SSTI Digest

Sally Bilancia was selected to replace Sally Bates as the development director in the City of Bangor, Maine.

Jeff Coney was named Northwestern University's first director of economic development.

Dr. Paul Kedrosky has joined the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation as a senior fellow.

Peter Longo was appointed president and executive director of Connecticut Innovations. Longo previously served as the organization's deputy director and acting executive director.

Hamid Ghandehari and Marc Porter, two prominent scientists in the field of nanotechnology, recently were hired by the University of Utah as part of the state's new Utah Science Technology and Research initiative. Ghandehari comes from the University of Maryland, while Porter comes from Arizona State University.

Carlos Romero, a University of New Mexico employee who previously oversaw the university's governmental affairs office, is now its associate vice president for research administration.

Frank Sabatine has been appointed to the newly created position of associate vice president of economic development and community engagement at Ball State University.

John Wilkinson was promoted to minister of research and innovation in the Ontario cabinet.

Voters in four states will consider several TBED-related measures at the polls next week, including a $3 billion cancer research proposal, state funding for stem cell research, and an R&D bond proposal to spark job creation in emerging technology sectors.   Texas Texas voters will consider 16 separate ballot items this year, including Proposition 15, a bond proposal to authorize the state to issue $300 million a year in bonds over 10 years for grants to fund scientific research at the newly created Cancer Prevention and Research Institute. Gov. Rick Perry signed HB 14 earlier this year, establishing the institute and dedicating funding of up to $3 billion, pending a voter approved constitutional amendment (see the June 27, 2007 issue of the Digest).   Opponents of the proposition argue the proposal is an unfair burden on taxpayers, citing $1.6 billion in interest that could accrue over the 10-year period, according to an article in the Austin American-Statesman.   Also appearing on the 2007 ballot is Proposition 2, a measure to allow the Texas Higher Education Coordinating…

Nearly four months into the current fiscal year, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle signed into law the biennial 2007-09 budget last week, investing in renewable energy, university R&D and expanding tax credits to attract angel and venture capital investment.   The enacted budget includes $15 million in fiscal year 2008-09 for a renewable energy grant and loan program -- about half of the governor’s recommendation (see the Feb. 19, 2007 issue of the Digest). The program authorizes the Department of Commerce to award a grant or loan to a business or researcher to fund R&D, including demonstration projects into renewable energy technologies, development of renewable energy sources and infrastructure, the commercial application of renewable energy technology sources, and construction of one or more cellulosic ethanol production plants.   The Commerce budget also includes $775,000 in FY 2007-08 to increase funding for the Wisconsin Development Fund (WDF), bringing the total funding to $23.1 million for the biennium. It also includes an amendment to the technology commercialization grant and loan program that increases the…

Earlier this month, Oregon’s University Venture Development Fund began operations, which will allow the state’s taxpayers to receive a 60 percent income tax credit on contributions that will be applied toward commercialization and entrepreneurial programs at Oregon’s eight public universities. Authorized by the state legislature, the fund will enable $14 million to be provided to the universities in aggregate, with each institution’s allocation formulated by its annual income from research grants and contracts.   The program allows individuals or corporate donors to make unrestricted gifts of cash or publicly traded stock to one or more of the selected universities. Upon university receipt of the contribution, the donor will receive a tax credit for Oregon income tax equal to 60 percent of the original donation. The credit that can be claimed by the donor in a year is 20 percent of the original contribution or $50,000 – whichever is less and does not exceed the donor’s tax liability. Any remaining income tax credits will rollover to subsequent years.   The full University Venture Development Fund program comes after the…

Many Digest stories in recent years have described the actions of states and regions to build a stronger educational foundation in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The National Science Board (NSB), the policy-making body of the National Science Foundation, released its recommendations to improve the ability of all American students to receive the necessary skills and knowledge to successfully participate in the workforce of the future. In A National Plan for Addressing the Critical Needs of the U.S. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education System, NSB describes two central challenges of equal importance that form the core of their actionable steps: (1) Ensure a coherent STEM education system throughout the entire country, and (2) ensure that U.S. students are educated by well qualified and highly effective teachers.   The report offers some perspectives on America’s lagging rankings in STEM critical thinking skills compared to other industrialized nations and includes information from the National Center for Education Statistics, which reports 30 percent of first-year college students take…