SSTI Digest

Four organizations were named winners of SSTI's 2010 Excellence in TBED Award, serving as national models for states and regions investing in science, technology and innovation to grow and sustain their economies and create high-paying jobs. "We're very excited to share with the country the success stories from these four organizations," said Dan Berglund, SSTI President and CEO. "Communities and regions across the nation working to transform their economies can learn from the positive results demonstrated by these organizations selected in part for their ability to be successfully replicated." Awards were presented Wed., Sept. 15 in Pittsburgh during SSTI's 14th Annual Conference, Accelerating Innovation: The Road Ahead for Technology-based Economic Development, attended by some of the nation's top economic development policymakers and practitioners. The following initiatives were named 2010 recipients of SSTI's Excellence in TBED Award: Maine Technology Asset Fund - Expanding the Research Capacity Category Managed by the Maine Technology Institute, the Maine Technology Asset Fund (MTAF) is a competitive award…

Craig Dye was named director of the Mtech VentureAccelerator Program, a fast-track, early admission program tied to Mtech's Technology Advancement Program. The Minnesota High Tech Association announced Margaret Anderson Kelliher, speaker of the Minnesota House, will assume the role of president of the Association beginning in January after she leaves public office. Matthew Portnoy of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences will serve as acting SBIR/STTR coordinator for the National Institutes of Health. Sheri Stickley is president & CEO of the Oklahoma Bioscience Association. Ms. Stickley previously served as Deputy Director for Strategic Planning & Initiatives at Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Former Kentucky Commerce Cabinet Secretary George Ward was named executive director of the University of Kentucky Coldstream Research Campus. LifeScience Alley and BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota, two of the state's largest science organizations, have announced a strategic affiliation aligning goals, strategy and function under one CEO with a shared goal of strengthening the regional economy by assisting in the growth of…

Job Corneri2E has three new career opportunities available in their Oklahoma City office. These positions are designed to work directly with entrepreneurs and grow the support infrastructure of early stage companies in the region. The positions include: Executive Advisor - markets and manages the delivery of commercialization services to new, early stage advanced technology companies. Concept Investments Manager - to coordinate our pre-seed and proof-of-concept initiatives that provide critical funding to some of Oklahoma's most promising technology-based startups. SeedStep Angel Coordinator - to promote and maintain active Angel Group membership and positive investment activity.   Read more job postings

The Oklahoma Center for Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) will remain a stand-alone entity after a proposal by Gov. Brad Henry to consolidate the agency within the Department of Commerce failed to win legislative approval. OCAST provides funding and resources to help businesses develop and commercialize technologies. The agency is slated to receive $19.15 million in FY11, a 6 percent reduction from the previous year. In a separate bill, the Oklahoma Seed Capital Fund, which provides seed and start-up stage equity financing to small, technology-based Oklahoma companies, would receive $4.3 million from the OCAST appropriation. The fund is managed by i2E under contract to OCAST. The Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority is slated to receive $424,289 in FY11, down from $493,215 approved for the authority last year. A proposal floated by Gov. Henry to create a permanent funding source for the Oklahoma Economic Development Generating Excellence (EDGE) initiative was not included in legislation this session. The FY11 budget approved by the legislature fills a $1.2 billion shortfall through agency cuts, reserve and stimulus funds, and cost…

The fourth installment of SSTI's Tech Talkin' Govs series includes excerpts from speeches delivered in Alaska, Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, and Oklahoma. The first three installments are available in the Jan 13, Jan. 20 and Jan. 27 Digests. Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell, State of the State Address, Jan. 20, 2010 "We will create even more jobs by funding construction of two new statewide buildings, the Anchorage crime lab I mentioned earlier and we will construct the Life Sciences building at [the University of Alaska, Fairbanks]. … "… Where energy is concerned, we will continue reducing dependency on diesel across Alaska. And we are putting $25 million toward more in-state renewable energy projects. … "… With the Governor's Performance Scholarship proposal, all Alaskan high school students can earn tuition for an in-state university or job-training program. They must complete a more rigorous curriculum than what's now required to graduate from high school. Four years each of math, science, and English and three years of social studies. But for students who take this curriculum, better…

The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) is among a list of 16 state agencies slated for consolidation in Gov. Brad Henry's budget proposal, which he says will result in cost savings of $5.3 million. Under the proposal, OCAST would be moved to the Department of Commerce, along with Aeronautics, Indian Affairs and the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority. Funding for OCAST would be reduced by 3 percent, for a total $19.8 million in FY11. OCAST provides funding and resources to help businesses develop and commercialize technologies. The Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority would receive $442,538 in FY11, also a 3 percent reduction. In partnership with the private sector, the Authority establishes new aerospace industries and enhances existing aerospace industries to retain high-tech jobs. In his State of the State Address last week, Gov. Henry urged lawmakers to provide a permanent funding source for the Economic Development Generating Excellence (EDGE) initiative, a proposal that has failed to garner legislative support the past two years (see the Aug. 12, 2009 issue of the Digest). Established in 2003, the…

