SSTI Digest

Two candidates vying for Georgia governor unveiled proposals to create technology jobs and invest in biomedical R&D. Democratic nominee Roy Barnes would expand the scope of the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) to build on programs that accelerate technology transfer. Barnes credited the organization with a 20-year track record of helping create high-value companies based on university research. Republican nominee Nathan Deal would expand access to capital for biotechnology startups and create a Certified Capital Company (CAPCO) program to help fuel R&D. Georgia's current governor, Sonny Perdue, is term-limited in 2010. Both candidates offer job plans that aim to advance the state's position as a leader in the biotechnology industry.

Roy Barnes (D)

Roy Barnes, who served one-term as Georgia's governor from 1999 to 2003, announced last month proposals to strengthen the state's technology and biomedical infrastructure as part of a comprehensive jobs plan that also includes capital access programs for small businesses and a manufacturing supply chain initiative to support industry clusters within the state.

Recent graduates and grad students will have access to new resources aimed at helping them launch high-tech businesses and commercialize new technologies under the Government of Canada's new Scientists and Engineers in Business Initiative. The program will award $50 million over four years to nonprofit organizations, including postsecondary institutions, to provide business skills development, such as training workshops, and seed financing or advisory support services to entrepreneurs pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics endeavors. The idea is to improve the success rate of startup companies in southern Ontario by helping entrepreneurs develop business and management skills. Read the press announcement.

California's green economy remains strong through the Great Recession, according to a new report — the 2010 California Green Innovation Index. The yearly report published by Next 10 provides dashboard of indicators that track changes over time. This year's report indicates that California's clean tech companies continue to attract venture capital (VC) investments, the state leads the nation in clean tech patents and green manufacturing has grown. In many parts of the green economy, the state leads the nation (e.g., energy productivity, energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, clean tech patents) and the globe (e.g., venture capital).

Brookings' researchers contend that the U.S. region worst hit by the Great Recession has the potential to spearhead the U.S. towards a Next Economy. The Next Economy: Economic Recovery and Transformation in the Great Lakes Region provides a roadmap for federal, state and local stakeholders to transition the Rust Belt into a forward thinking economy. It replaces the old economy, which was driven by highly-leveraged, domestic consumption, with an export-oriented Next Economy powered by a low-carbon energy strategy and driven by innovation that benefits all Americans.

The report outlines the many resources that can position the Great Lakes region as an economic leader. They include:

Global trade networks: Many of region's cities rank among the top cities in terms of the share of their metro output that is exported;

Clean energy/low carbon capacity: Their blue-green potential due to the Great Lakes, waterways and abundant natural wind/solar resources position the region well in renewable energy generation; and

TechColumbus is seeking a director of Information Technology Commercialization responsible for the business development of TechColumbus client companies, including assessment, evaluation and organized assistance to Information Technology/Computer Science client companies, with emphasis on proactive advising and guidance resulting in company success and wealth creation. The director also is responsible for the assessment, evaluation and recommendation of Information Technology prospects to engage as future clients for the TechColumbus commercialization process, as well as the preparation of required reports, documents and presentations on behalf of TechColumbus, the state of Ohio, stakeholders, and as needed. Essential activities and tasks include coaching and mentoring incubator and non-incubator clients, recruiting and screening incubator client companies, collaborating on the submission of and providing input to grant proposals and financial reports, community outreach and networking on behalf of TechColumbus.

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.

With input from industry leaders in life sciences and tech-based organizations, a group convened by Gov. Jay Nixon is tasked with identifying a vision and mission to transform the state's economy within five years targeting high-growth industries. By the end of the year, the group hopes to identify six to eight key initiatives most likely to impact the economy. Tech-based components will be critical to the plan, with details forthcoming.

The Missouri Strategic Initiative for Economic Growth enlists the leadership of a 40-member task force that includes representatives from business, labor, higher education, and economic development agencies. Representatives from the life sciences sector include Kelly Gillespie, Executive Director of Missouri Biotechnology Association, Don Rubin, Executive Director of the Coaliton for Plant and Life Sciences, and Daniel Getman, President of Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute. Over the next six months, the group will gather and analyze data and provide input and recommendations on proposed strategies and tactical action plans.

The Obama administration's vision for the future of innovation and economic growth includes a commitment to the green energy sector. At the SSTI Annual Conference, held September 14-16 in Pittsburgh, you will be able to talk with officials from federal agencies and other experts who will provide insight into the administration's vision and enable you to capitalize on the increasing federal opportunities. This is an invaluable opportunity to strengthen your understanding of federal opportunities and forge closer relationships with key federal agencies for supporting state and local TBED initiative. To learn more about strengthening your relationship with federal agencies visit: http://www.ssticonference.org/

The Department of Energy will be accepting applications for projects that manufacture commercial renewable energy systems and components (e.g., energy storage systems, wind turbine systems, blades or solar photovoltaic components) through a new $750 million loan guarantee program. Energy Secretary Steven Chu believes the Commercial Technology Manufacturing Systems and Components solicitation will help to increase employment in the green manufacturing sector and keep U.S. green manufactures competitive in the global market. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through Section 1705 of the Loan Guarantee Program will support this solicitation. Read more about the program ...

Nancy L. Zimpher, the Chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), believes that SUNY campuses statewide can become "the engine of New York's economic revitalization."Chancellor Zimpher's vision of economic development fueled by higher education is supported by a recent report from the Rockefeller institute of Government. The report describes a new paradigm of economic development in which university-driven economic development will replace the traditional mix of business attraction and retention incentives. The report lists five essential elements that must be leveraged for universities to become engines of economic revitalization. New "Technology Transfer" hubs at SUNY's five campuses are among SUNY's efforts.

"Trends [in higher education] suggest a new paradigm for economic development programs — one that puts higher education at the center of states' efforts to succeed in the knowledge economy" according to the Rockefeller report. The authors found these common trends among universities across the country:

"Tapping the Technology Innovation Program and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership" On September 14th from 9:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M., SSTI is co-hosting a regional meeting with officials from the Technology Innovation Program (TIP) and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) that we encourage you or one of your colleagues to attend. TIP and MEP are two of the most market-driven programs offered by the federal government. The meeting will give you a chance to learn directly from officials with the two programs about: New federal funding opportunities; New resources to support early stage research; New products and services to expand manufacturing; New tools to help foster growth and innovation in companies you work with; New models to accelerate technology commercialization and translation; and, New ideas about ways to integrate state, local, and federal investments.

Who should attend?

President Barack Obama has authorized the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to spend an additional $129 million of the fees it will collect this year to improve operations and hire new patent examiners. The newly authorized funds represent fee collections that exceed earlier projections for the year, due to an improving economy and a streamlined review process. Despite that bump in productivity, a recent survey of the U.S. patent system found that entrepreneurs believe that the system is merely "muddling through" and does little to encourage innovation. The survey identifies the cost and delays associated with patenting as the primary reason entrepreneurs choose not to patent new technologies.