SSTI Digest

Included within the NSF’s National Patterns of R&D Resources series is data detailing the amount of each state’s total R&D expenditures and gross state product (GSP). Total R&D is calculated by combining a state’s R&D expenditures from federal sources, colleges and universities, federally funded research and development centers, industry and other nonprofit institutions.   SSTI has prepared a table showing the total R&D expenditures divided by the GSP, the percentage of which is often called the R&D intensity, for each state and the District of Columbia from 2000 to 2004. Additionally, the chart illustrates the rank of each state’s 2004 R&D intensity, the percent change of R&D intensity over the five-year period, and the ranking of this percent change.   Leading the pack in 2004 was New Mexico, whose R&D intensity was 8.04 percent. This was followed by Maryland (6.22 percent), Massachusetts (5.11 percent), Michigan (4.56 percent) and Rhode Island (4.4 percent). For the U.S. as a whole, the percentage was 2.56 in 2004.   However, the U.S. R&D intensity…

It only seems natural that SSTI celebrate the premiere professional development event for the nation's tech-based economic development community in 2009 in a state that, for 20 years, has pioneered innovative approaches to transform regional economies -­ Kansas. SSTI's 13th annual conference and pre-conference workshops will be held at the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel on Oct. 20-22, 2009. Overland Park provides the perfect backdrop for SSTI's 13th annual conference for many reasons. Kansas has a vibrant technology and bioscience community that boasts innovative programs, such as KTEC, KTEC PIPELEINE, Kansas Bioscience Authority, and Heartland BioVentures. KTEC is in the midst of celebrating 20 years as the state’s leading technology economic development organization and has positive relationships with both the state’s universities and private sector. KTEC brings $13 million in technology entrepreneurship to the region, in addition to the $40 million in funding from the Kansas Bioscience Authority. "We are thrilled that SSTI selected Overland Park as the host site for the 2009 conference," said Tracy Taylor, president and CEO of…

A complete description of this opportunity and others is available at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm. South Dakota State University is creating a new office of technology transfer and is hiring a director to lead this new office. Some of the responsibilities for this position include working with inventors to file invention disclosures and to determine commercial potential; marketing intellectual property and managing the intellectual property protection process; developing training programs; ensuring compliance with policies and procedures relative to technology transfer and commercialization; and drafting and reviewing agreements to advance research opportunities. An MBA, MS, MA or PSM degree in an appropriate field is required.

Analysts Say Request Going NowhereThe last budget request of a lame duck administration rarely musters much attention from Congress as its focus is turned toward the next administration and, for entire the House of Representatives, its own re-election. Not one of the previous seven budgets of the Bush years has been passed on time, so no one in Washington expects this one to be the exception. Nevertheless, the fiscal year 2009 request provides the Bush Administration one final opportunity to outline how it would like to see the federal government spend its money. As in every previous budget request from the Bush White House, that doesn’t include much for economic development programs. “Highlights” for economic development programs include: Every economic development program in the Department of Agriculture is either slated for elimination or deep cuts. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) would receive only $4 million, down from $89.6 million in FY08. Grants from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) would be slashed 60 percent, dropping from $250 million to $100 million. SBA grant programs for entrepreneurial…

Four years ago, President Bush launched a nationwide initiative to increase the availability of affordable, high-speed Internet access. The Administration's Broadband Initiative, which included efforts to expand the wireless spectrum available for commercial use and new funding to support broadband research, sought to eliminate the gaps in service that existed in many areas of the country and to improve U.S. competitiveness through its broadband infrastructure. Networked Nation: Broadband in America 2007, a new report from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA), states this initiative has "to a very great degree" accomplished this mission.   External groups tracking broadband policy and use disagree with that conclusion.   Networked Nation cites an Federal Communications Commission (FCC) report from last year that found the over 99 percent of all U.S. zip codes received broadband service from at least one provider as of the end of 2006. Those zip codes encompassed more than 99 percent of the nation's population. NTIA also concluded that the Administration's…

Gov. Charlie Crist outlined several new alternative and renewable energy initiatives aimed at diversifying the state’s economy and creating high-wage jobs in his fiscal year 2008-09 budget recommendation. Many of the new proposals would be financed by tapping into the state’s budget reserves and relying on casino and lottery revenues.   The governor’s proposal invests $200 million in energy-related research and commercialization projects, along with rebates and tax credits for consumers, that build on the policy framework of the Serve to Preserve Climate Change Summit held last summer. Funding is directed to implement new research priorities for the state, including: $100 million for Green Tech Recruitment, an innovation incentive program for businesses to research and develop green technology projects; $20 million for a Renewable Energy Technology Grant Program, encouraging R&D and commercialization of alternative energy; $20 million for a Biofuels Grant Program, which provides funding for ethanol, biodiesel, biomass and the conversion of waste materials to energy; and, $10 million for the Florida Atlantic University…

