SSTI Digest

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm has announced the first round of awards from the states new 21st Century Jobs Fund initiative. Totaling more than $100 million, these awards will support applied research and later-stage commercialization of promising new technologies developed at Michigan's public and private research centers. The inaugural round of 61 awards is expected to create more than 3,000 new in-state jobs and to fuel new business development in the life sciences, alternative energy, homeland security, and advanced automotive technologies. The Fund is managed by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), which operates as a partnership between the state, private companies and local communities. Approximately $800 million of the $2 billion fund overseen by MEDC will directly support the commercialization of new technologies over the next 10 years. The current round of awards includes: Life Sciences 25 awards $45.7 million Alternative Energy 4 awards $8.9 million Advanced Automotive Materials & Manufacturing…

TBED agencies in two northwest states have released proactive wish lists for state TBED investment in their respective 2007 legislative sessions. Idaho In a Sept. 12 teleconference, Idaho Gov. Jim Risch's Science and Technology Advisory Council agreed upon a $38.8 million package to attract and grow new technology businesses, as well as a tax credit program to encourage private investment in high-tech companies. According to an article in The Idaho Statesman, the council's recommendations include: $25 million to update public and private high-tech infrastructure; $10 million for a second round of matching grants to private companies extending broadband Internet availability in rural parts of the state; $2 million for a Technology Marketing Fund to showcase Idaho's research accomplishments; $300,000 to maintain the states four TechConnect offices, which assist technology entrepreneurs; and, $100,000 for the states program to offset the costs of applying for SBIR grants. Additionally, the tax credit program would provide a 45 percent state tax credit for investing in Idaho bioscience…

With an eye toward easing traffic congestion, air pollution, and distributing employment opportunities more widely around Virginia, Gov. Timothy Kaine has created an Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance. The Office will encourage and promote telework activities for public and private employers, and work to advance innovative models that expedite the deployment of "last-mile" broadband technologies throughout the Commonwealth. "Telework is a family-friendly, business-friendly public policy that helps us recruit and retain a high-quality workforce in a competitive job market," Governor Kaine said. "It also protects environmental quality and promotes energy conservation by reducing traffic congestion and vehicle emissions. Telework also allows a better balance between work and family." With portable computers, personal digital technology, and high speed telecommunications links, many employees today can work almost anywhere at least some of the time. The Virginia General Assembly set a goal of shifting a significant number of jobs into alternative work schedules by 2010, which will involve expanded use of…

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) recently released revised estimates of state personal income from 2003-2005. According to BEA's data, the U.S. as a whole showed an increase of 9.64 percent in per capita personal income over the three years. Twenty-seven states experienced per capita personal income growth greater than the national average. The District of Columbia ranks first at 15.66 percent, followed by Wyoming (13.96 percent), Hawaii (13.81 percent), Oklahoma (13.21 percent), Nevada (12.61 percent), Alabama (12.46 percent), Florida (12.38 percent), New Mexico (12.33 percent), Maryland (12.18 percent) and Idaho (12.01 percent). The District of Columbia topped the nation in per capita personal income from 2003-2005. The remaining top 10 states showed little movement over the three-year period — Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York and New Hampshire held their ranks among the top seven, respectively, and Colorado remained at 9. However, Minnesota dropped two ranks to 10 in 2005 and Virginia moved up two ranks to 8 in 2005. Iowa climbed the most of the states in rank by…

While politicians across the nation are worrying about where their paycheck will come from in January, TBED programs are determining the best investments elected officials should make for transforming regional economies to be more competitive in a knowledge economy. Join SSTI in Oklahoma City Nov. 1-2 to learn about some of the most successful TBED strategies around the country and trends that should influence future directions. More information is available at http://www.ssti.org/conference06.htm.

The South Dakota Biotech Association (SDBIO) is seeking an executive director to manage and coordinate its daily operations, communications initiatives, government relations, member services, and marketing. The executive director will establish a yearly budget and determine funding sources, develop a strategic plan for growth and expansion, and carry out duties, as set by the board of directors. A bachelor's degree is required; an MBA or J.D. degree is preferred. Background experience with government or business also is preferred. More information on this opportunity and others is available through the SSTI Job Corner at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.

