SSTI Digest

Karen Sievewright is the new director of research and analysis at the Toronto Region Research Alliance. Sievewright replaces George Tolomiczenko, who left to become the executive director of research and scientific liaison at the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of Canada.

Brenda Wyland will join the Research & Technology Park Inc. at North Dakota State University as the incubator manager, effective Feb. 1, 2008.

The second installment of the Tech Talkin’ Govs series includes highlights from state-of-the-state, budget and inaugural addresses from Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia. ArizonaGov. Janet Napolitano, State-of-the-State Address, Jan. 14, 2008“Higher standards for students mean we must sustain a higher-quality corps of math and science teachers by expanding teacher loan forgiveness, scholarships, and incentives. Last year, you took a big step in this direction by providing initial funding for these incentives, and by funding more math and science teachers; I ask you to do the same this year. … “… The eighth graders of today are the high school class of 2012 – Arizona’s centennial class. I say, let’s make a contract with these Centennial Scholars, and with all the classes that follow. Let’s agree that any eighth grader who pledges to stay out of trouble and maintains at least a “B” average in high school will be guaranteed free tuition at any of our community colleges or state universities. … “… I propose…

Using one-time lottery surplus funds available for fiscal year 2008, Gov. Joe Manchin wants to invest $80 million in world-class research and specialized job training to propel the state toward a knowledge-based economy. The proposal was unveiled to lawmakers during Gov. Manchin’s State-of-the-State Address last week in conjunction with the fiscal year 2009 budget recommendation. Citing a skilled labor shortage for West Virginia companies, Gov. Manchin said that to improve the workforce, the state must target higher education and workforce development investments. The governor’s plan, dubbed “Bucks for Jobs” is twofold. First, he proposes the state create a $50 million education research trust fund modeled after Kentucky’s successful “Bucks for Brains” initiative. The state’s leading research universities – West Virginia University and Marshall University – are the proposed recipients of the endowment, which will require a dollar-for-dollar match by private donations. Funds will be used to simulate world-class R&D and attract venture capital, which will eventually lead to jobs in emerging, high tech and high-wage industries, Gov. Manchin said…

Coinciding with a plethora of state-of-the-state addresses delivered over the past week, several governors have released budget recommendations for the upcoming fiscal year. The following states’ budgets include crucial TBED investments and reductions in programs. California Upon declaring a fiscal emergency and calling a special legislative session to address the current-year budget deficit of $3.3 billion, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled his fiscal year 2008-09 budget recommendation to lawmakers alongside the proposed budget stabilization plan aimed at reducing the deficit. The proposal calls for 10 percent reductions to nearly all general fund departments and programs, boards, commissions and elected officials, with limited exceptions. Gov. Schwarzenegger’s fiscal year 2008-09 budget does include funding for the Science and Math Teacher Initiative. Under the governor’s proposal, the workload budget includes an ongoing $2.7 million for California State University and $1.1 million for the University of California to continue its efforts to address the shortage of math…

On Tuesday, the National Science Foundation (NSF) released Science & Engineering Indicators 2008, its comprehensive biennial analysis of the U.S. and international science and technology landscape. This version provides thorough details about the features of a rapidly-changing global economy, as countries continue to make investments in their knowledge-based capacity and industries.   The report provides some of the most current and succinct illustrations of how, over a relatively short period of time, China and other Asian countries have quickly ascended in economic size and international science and technology prominence. The U.S., due to its large and diversified science and technology infrastructure and industry, is holding its own when compared to the rest of the world. Japan and the E.U., however, are beginning to slip in a variety of comparative metrics. As the entire world is realizing the benefits of knowledge-intensive economies, the bar is continually rising as countries push to improve education, high-tech industrial development, and R&D advancement, the report points out.   An example of this shift…

With many states anticipating or already preparing for budget pressures, state leaders are increasingly looking for ways to increase their revenue streams. A new report from the Pew Center for the States finds that in many cases outdated state tax systems are stifling growth and failing to build a stronger tax base. Authors Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene argue that many of these systems have not been overhauled since the rise of service economy. In 2005, service industries accounted for 68 percent of U.S. gross domestic product; however, only a handful of states tax more than 80 of the 143 most common types of services. At the same time, other industries, particularly telecommunications, are subjected to a variety of taxes based on their former monopoly status.   The report focuses on the need to streamline state tax systems, expand taxes on services and limit and monitor the incentives granted to businesses. Barrett and Greene believe that "combined reporting," which forces corporate parents to combine their profits with that of their subsidiaries, could help simplify tax collection while increasing state revenues. Also, by participating in…