Gov. Brad Henry unveiled the details of his fiscal year 2009 budget recommendation earlier this week, providing a substantial increase in funding to the state’s lead TBED agency and proposing a permanent funding mechanism for cutting-edge research through the EDGE Endowment.   Citing a sizable return on investment from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST), the governor is recommending $34.5 million for FY09 – a 54 percent increase over last year’s appropriation. OCAST is slated to receive $6 million to replace one-time funding for the Bioenergy Center – established in 2007 – and $5 million to replace seed capital funds that were diverted last year for the center (see the June 6, 2007 issue of the Digest). An additional $4 million from OCAST seed funds appropriated last year would be allocated to the Bioenergy Center in FY09 for a total of $10 million. Gov. Henry also recommends $1 million to enhance existing OCAST programs.   Funding for the state’s research endowment is accumulating at a much slower rate than expected. With only $150 million deposited into the proposed $1 billion…

Several months of debate leading into a special legislative session late last year was not enough to convince lawmakers to approve funding for two of the governor’s major TBED priorities. With the release of the fiscal year 2008-09 budget recommendation, Gov. Ed Rendell is again asserting the importance of the alternative energy legislation and the Jonas Salk Legacy Fund, urging lawmakers to quickly enact the initiatives.   The alternative energy legislation calls for an $850 million bond issue securitized by an electric power public benefits charge to fund energy independence programs (see the Feb. 12, 2007 issue of the Digest). Additionally, the governor’s budget recommends $500 million – a portion of the state’s Tobacco Settlement Fund – in seed funding for the Jonas Salk Legacy Fund for biosciences research, biotechnology commercialization and investment capital.   The governor’s recommendation for the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority Fund is nearly a $3 million less than last fiscal year. No funding is recommended for assistive technology ($500,000 decrease), telecommunications infrastructure ($6…

Measuring the strength of a state or region’s economy, particularly the elements related to tech-based economic development, is a tricky but vital tool for developing and updating TBED policies. Several challenges present themselves when deciding what information to present on the elements of the innovation system and assessing the region’s health and performance relative to appropriate surrogates.   Fortunately for the field, two states that have been leaders in using an index as a policy development tool, released reports last week which display an array of methods to analyze their own state’s relative TBED performance. Each report provides a unique perspective and can provide models for emulation and customization by other states.   Massachusetts One of the forefathers and continual innovators in design and delivery of innovation indices is the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC), which released on Feb. 1 the 11th edition of its Index of the Massachusetts Innovation Economy. The report continues to benchmark Massachusetts in 20 indicators against selected states – California, Connecticut,…

During the past two months, five reports have highlighted grim news for state budgets in fiscal year 2008, FY 2009 and beyond, brought on by declining revenues, the crisis in the housing market, increased oil prices, a potential national recession, and structure issues with state finances. In early December 2007, the National Governors Association and the National Association of State Budget Officers released The Fiscal Survey of States, which indicated that state spending is expected to grow only 4.7 percent this fiscal year and budget shortfalls are developing as rising healthcare costs put pressure on revenue and spending. In mid-December, the National Conference of State Legislatures found that states' revenue growth is slowing and deficits could reach at least $23 billion. The January State Revenue Report from the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government showed 2007 third-quarter tax revenues were down 0.6 percent over the same period last year, after adjusting for inflation, prompting governors to make mid-year budget adjustments for FY 2008. Fourth, a Center on Budget and Policy Priorities revised report released Jan. 28 found that more…

This is your opportunity to shine in the spotlight! By hosting SSTI’s 14th Annual Conference in 2010, you can increase your national and international visibility by showcasing the success of your state and/or community’s tech-based economic development efforts to thousands of TBED professionals. Letters of intent are due next week! You still have time to contact Noelle Sheets, director of membership services, at 614.901.1690 or sheets@ssti.org to request the bid packet. Some of the host benefits include: Minimal or no travel expenses incurred for conference attendees from your state. This cost savings and convenience facilitates greater participation and attendance at the conference by your key state and local decision makers and practitioners in the region's tech-based economic development community. The result can be a better understanding and stronger commitment among legislators and civic leaders to building a tech-based economy, as well as reinvigorating your program staff and board with fresh ideas, perspectives and professional development tips from peers from around the country. Opportunity to host an…

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue this month proposed a new $40 million Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) Venture Capital Fund to be fueled by $10 million from the state legislature and subsequently matched with $30 million from the private sector. Of the entire suite of GRA initiatives, this will be the first program not funded entirely by the state of Georgia.   The Venture Capital Fund will invest only in early-stage companies associated with GRA’s VentureLab program. The VentureLab program provides technology assessment, commercialization instruction and seed grants to marketable research developed at GRA’s partner universities. These partner universities are the University of Georgia, Medical College of Georgia, Emory University, Clark Atlanta University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Georgia State University.   One of the Venture Capital Fund’s goals is to provide the funding that will allow new companies to stay in the state without moving outside of Georgia to access capital. The fund’s primary targets for investment will be concentrated on technology in the life sciences, especially vaccines and anti-viral…