The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology has announced a trio of new programs. Last month, the OCAST governing board approved a business plan for 2007 that committed $10 million of recently appropriated revenue for high-tech development. OCAST is devoting much of this funding to a new seed capital program, awards for plant science research, and a program to encourage the use of nanotechnology in manufacturing. The OCAST Seed Capital Fund is a $5 million program to provide an accessible source of seed capital to technology entrepreneurs. Firms may apply for equity and other investments, with the stipulation that they receive additional co-investment from private or other non-state capital sources. OCAST's board and an appointed Investment Committee will oversee the program's operations. The Fund will issue its first RFPs in January 2007. Funding for basic and applied research in the plant sciences will be available through the Oklahoma Plant Science Research (OPSR) program. OPSR will improve the competitiveness of Oklahoma plant researchers for federal grants by co-investing in research, and providing data on the state's…

Falls from First to Sixth in Updated Index from World Economic Forum Switzerland, Finland and Sweden are the world's most competitive economies, according to The Global Competitiveness Report 2006-2007 released Tuesday by the World Economic Forum. Denmark, Singapore, the U.S., Japan, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom complete the top 10 list, but the U.S. shows the most pronounced drop, falling from first to sixth. "The top rankings of Switzerland and the Nordic countries show that good institutions and competent macroeconomic management, coupled with world-class educational attainment and a focus on technology and innovation, are a successful strategy for boosting competitiveness in an increasingly complex global economy," said Augusto Lopez-Claros, chief economist and director of the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Network. According to the Forum's press release, "The United States, previously in first place, continues to enjoy an excellent business environment, efficient markets and is a global center for technology development. However, its overall competitiveness is…

Gov. Phil Bredesen has released a comprehensive job creation strategy with a particular focus on producing high-quality research jobs by supporting statewide innovation. Announced earlier this month, "Next Steps: Job Creation" is a four-point plan intended to attract and foster new businesses. The strategy addresses the state's need to develop a more skilled workforce, invest in broadband and utility infrastructure, encourage local economic development leadership, and provide incentives to high-tech entrepreneurs. Bredesen, who has unveiled the plan with less than two months remaining in his bid for re-election, believes that the plan will help spur the state's job market by creating a more appealing business climate. One part of the plan, the new Innovation Tennessee initiative, will directly assist entrepreneurs and researchers in bringing their ideas to market. Innovation Tennessee is an economic development initiative hosted by Nashville nonprofit Tennessee Tomorrow Inc., which would receive $5 million in funds from the state's Department of Economic and Community Development to provide seed funding to firms…

Separate MERIT Study of European Tech Transfer Contradicts Some Conclusions A new study from the Milken Institute confirms the success of California universities in commercializing life science research and reaffirms the international leadership of the U.S. in transfer of biotechnology from universities. Using some of the same data, however, a recent paper from the Netherlands found European tech transfer rates have been generally underestimated and intercontinental comparisons not as easy as one might assume. Milkens Findings Mind to Market: A Global Analysis of University Biotechnology Transfer and Commercialization, the 320-page Milken report released last week, ranks publication, patenting, and commercialization activity in biotech at 683 research universities around the world. Californias universities are consistently ranked in the top tiers of each category, most notably the University of California-San Francisco, which played a major role in launching the biotech industry 30 years ago. The study also provides 28 country profiles of national biotech activity and an assessment of university technology…

The stock market is flirting with record highs. Venture capital coffers are overflowing. Most states and national tax revenues are greater than projected. The bad boys of Enron and Worldcom are in jail. Everythings right in the corporate world, right? Perhaps. But the generalized character of the U.S. industrial sector emerging in the 21st century seems to be one quite different than the past according to three new papers and tech-based economic development efforts will see the impact if several trends in particular continue to develop along their current lines. Industrial R&D expenditures are growing, but not at U.S. academic institutions. The sharp decline over 2001-2004 (most recent statistical years available) initially paralleled the impact of the last recession on industrial profits and research investment, but the 2004 survey findings by the National Science Foundation reveals overall industrial R&D expenditures increased while spending by the sector at U.S. academic research institutions continued to decline. The trend holds across both public and private institutions. Additionally,…

The Edison Materials Technology Center (EMTEC), a collaborative technology development organization based in Ohio, has position openings for a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program lead center director/business counselor and two Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) program positions. The SBDC position is responsible for directing a nine-county SBDC program in the Dayton region. The two PTAC positions, respectively, are responsible for directing a 33-county PTAC program in the Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus regions and for providing counseling efforts to the PTAC office in the Columbus region. More information on these opportunities is available through the SSTI Job Corner at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.