SSTI Digest

Eric Cromwell announced he is resigning as director of technology development for the State of Tennessee. Frank Dinucci announced he will step down in April 2007 as president of Connecticut Innovations. C. Robert Eaton is resigning as president of MdBio, effective March 31, 2007, to pursue other opportunities in the private sector. Bill Goetz, chief of staff in the North Dakota Office of the Governor, has been selected to be chancellor of the North Dakota University System, beginning July 1, 2007. Oleg Kaganovich will resign as CEO of the Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance (SARTA) in June 2007, but remain a member of SARTA's board of directors.

Eric Cromwell announced he is resigning as director of technology development for the State of Tennessee.

Frank Dinucci announced he will step down in April 2007 as president of Connecticut Innovations.

C. Robert Eaton is resigning as president of MdBio, effective March 31, 2007, to pursue other opportunities in the private sector.

Bill Goetz, chief of staff in the North Dakota Office of the Governor, has been selected to be chancellor of the North Dakota University System, beginning July 1, 2007.

Oleg Kaganovich will resign as CEO of the Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance (SARTA) in June 2007, but remain a member of SARTA's board of directors.

Robert Santy is the new president and CEO of CERC, the Connecticut Economic Resource Center Inc., filling the position left vacant due to the retirement of Marty Hunt.

Peter Scott was named the director of Kettering University's new Fuel Cell and Advanced Technology Incubator.

The New York Biotechnology Association has named Nathan Tinker its executive director, replacing Karin Duncker, who resigned in 2006.

The Center for Economic Growth has selected F. Michael Tucker as its new president and CEO. Tucker replaces Kelly Lovell, who left the position in December to become president and CEO of International Business Development Group.

Coming a little late in the year to be included among our Tech Talkin’ Govs series (see Digest issues for Jan. 8, 15 and 29 and Feb. 19), Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland delivered his first State of the State Address on Mar. 14. Below are excerpts from his address calling for a $1 billion investment in alternative and renewable energy technologies over four years.   “Ohio has everything it takes to become a center of advanced energy technology. ... Next-generation energies biofuels, fuel cells, clean coal, and renewable sources such as wind offer us the opportunity to create jobs, support our farmers, reduce our dependence on foreign oil producers, and be responsible stewards of our environment.   “That's why my administration will coordinate an almost $1 billion investment in energy programs, to ensure energy will be an economic development leader in Ohio.  

More than 51,000 early-stage ventures took in $25.6 billion of angel investment in 2006, according to the 2006 Angel Market Analysis released Mar. 19 by the Center for Venture Research at the University of New Hampshire. The dollar figure reflects a 10.8 percent increase from the 2005 findings. The number of deals made in 2006 only rose 3 percent over the previous year. As a result, average deal size grew 7.5 percent.   As in 2005, healthcare services and medical devices and equipment accounted for the largest share of angel investments, with 21 percent of total angel investments in 2006, followed by software (18 percent) and biotech (18 percent). The remaining investments were approximately equally weighted across retail, financial/business products and industrial/energy sectors.   The center found the 51,000 angel investments made in 2006 helped support the creation of 201,400 new jobs in the U.S. during the year, or four jobs per angel investment. These figures, the center notes, only refer to employment at the time of investment and do not reflect anticipated growth as the ventures grow.