Yes, it could happen. Bid packets are available today. Your organization could host SSTI's 14th annual conference during the fall of 2010. More than 350 of the nation's greatest thinkers and practitioners for building tech-based economies could descend on YOUR city. Over the past 11 years, SSTI's annual conference has grown to become the nation's largest gathering of the tech-based economic development community. The 14th annual conference brings the opportunity to acknowledge the impact and growth of tech-based economic development. It is our hope that this conference will inspire even more collaboration, creativity and success across the nation. The conference host is an integral part in the preparation and success of each conference. Because of the host’s knowledge of local and regional resources, the host is asked for suggestions and advice concerning local suppliers, destinations and potential experts/speakers. Also, the host receives 40 complimentary conference registrations. Please contact, Noelle Sheets, director of membership services, at sheets @ ssti.org to request a conference bid package…

SSTI’s eighth annual Tech Talkin’ Govs series highlights new and expanded TBED proposals from governors’ state-of-the-state, budget and inaugural addresses. With mounting budget deficits spanning the nation, this year’s anticipated overarching theme is proposals aimed at mending states’ finances with less focus on the introduction of new initiatives. The first installment of the series includes excerpts from California and New York.   California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, State-of-the-State Address, Jan. 8, 2007 “California leads the nation in biotechnology ... nanotechnology ... medical technology ... information technology. And we will soon be recognized as the leader in clean technology.   “Worldwide, clean-tech investments are up by 50 percent in the first nine months alone last year… so I have asked myself, what must we do in this chamber to help fulfill this future? ...   “... Let me tell you about some of the ideas of our legislative leaders. Speaker Nunez has made research into alternative energy and transportation fuels a top priority this year. Speaker Nunez, I…

A new AAAS analysis of the disappointing federal budget for 2008 reveals Congress’s obsession with earmarks is back with a vengeance, guaranteeing that competition for the remaining federal funds for R&D will be even more fierce. While lower than 2006, earmarks consumed $4.5 billion of the federal R&D budget, scattered among 2,526 projects AAAS was able to identify. Congressional earmarks amounted to $939 million in the omnibus appropriations bill signed last month by President Bush and $3.5 billion in the Department of Defense appropriations bill enacted in November, said Kei Koizumi, head of the AAAS R&D Budget and Policy Program. "Although earmarked R&D funding declines in 2008 compared to previous years," Koizumi said, "in a tight budget environment, earmarks once again crowd out hoped-for increases in competitively awarded research programs." Koizumi's analysis found that the Department of Energy and the Department of Agriculture are the most heavily earmarked domestic R&D agencies, with nearly 10 percent of Energy’s R&D portfolio siphoned off and…

Gov. Jim Doyle announced two new initiatives focusing on investments in manufacturing R&D and increasing angel and venture capital investment to grow new businesses.   With the goal of remaining globally competitive, the governor’s new Innovate Wisconsin initiative offers tax incentives to encourage manufacturers to increase R&D. Specifically, the plan calls for new ‘Innovate’ tax credits that are given to companies who increase spending on R&D by 25 percent over their three-year average. Companies would receive a $1 tax credit for every $1 spent above this threshold, which is capped at 50 percent of its tax liability, according to the governor’s office. Additionally, the plan calls for machines and equipment used in manufacturing R&D to be exempt from sales and property tax.   Gov. Doyle also announced the creation of Accelerate Wisconsin, an initiative to encourage new start-up businesses through grants, loans and tax credits. This initiative builds upon Act 255, a measure to expand angel and seed tax credits by $5 million, which was widely debated but ultimately approved during last year’s…

With rumors of recession building, several of the nation’s governors are announcing new TBED-focused initiatives in 2008 – many of which will be presented to lawmakers for funding in the coming months. In Illinois, Gov. Rod Blagojevich unveiled two new initiatives encouraging entrepreneurship to grow high-technology businesses throughout the state.   Both initiatives focus on supporting new and serial entrepreneurs with developing and commercializing technologies. The Entrepreneurship in Residence Program (EIR) provides mentorship by pairing experienced entrepreneurs with young entrepreneurs to help them start new businesses. The Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC) will administer the program through a grant totaling $860,000 awarded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The CEC will select qualified entrepreneurs to enroll in the EIR program who, in turn, will identify promising technologies and match them with young entrepreneurs. The goal is to help them start a business and move toward a first round of financing. Each EIR-approved business is eligible to receive up to $80,000 for prototype development,…