SSTI Digest

The U.S. Census Bureau recently released Geographic Area Statistics: 2004, a report that details manufacturing statistics collected from the 2004 Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM). The report provides data on the number of all manufacturing employees, number of production workers, all employees payroll, value-added by manufactures, cost of materials, and value of shipments by state. The report also includes data by industry groups, including food, textiles, lumber, fuel, computers and transportation equipment. Using Bureau data, SSTI has prepared a table showing the state rankings for the percent change between 2001-2004 for value-added by manufacture, value of shipments, and average value added per employee. The total value-added by U.S. manufacturers increased by 9.28 percent over the four years. Nationally, the average value-added per employee also increased by 29.68 percent. Among states, Idaho more than doubled its total value-added dollar amount (161.73 percent increase) and nearly tripled the dollar amount in average value-added per employee (196.01 percent increase). Arizona…

It only seems natural that SSTI celebrate a decade of convening the premiere professional development event for the nation's tech-based economic development community in a state that, for nearly 20 years, has been a pioneer for innovative approaches to transform regional economies — Oklahoma. SSTI's 10th annual conference and pre-conference intensive workshops will be held at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City on Oct. 31-Nov. 2. Many Digest readers may be familiar with elements of Oklahoma's tech-based economic development portfolio - or should be familiar - as several initiatives within the Sooner State's strategy have served as models for launching similar efforts around the country. References to organizations like the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science & Technology (OCAST), i2E and the Oklahoma Capital Investment Board can be found as examples in the strategic plans, budget justifications and performance reports of many state and regional TBED roadmaps. What is perhaps less well known is the success Oklahoma City civic leaders and residents have had over the…

With China and India on the doorstep and U.S. universities facing an attrition of science and math students, America must do more if it wishes to produce the well trained scientific and technical workforce necessary to remain competitive in world markets. That is the overarching theme of a new national education and innovation initiative proposed by the Association of American Universities (AAU). A white paper released by AAU details the National Defense Education and Innovation Initiative, which aims to meet economic and security challenges the U.S. will face over the next half-century. The paper contains recommendations for policy changes and investments, primarily by universities and the federal government. AAU, an organization of 62 leading public and private research universities, points to the country’s need to address economic challenges from the emerging economies of Asia and post-9/11 national security threats. These challenges, AAU states, are evidenced by such statistics as a leveling of federal basic research funding in the physical sciences and engineering and the rise of Asia and…

While it is safe to say that new medicines, electronics, educational tools and other inventions have improved the lives of countless people, a new project by the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) describes more than 100 such breakthroughs that probably would not exist if not for the practice of technology transfer. In The Better World Project, launched Friday by AUTM, readers can learn the stories behind the Google™ search engine, Honeycrisp apple, V-chip, cochlear implant, Habitrol® nicotine patch and other products used in health care, environmental protection, agriculture, safety and 16 other fields. "This project will pique the interest of anyone who's ever wondered 'Where did that come from?'" AUTM President John Fraser said in a press statement. The project shows how technology transfer - the process of licensing and commercializing academic research - contributes to the economy and supports new discoveries, Fraser added. A key element of the project is The Better World Report, a book containing 25 technology transfer cases contributed by AUTM members in the U.S. and…

Innovation and tech entrepreneurship take money — different amounts at different stages with different strings. As a result, increasing access to capital is an objective of many state and local technology-based economic development programs. “States fill a critical gap in available finance for many of the nation’s start-ups," said Sue Strommer, chief executive officer of the National Association of Seed and Venture Funds (NASVF). Discovering just how many programs across the country are working toward filling the financial needs of tech-based innovation is the goal of a current NASVF project to survey programs. All state equity-related financing programs are encouraged to participate before March 15, 2006. “This is an opportunity for states to showcase their efforts to support the new businesses and entrepreneurs who drive the new economy,“ Strommer added. "State leaders can reap local benefits from learning about national best practices and emerging models.” The report is expected to show that states are natural incubators for many new venture capital programs and incentives. Fund of…

For the second year in a row, Florida cities dominate the Milken Institute's top 200 largest U.S. metropolitan areas in the ability to create and sustain jobs. The top performer, Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, moved up 31 places from last year and is followed by last year's top scorer, Cape Coral-Fort Myers, and Naples-Marco Island, respectively. Located near the John F. Kennedy Space Center, the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville area has a diversified economy with many aerospace and defense-related industries, the report states. The area's economy has expanded at a brisk pace over the past two years, with job growth rising to 5.3 percent in 2004. Metros in the Southwest also scored well, with six areas among the top 20, including Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. (10), Las Vegas-Paradise (11), Tucson (14), Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale (15), Santa Barbara-Santa Maria, Calif. (16), and Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, Calif. (17). The Northeast landed just two metros in the top 20 and no metros in the Midwest made it into the top 20, according to the report. The only midwestern metro to make it into the top 50 is Madison…

