SSTI Digest

The most pressing question in the debate about the United States international economic competitiveness is if the U.S. is successfully pushing to maintain its competitive lead well into the future, not only the question if the U.S. is currently ahead, according to a report released today by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF). The latter concern, as related to comparative international science and technology prowess, and its implications for national security was the subject of a June 2008 report prepared by the RAND Corporation for the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense. After examining RAND's analysis, ITIF prepared its own response and says the RAND report has serious structural and analytic flaws that misread the fundamental position of U.S. science and technology. ITIFs 18-page document deconstructs RANDs positions and presents its own case of how the U.S. lead is eroding or even disappearing in certain circumstances, while in turn provoking the debate over utilizing particular input, output and outcome indicators as well as the proper timeframes of benchmark metrics. ITIF's report is built around countering the following…

We've been keeping you focused on SSTI's 12th annual conference, coming up Oct 14-16 at the Intercontinental Hotel Cleveland, but believe it or not, we're already working to ensure the 2009 and 2010 are as good or even better! On Feb. 13, we announced the 2009 conference will be hosted by KTEC, one of the oldest and most successful TBED models in the country. The event will be held in Overland Park, KS on Oct. 20-22, 2009. Today we are pleased to let our readers know 2010 will mark a first for SSTI conferences: we will be returning to the city  which hosted one of our earliest and most exciting conferences. For SSTI's 14th Annual Conference, we will be returning to Pittsburgh and the wonderfully elegant and historic Omni William Penn.  Pennsylvania's TBED community, led by the visionary and ever-creative Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development,  will be our hosts once again in 2010. Pioneers in technology-based economic development (TBED), Pennsylvania's TBED initiatives continue to thrive; the city of Pittsburgh highlights some of the best of the best. Innovation Works, the Technology Collaborative, multiple Keystone…

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have announced a four-year plan to invest approximately $70 million a year in a nationwide network of life science research centers. The Molecular Libraries Probe Production Centers Network will employ high-tech screening methods to identify molecules that can be used as probes to explore the functions of cells. This research is intended to help increase the pace of discovery in the field of chemical probes, which have become a key resource in fighting disease. The network is the second phase of the Molecular Libraries and Imaging Initiative and is part of NIH's Roadmap for Medical Research program. The Roadmap program was launched in 2004 to support initiatives that address fundamental gaps in U.S. medical research. Funding for the network will be made available through the roadmap initiative for the initial four years, and then transition to other funding sources in years five and six. The nine associated research centers will screen a library of more than 300,000 small molecules to evaluate their potential as chemical probes. Network data will be available to the public through NIH's National Library of Medicine. …

Drawing on its high-tech cluster, Provo, Utah garnered the highest score in the 2008 Best-Performing Cities Index released today by the Milken Institute and Greenstreet Real Estate Partners. The rebounding technology sector boosted several newcomers to the top 10 in the annual ranking of where America's jobs are being created and sustained. Metros that are highly dependent on resource extraction and export-intensive industries also showed success. Rounding out the top five metros are Raleigh-Cary, NC; Salt Lake City, UT; Austin-Round Rock, TX; and Huntsville, AL. The report explains that several past leading cities fell in the standings due to the national decline in housing and construction markets, and metros that remain concentrated in manufacturing continue to lag in the rankings. Rising energy prices have hindered the performance of cities where industries with high energy use are the key drivers, while benefiting those regions with significant oil and gas production and exploration activities. Strong national economic downturns in housing and construction brought down last year's top-ranked cities, with Florida and California metros -…

On a per student basis, state support for public higher education on average increased 4.2% over the four years of 2003-2006. Over the same time period, enrollment figures increased even more rapidly. The percent change in appropriations per student varies greatly among the states. SSTI has prepared a table presenting the amount of state funds appropriated to postsecondary institutions per-student (2003 to 2006) SSTI's table is available at: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/091008.htm In 2006, the most recent year enrollment values were available, the U.S. average for the state-based postsecondary appropriations per student was $5,069. In 2006, Hawaii had the highest amount, at $9,845 per student enrolled in the fall of that year. This was followed by Alaska, Connecticut, North Carolina, and Wyoming. The percent change from 2003 to 2006 varies greatly from state to state, with an increase of 39.7 percent in Nevada and a 13.2 percent decrease in West Virginia. Other states experiencing an increase of more than 18 percent during that time period were Hawaii, Alaska, Oregon, and Alabama. Current and growing pressures on state revenues and…

Complete descriptions of these opportunities and others are available at: http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm. The Kansas Bioscience Authority is seeking someone to serve as the director of Heartland BioVentures (HBV). The position is responsible for working with HBV's leadership to develop and sustain a robust pipeline of fundable bioscience companies by implementing a technical and business assistance activity following consultative evaluation of investment opportunities.  The best candidates will have substantial business development experience, a proven record of success in a start-up environment and/or investment firm, and experience working in one or more facets of the bioscience industry.  Experience working with boards of directors and/or advisors is preferred as is experience in the bioscience sector. Penn State, Office of Economic and Workforce Development, recently announced two position openings: Director Economic Engagement Initiatives. This position will engage with communities and organize University resources in support of transformative regional engagements; coordinate major statewide initiatives in economic development; facilitate…

