SSTI Digest

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn recently released details about Advantage Illinois, an initiative that will provide financing and assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses. Initial funding for the initiative will be provided by the federal government through the U.S. Treasury's State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will administer the program, will use the $78 million in federal funding to spur private lending to small- and medium-sized businesses.

Advantage Illinois will incorporate four individual programs, including:

The North Carolina Innovation Fund has announced plans to support a new accelerator that would promote life science technology transfer from the state's universities. Published reports indicate that the accelerator would launch later this month and focus on companies developing biopharmaceutical therapeutics, diagnostics and medical devices. Participating startups could receive capital investment from the accelerator's associated funds. Learn more...

Innovation Works president and CEO Richard Lunak and entrepreneur and writer Sean Ammirati will explore the rapid rise of business accelerators at SSTI's 15th Annual Conference. Join us in Columbus on Nov. 8-9, 2011 to learn more about the accelerator model and hear some lessons learned from Pittsburgh's successful AlphaLab accelerator. Register today!

A recent paper from the Kauffman Foundation on women entrepreneurs finds that while women are making significant strides in advancing to high rank within corporations, several barriers are keeping them from breaking out to start their own high-growth firms.

Pointing to the untapped potential of women's contributions to the economy, the author correlates support for women's entrepreneurship with significant economic expansion and job creation. The types of high-growth firms described in the paper ideally would become prominent niche firms, creating jobs prolifically and serving global or national markets.

No longer limited to a niche group of practitioners, promoting growth through innovation and technology has achieved widespread acceptance as the key to our economic prosperity. You'll find it in blog posts and opinion pages from across the political spectrum, and in virtually every corporate or civic dialogue today on revitalizing America's economy.

A wave of new leaders at the federal and state level over the past couple of years has ushered in new ideas for sustaining economic growth that for many states is changing how science and technology-focused programs are structured and funded. Meanwhile, at the same time policymakers and practitioners are embracing the importance of supporting innovation-based companies, the already limited resources for these programs are becoming more scarce. Put simply, all of economic development is at a crossroads.

SSTI's Annual Conference is the only economic development conference this fall with the senior leaders of the Economic Development Administration (EDA), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) speaking. John Fernandez of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Sean Greene of SBA and Phillip Singerman of NIST will kick off an important dialogue among all conference attendees on how we communicate the value of investments in innovation, encourage collaboration, and adapt to changing economic and fiscal conditions. Prepare for a highly interactive session in a moderated, thought-provoking dialogue on how economic development programs at all levels are (or should be) changing as a result of today's realities. Learn more...

This year's conference will kick off with an Opening Reception hosted by TechColumbus at COSI. Attendees can experience science, technology and innovation at work through more than 300 interactive exhibitions and more than 100,000 square feet of exhibit space while reconnecting with colleagues and networking with conference attendees, speakers and our local host over drinks and hors d'oeuvres. The reception will begin Monday, Nov. 7 at 6:30 PM.

After an intense opening day of keynotes, educational sessions, exhibits and more, conference-goers will have an opportunity to relax and have some fun as networking takes center stage at SSTI's annual National Innovation Reception. The early evening affair provides the opportunity to continue conversations begun earlier in the day, visit our exhibiting sponsors and begin new relationship.

Beyond the numerous breakout sessions and insightful plenary sessions, SSTI's 15th Annual Conference offers attendeesseveral activities that other conferences typically don't offer including networking with other practitioners at some of the city's finest restaurants (Dine A-Rounds), maintaining your normal exercise regimen (a morning 5k run/walk) and sharpening your mind (morning Hatha Yoga).

This year's SSTI Annual Conference will provide attendees with many opportunities to explore the issues that drive technology-based economic development. When planning your conference experience, make sure to check out our breakout sessions, which will allow participants to focus on the topics that interest them.

Featured topics at this year's conference include:

As an SSTI conference sponsor, you have the chance to showcase your organization with the decision makers responsible for crafting and implementing local and state-level policies and programs that directly contribute to the nation's competitiveness. Today's marketplace is about belonging and staying connected. No other event brings together so many of the nation's top players in the TBED community.

SSTI believes conference sponsors deserve to stand out to attendees, so exhibits are placed prominently in a highly visible location. Only a select group of sponsors and host partners are provided with the opportunity to exhibit to avoid that trade show feel.

The conference draws on average more than 300 representatives from 39 states and 190 organizations.

As a conference sponsor you gain:

Now in its fifth year, SSTI's Excellence in TBED awards program has recognized 20 of the most effective, innovative and transferable initiatives for growing tech-based economies from across the country.

This year, six new programs will be crowned winners of this prestigious award, held as models of best practice worthy of emulation. Join your friends and colleagues for a special ceremony celebrating this outstanding achievement following our keynote speaker on Nov. 8. Our first ever recipient of the "Most Promising TBED Initiative" also will be announced.

Gain information and advice most fitting for your needs directly from the award winners during a dedicated breakout session later in the conference. Learn more...

Excellence in TBED Award Winners 2007-2010

Expanding the Research CapacityMaine Technology Asset Fund (2010)James & Esther King Biomedical Research Program (2009)Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholars® Program (2007)

You've registered for the conference; booked your travel and hotel; made sure your iPod is charged... but have you told your friends and colleagues you'll be attending SSTI's biggest event of the year?

Don't forget to RSVP and look for updates on our social media sites.

Twitter: @ssti_org or #ssti2011Facebook: ssti.orgLinkedIn: SSTI Annual Conference

This year SSTI is linking with the Ohio Early Stage Summit to offer the unique opportunity for attendees to maximize their time by attending two conferences, three receptions and endless networking opportunities in just three short days and all in the same location.

The Ohio Early Stage Summit provides an inside look at the growing ecosystem of technology companies and venture capital resources in the state. The Summit will include presentations by emerging high-potential Ohio companies seeking venture capital, an overview of Ohio venture capital and will showcase various elements of Ohio's growing entrepreneurial network. The Summit offers many opportunities to network with entrepreneurs, investors and economic development practitioners while highlighting the many reasons Ohio is a perfect place to launch and grow a technology or healthcare-based business.

The summit is sponsored by the Ohio Capital Fund and the Ohio Third Frontier Program, two critical components that are catalysts for early stage company formation and early stage as well as growth stage capital in the state.