SSTI Digest

The Michigan Innovation Equipment Depot has distributed its first round of life science research equipment to start-ups around the state. The Depot program, developed by Pfizer, Ann Arbor SPARK, MichBio and Michigan's SmartZones, redistributes previously used life science laboratory equipment to new Michigan companies. More than $655,000 and 131 items were awarded in the inaugural round to 18 applicants. The value of this equipment ranged from $25 to $125,000 -- an average of $4,404 per item. The program is designed to accelerate life science commercialization by reducing the overhead equipment costs of new startups. In order to participate, companies must apply through their local SmartZone representatives and demonstrate a critical need for the equipment, as well as a positive economic impact for the state.

The National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science have announced a five-year, $30 million award to the Open Science Grid Consortium. The Grid is a computing environment used to share and analyze massive sets of data by harnessing the processing power for distributed computing resources from of than 50 international sites. Fifteen institutions, including 11 U.S. universities and four federal laboratories, participate in the Consortium, which will use the federal funds to make the Grid's computing power available to scientists and researchers across the country. Since 2005, when the Grid came online, the system has had a significant impact in bioinformatics, computer science, nanotechnology, nuclear science and particle physics. The Grid has proved particularly beneficial to the University of Wisconsin at Madison, which is home to the project's lead investigators. The Wisconsin team has leveraged an additional $1.2 million in federal dollars to administer the program and has made the system's computing power easily available to local scientists.

USDA Rural Development recently awarded 103 Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grants to provide improved educational and medical services to rural residents in 38 states. The DLT grants, totaling more than $25.8 million, are designed to connect communities to medical services and educational opportunities they would not otherwise have, according to Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas Dorr. Of the 103 DLT grants awarded, 57 will provide enhanced medical services and 46 will fund projects to improve access to educational opportunities. The DLT program was created to bring electronic educational resources to rural schools and improve health care delivery in rural America. Since its inception, the DLT program has funded 534 projects in 44 states and four U.S. territories totaling $171 million. The recipients of the 103 DLT grants can be found at http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/index.htm

Last Tuesday's elections resulted in the selection of 11 new governors across the country, and could lead to important changes for TBED communities in many states. Six races resulted in a change of party affiliation in the top state position, including races in Arkansas, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Ohio. All six governorships changed from Republican to Democratic administrations. This is the first time in 12 years that a majority of governors have been Democrats.   Incumbents won gubernatorial races in 25 states, and 14 governors did not face re-election this year.   But what changes are in store for the states with new leadership? Several of the governors-elect made economic development and TBED a part of their platforms throughout their candidacy. Here is a sampling of policies and programs announced by some of the governors-elect on their official websites as collected by SSTI:   Arkansas

Voters in Missouri approved, 51 percent to 49 percent, an amendment to the state constitution that will prohibit state or local governments from preventing embryonic stem cell research. The amendment also defines what type of research is permitted.   The vote comes after years of controversy in the state with frequent attempts by some state legislators to restrict the research in the state. The amendment is the first of its kind in the nation to remove the issue from the legislature and put it directly to the voters.   The amendment will accomplish the following, according to the fair ballot language on the website of the Missouri Secretary of State:

The wave that swept the Democrats into control of Congress manifested itself on the state level in the legislatures as well. Democrats took control of nine chambers, while Republicans picked up one. After Tuesday's election, the Democrats took control of the following chambers: Indiana House, Iowa House and Senate, Minnesota House, Michigan House, New Hampshire House and Senate, Oregon House, and Wisconsin Senate. Republicans picked up the Montana House. Final results are still uncertain in the Pennsylvania House, where the Democrats hoped to regain control. As of Nov. 11, press reports indicated that Democrats had won 101 seats in the Pennsylvania House, the Republicans had won 99 seats and were leading in three other races. As a result of the elections, Democrats will control both chambers in 23 legislatures, Republicans will control both in 15, and chambers will be split in 10 states. The total comes to 48 because of the uncertainty in Pennsylvania and Nebraska, which has a unicameral legislature.

Last Tuesday's election included four ballot initiatives pertaining to the issuance of bonds for capital improvement projects at higher education institutions as well as a highly watched amendment to the state constitution in Michigan to ban public institutions from utilizing affirmative action practices. All five measures passed.

Five states voted on measures that would have the effect of limiting the growth of government expenditures or taxes. Four states rejected the measures, while Arizona narrowly approved its measure.

Two states had measures on the ballot to address energy conservation and encourage alternative energy production and technology. While Washington's measure passed, California's failed.   Washington's Initiative 937 will result in targets for energy conservation and use of renewable energy resources for all electric utility companies that serve more than 25,000 customers in the state. Electric companies will required to provide 3 percent of total electricity to its retail customers from renewable resources by 2012, with that percentage eventually increasing to 15 percent of total electricity distribution by 2020.  Renewable resources include wind farms, solar panels and geothermal plants. This initiative passed 52 percent to 48 percent.  

Voters in Oklahoma approved 54 percent to 46 percent State Question 725, which was intended to provide financial assistance to "high-risk" manufacturers in the state, in order to minimize the possible loss of employment. Funds provided to each manufacturer by the state would be limited to 10 percent of the manufacturers in-state capital investment. The source in the budget for this initiative would be Oklahoma's Rainy Day Fund, which can only be accessed when the fund is at least $80 million, and annual funding would be limited to $10 million total.

The Delaware Emerging Technology Center (ETC) is seeking an individual to be the center's inaugural executive director. The ETC is a public-private partnership focused on providing services and working to tailor programs to the unique needs of technology businesses and entrepreneurs in the state. Compensation is commensurate with experience and includes an attractive incentive package. A full description of this opportunity and others is available through the SSTI Job Corner at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.

Many states are now pursuing seed and venture investment strategies to support the growth of clean energy businesses. Last month, Pennsylvania concluded a year-long series of meetings with private sector investors, financial experts, and nonprofit state energy funds and introduced a $90 million strategy to leverage public and private capital for renewable energy. The plan links economic development and environmental protection in a manner intended to promote the state as a leader in emerging clean energy industries.