been with the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Thomas Dann, the founder and managing director at CastleHaven Advisors, a Washington, D.C., private-equity firm, was named managing director of the Maryland Venture Fund. Baiju Shah, the president and CEO of BioEnteprise, is leaving to become the CEO of BioMotiv, a drug development company that spun out of University Hospitals. Mark Wdowik has joined the Office of the Vice President for Research at Colorado State University as an assistant vice president for Research and Industry Partnerships. Wdowik has been at CSU Ventures since 2006. Jack Brittain stepped down July 1 as vice president of technology venture development at the University of Utah. Vice president for research Tom Parks will oversee tech ventures on an interim basis. Arati Prabhakar will join the Obama administration on…

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad announced the first major initiative of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council, a public-private partnership of six regional STEM network hubs to promote STEM education and economic development. Each of the hubs will be housed at one of the state's universities or community colleges, and will coordinate local programs with businesses, nonprofits and other institutions in their regions. The six winning hub applications are available online and lay out the hubs' individual approaches to elevating the quality of STEM education and matching efforts with the needs of local employers.

SSTI's Tech Talkin' Govs series has returned for its 12th annual edition. The series highlights new and expanded TBED proposals from governors' State of the State, Budget and Inaugural addresses across the nation. The first installment includes excerpts from speeches delivered in Georgia, Iowa, New York, Kentucky, South Dakota, Vermont, and Virginia. Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, State of the State Address, Jan. 10, 2012 "... I want to announce two ambitious goals. Georgians deserve a world-class, public medical university, and it will be a priority of this administration to have a medical college among the top 50 nationally. ... "... Also within this push, the Georgia Health Sciences University will seek to become the state's second National Cancer Institute designated Cancer Center ... This designation would mean greater access to research dollars and enhance our ability to recruit top cancer specialists. "... To support this goal of a second Georgia-based Cancer Center, my budget proposal includes an investment of $5 million. ... "... Businesses require a talented workforce and strong infrastructure, but they also require a business environment that allows them to compete in…