SSTI Digest

Every year, the National Science Foundation releases its Academic R&D Expenditures report, filled with statistics concerning the characteristics of research and development at U.S. colleges and universities. Using these reports, SSTI has prepared two tables detailing the funds provided by industry from 2001 to 2005 for institutions of higher education in each state and the District of Columbia. The first table displays the amount of R&D funds provided by industry for each year from 2001 to 2005, the percent change over the years, and each state’s ranking by this percent change. Over the five years, industry’s contribution to academic R&D increased by 184 percent in Rhode Island, growing from $2.28 million in 2001 to $6.34 million in 2005. South Dakota, Hawaii, Indiana, and Ohio rounded out the states with the largest increases, while 26 states witnessed decreases in funding over the five-year period. For the U.S. as whole, total R&D funding from industry to academia increased by 3.3 percent.

The business development organizations Ann Arbor SPARK and Ann Arbor IT Zone are in the process of finalizing a merger. The resulting organization will be Ann Arbor SPARK. Canada's 17 research parks have agreed to join forces, creating a formal association. Conexus Indiana, a new initiative focused on the state’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries, will be led by President and CEO Carol D’Amico, former executive vice president and chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College. Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman has named Dr. Ragula Bhaskar chairman of the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) Board. In addition, GOED has appointed Tamara Goetz as the state's new science advisor.

The business development organizations Ann Arbor SPARK and Ann Arbor IT Zone are in the process of finalizing a merger. The resulting organization will be Ann Arbor SPARK.

Canada's 17 research parks have agreed to join forces, creating a formal association.

Conexus Indiana, a new initiative focused on the state’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries, will be led by President and CEO Carol D’Amico, former executive vice president and chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College.

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman has named Dr. Ragula Bhaskar chairman of the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) Board. In addition, GOED has appointed Tamara Goetz as the state's new science advisor.

Alex Fischer, formerly Oak Ridge National Laboratory's director of technology and economic development, has been tapped as the new vice president for commercialization for Battelle.

Rick Homans announced that he will step down as executive director of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, effective July 27.

Albert Johnson Jr. is the new vice president for university advancement at Cameron University. Ronna Vanderslice also has been selected as dean of the university's School of Education and Behavioral Sciences.

Dr. Russ Lea has been named vice president for research at the University of South Alabama.

The Putnam County Development Authority (W.Va.) has appointed Heather Lewis as its new economic development project director.

Jay Moskowitz was named the first president of Health Sciences South Carolina.