SSTI Digest

David Archer is the new managing director for Nevada's Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology.

Bob Shriver recently resigned as director of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development. Tim Rubald, the commission's director of business development, has been named interim director.

The biopharmaceutical industry is poised to become an important source of economic growth in regions that are successful in nurturing it, according to a recent report from the Milken Institute. With so many states and communities focusing significant financial resources toward developing bio-based economies, the industry analysis is likely to be welcome news. Biopharmaceutical Industry Contributions to State and U.S. Economics demonstrates the strong economic impact that the biopharmaceutical industry already has on state and U.S. economies. In addition, the report includes 10-year projections that maintain the total employment impact by 2014 will increase to more than 3.6 million and real output will reach $305.1 billion -- assuming government policies continue to encourage basic and applied R&D in the biopharmaceutical field. The report contends growth in the sector will not be evenly distributed across the country, however, and provides a state-by-state analysis of the industry’s economic impact in four main areas, including industry geographic location and performance, innovation…

Citing the goals of expanding its impact and stabilizing funding, the member-based TechAlliance has given up its political independence to become a nonprofit agency under the auspices of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development. With the change comes a new name for the 4-year-old entity, which had served the Reno area from its Carson City offices — the Nevada Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (CET). Alison Estee, retaining the title of executive director, will gain a new boss as she now reports to the director of the state’s lead economic development agency. The Commission also will appoint a statewide advisory board for the new center. The economy has taken its toll on a number of technology councils around the country, forcing some to lay off paid staff, merge with other councils, broaden their focus beyond a single technology sector, or cease operations altogether. Maintaining a regional council during the persistent economic downturn with only a young and emerging technology sector to draw from presents formidable challenges, as the TechAlliance discovered. The Reno…

Christopher Hagen is serving as Nevada’s Science & Technology Advisor for the next 18 months. The position will be completely funded by Bechtel Nevada, Mr. Hagen’s employer of 22 years.