Over the past few months, several states have enacted spending plans for the upcoming fiscal year and passed legislation to support renewable energy initiatives and tax credits for R&D. While some TBED programs will face dramatic cuts in FY10, others are slated for slight decreases or will receive level funding. The following synopsis provides an overview of the 2009 legislative sessions across the following states: Massachusetts Lawmakers rejected Gov. Deval Patrick's amendment to the state budget aimed at securing funding for the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) in the upcoming year. Although the enacted budget includes $10 million for grants, loans and investments through the MLSC, the appropriation is contingent on a consolidated net surplus for FY09, which currently reflects a zero balance, according to the state's projected financial statement released on June 29. Shortly after the budget was passed, Gov. Patrick asked the legislature to provide $20 million for MLSC outside of the surplus. The legislature rejected the Governor's proposal, and as a result, the original language in the budget was signed into law, meaning MLSC is unlikely to…

In a period of tightening budgets, it is important for stakeholders to know that the investments they are making in tech-based economic development are yielding positive economic results - and returning revenue to the state. Recent impact assessments to examine comprehensive TBED programs in three states show how smart these investments have been. More telling, different evaluation models were used in all three states and they each reached similar conclusions: strategic TBED investments can stimulate economic growth. Pennsylvania A review of the initiatives of Pennsylvania's Ben Franklin Technology Partners (BFTP) program from the period of 2002 to 2006 concluded the state's investment of $140 million, dispersed to more than 500 companies and institutions, has yielded $517 million in state tax receipts - roughly a return 3.5 times greater than the amount spent from state coffers. The values in the assessment by the Pennsylvania Economic League are based on an economic model that includes direct spending by BFTP client firms, indirect spending as a result of BFTP, and induced spending of goods and services by affected employees. Along with using data…

Status of some of the major legislation in the 2009 session of the 52nd Oklahoma Legislature as of Feb. 6: SB 1 by Gumm NICK'S LAW: Would mandate coverage by private health insurers of the diagnosis and treatment of autism. Referred to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee. SB 59 by Rice VETERANS INSURANCE: Would make some uninsured veterans eligible for a state premium assistance insurance program. Passed by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, sent to full Senate. SB 255 by Ivester VETERANS TUITION: Would waive tuition expenses for Oklahoma veterans attending Oklahoma colleges and universities. Passed by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, sent to full Senate. SB 291 by TEACHER SALARIES: Would give state teachers pay raises of $9,000 over a three-year period. Passed by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, sent to full Senate. SB 315 by Mazzei INCOME TAX: Would delete the 4 percent trigger in revenue growth needed to reduce the state income tax from 5.5 percent to 5.25 percent. Passed by the Senate Finance…

The fifth installment of the Tech Talkin' Govs series includes highlights from state of the state, budget and inaugural addresses from governors in Alabama, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Utah. Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, State of the State Address, Feb. 3, 2009 "And let's make Alabama more competitive with other states for higher paying jobs. Our current incentives focus almost entirely on manufacturing, and Alabama will continue to be aggressive in the pursuit of those jobs. But in today's economy we need a more balanced approach. One that makes more industries eligible for our economic incentives: knowledge-based industries that typically pay higher wages like research and development facilities, corporate headquarters and other entrepreneurial ventures. . ". As we seek to lessen our dependence on foreign oil, there are many companies working to create new and cheaper forms of energy right here in America. These companies also create 21st century jobs that are here to stay. But Alabama doesn't provide tax incentives to these companies. So our recovery plan makes sure Alabama will be a leader in the emerging green economy. .…

Gov. Jim Douglas plans to merge the Vermont Departments of Economic Development and Housing and Community Affairs. Douglas's deputy chief of staff Betsy Bishop was appointed commissioner of the Department of Economic Development. She replaces Mike Quinn, who stepped down after serving six years in the position. Linda Brander resigns as program manager of the Montana Technology Innovation Partnership Program to begin a new job as the Restoration Coordinator at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. John Collar has been named Executive Director of the Colorado BioScience Association. The Tech Council of Maryland has announced that chief executive office Julie Conns is resigning her post. Matt Dugener resigned from the LEAP (Lansing Economic Area Partnership). Denyse Ferguson, Executive Vice President, has agreed to serve as the interim president. Governor Brad Henry of Oklahoma has been elected chairman of the Southern Growth Policies Board. Saul Kaplan resigned as the executive director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation. Kelsey Kohler has left her position as executive director of the…

Armed with professional advice from mentors in scientific fields and free access to sophisticated design and engineering software, teachers and students from Hawaii, Kansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Vermont and Virginia will participate in a national competition to solve a real-world engineering challenge defined by the aviation industry.   The idea behind the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Real World Design Challenge is to create a pipeline of highly qualified workers by preparing high school students for careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields based on issues facing high-tech and defense industries.   Ralph Coppola, director of Worldwide Education for Parametric Technology Corporation, said many aerospace and defense companies that work as contractors to national security agencies are concerned the U.S. is not producing enough qualified workers who must be able to work on both the defense and commercial side. A survey conducted with these companies in the Northeast found 54 percent of the workforce is 45 years or older and one-third are eligible for retirement today. At the same time, engineering…