Federal funding of academic science and engineering (S&E) R&D failed to outpace inflation for two consecutive years, according to the latest annual Survey of Research and Development Expenditures at Universities and Colleges from the National Science Foundation (NSF).  The decline in two consecutive years has never occurred before in the survey's 36-year history. The survey presents FY07 data obtained from 672 S&E degree granting universities and colleges that expend at least $150,000 in S&E R&D in the survey period. In current dollars, federally-funded academic R&D expenditure rose 1.1 percent in FY07 to $30.4 billion. After adjusting for inflation, the spending represents a 1.6 percent decline from fiscal year 2006 and a 0.2 percent decline from FY05. Not all of the news is dire. While funding for R&D from federal government continued its decline, academic S&E R&D expenditures financed by nonfederal sources rose substantially. Industry-funded expenditures grew by 11.2 percent in FY07 after three consecutive years of decline and funding by state and local governments grew by 6.1 percent. Funding from all nonfederal…

With an increased need to compete globally, the need for a highly educated workforce has taken center stage in a number of states. But with the continuing issue of college affordability, states are looking at new ways to increase the number of college graduates within their borders. In Arkansas and Ohio, recent examples of increasing college attendance are focused on efforts to expand scholarship opportunities for students. A legislatively charged task force in Arkansas recommends the state spend $95 million over the next six years to meet the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) average percentage of citizens holding a bachelor's degree. In Ohio, the state is awarding $8.5 million to colleges and nonprofit agencies with the goal of leveraging more than $90 million towards efforts to increase college participation. Details of the state plans are outlined below.  Arkansas A 15-member task force, created last year by the legislature, released its recommendations to increase the number of college graduates earlier this month. Making college more affordable through increased access to scholarships is at the center of the recommendations. In 2006, the…

Register today to be sure you receive this special rate. On Wednesday, Sept. 24, registration fees will increase by $100. Hosted by NorTech, the 2008 SSTI Annual Conference will be held at the beautiful InterContinental Hotel & Conference Center Cleveland, October 14-16. In a word, the SSTI Annual conference promises quality. For the first time, we will be offering four future-looking special sessions focused on the key TBED partners: industry, universities, service providers and government. Limited attendance further affords one the opportunity to engage in open, creative dialogue. Registration fees are kept reasonable so you can send your entire leadership team. All added up, SSTI's annual conference is the field's most stimulating and rewarding professional development investment of the year. The conference is where the latest TBED thinking and technology come alive. You won't want to miss being a part of the this year's most dynamic and influential gathering of tech-based economic development professionals. As an attendee, you have the chance to meet with the decisionmakers responsible for crafting and implementing local and state-level policies and…

This year, SSTI is providing conference attendees with the unique opportunity to take part in plenary and semi-plenary conference sessions through direct involvement and interaction with leaders in the TBED community – industry leaders, economic development directors, and university presidents to name a few. Drawing on the expertise and insights of four university leaders, SSTI will examine the challenges facing higher education. What we expect from our universities is rapidly changing – even if policymakers and politicians are not clearly stating what those expectations are. As states simultaneously fund ambitious centers of excellence while cutting core operating support, today’s environment for universities is entirely different from that of just 10 years ago. Aptly titled Universities’ Current and Future Role in Regional Innovation, this session seeks to answer the questions, where are we heading? Where should we be heading? And what does it mean for the TBED community and universities? Instant audience response and a casual interview format will allow participants to engage in forward thinking discussion on a wide array of topics…

Even in the venture capital-rich state of California during a boom period for clean energy investment, some clean energy entrepreneurs still have a hard time finding the capital resources they desire. As a result, one non-profit venture capital group, with a unique history of its own, is launching a new effort to support early-stage businesses. The California Clean Energy Fund (CalCEF) is currently helping to raise a $20 million angel fund to bridge a perceived gap in seed and start-up stage capital availability. Despite the rapid growth of clean energy investment in the past two years, CalCEF believes that early-stage investment is not yet sufficient to ensure a steady stream of high-quality investments at later stage of development. CalCEF was created in 2004 as a consequence of Pacific Gas & Electric Co.’s bankruptcy settlement negotiated with the California Public Utilities Commission. As a part of that settlement, the company agreed to contribute $30 million to support emerging clean technology energy companies. CalCEF is a non-profit entity that makes for-profit investments in clean energy companies and reinvests its profits in additional companies. The fund…

The Alberta Center for Advanced Microsystems and Nanotechnology Products (ACAMP), funded with $8 million from the provincial Alberta government and $3.5 million from the Canadian government, recently commenced operations in the Edmonton Research Park. The new program will be structured around three central components to assist commercialization in this area: packaging and assembly, product development, and marketing.   As identified in the federal government’s science and technology strategy, Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada’s Advantage (see the May 21, 2007 issue of the Digest), Alberta is poised to become a leader of Canada’s nanotechnology industry, as the province is home to Canada’s National Institute for Nanotechnology. ACAMP was developed in coordination with Alberta’s $130 million five-year nanotechnology strategy announced in 2007, which includes the goal of obtaining two percent of the world’s nanotech market by 2020.   More information on ACAMP can be found at: http://www.acamp.ca/