To further accommodate and cater to fledgling biotechnology, high-tech and start-up companies, the University of Pennsylvania Science Center in Philadelphia recently announced plans to add 1.85 million sq. ft. through the construction of six new buildings with retail and parking components. According to media reports, the projects are part of a master plan titled, "Transforming the University Science Center into a Complete Venture Ecosystem." The master plan will roll out in five phases, with the first phase scheduled for July 2006 and consisting of a 150,000-square-foot building to house laboratory and retail space. The next two phases are slated for completion in 2010. Already one of the nation's largest urban university technology parks, the University Science Center currently maintains 1.7 million sq. ft. in 13 buildings along Market Street in the University City section of Philadelphia. The plan will double the center's capacity and provide scientific laboratories, residential housing, a hotel and conference center, and retail space with parking, according to a Business Wire…

On Friday, the National Science Foundation (NSF) released Science & Engineering Indicators 2006, an update for the nation's most significant, quantitative and neutral assessment of the health of the U.S. and international science and engineering communities. And, according to America's Pressing Challenge ­ Building a Stronger Foundation, a companion report to Indicators released by the National Science Board, the prognosis for the U.S. should cause concern. Calling for "drastic changes" for America's K-12 science and mathematics classrooms, the National Science Board asserts, "Our Nation risks raising generations of students and citizens who do not know how to think critically and make informed decisions based on technical and scientific information." We already may have jeopardized one generation, given the board points out the country has been failing students in math and science instruction for the past 25 years -- "by the time they reach their senior year, even the most advanced U.S. students perform at or near the bottom on international assessments." That conclusion is…

National R&D spending increased by $10.1 billion in fiscal year 2003, according to a recent National Science Foundation (NSF) InfoBrief. The increase followed an $8.1 billion decrease in FY 2002 expenditures over the FY 2001 level, the data show. The NSF report, Increase in US Industrial R&D Expenditures Reported for 2003 Makes Up for Earlier Declines, breaks down R&D expenditures into three technology areas: biotechnology, materials synthesis and processing, and software development. According to the report, national tech-based R&D expenditures for FY03 totaled $14.2 billion for biotechnology, $15.9 billion for materials synthesis and processing, and $27.1 billion for software development. Using NSF data, SSTI has prepared a table ranking states by percent change in R&D performance from 1999-2003. Mississippi experienced the most significant increase, 355.8 percent, over the five-year period. North Dakota, Oregon, Maryland and Hawaii posted increases of more than 95 percent from FY99, completing the top five, respectively. California, which leads the nation in…

Sometimes, the economic advantages of consolidating state and local initiatives addressing different elements of building tech-based economies outweighs any potential dilution of specific efforts. Other times, the addition of an entirely new entity is required to provide concentrated focus on specific needs or activities. Here are a few of the most recent examples of the realignment of the TBED community: The Utah Information Technology Association (UITA) and the Utah Life Science Association are merging in March to become the Utah Technology Council. UITA President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Nelson will provide leadership for the new council. A new Life Sciences director position will be added to the staff. The Greenville Digital Alliance has been reformulated as the NEXT Initiative to serve the larger Upstate region of South Carolina through its expanded partners of Clemson University’s Spiro Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, Greenville Tech Buck Mickel Center, the Small Business Development Center, the City of Greenville, InnoVenture, and the Greenville…

The National Governors Association (NGA) seeks a senior policy analyst with substantial expertise in technology-based economic development and the role state governments can play in promoting it. The job involves assisting governors promote innovation by helping their advisors target, govern and measure the impact of investments in emerging technologies; improve the technology transfer and commercialization process; identify and assist potential gazelles; encourage inventive entrepreneurship; and promote regional cluster strategies. Such help is provided in a variety of written and oral forms, ranging from memos and issue briefs to on-site consulting. Qualified candidates will have an advanced degree in a related area, excellent communications skills, and strong project development and management skills. For the full job description and application information, go to http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.

George Bald is returning to serve as Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development. Bald served in the position from 1998-2004. Dr. R. Kelly Dawe was named the inaugural Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) Distinguished Investigator, a new level of investment made by GRA. Douglas Foy, Secretary for Commonwealth Development for Massachusetts, announced his resignation effective in March. Aaron Greenfield will serve as the new director of the Anne Arundel County Economic Development Corp. in Maryland. The six-month-old Information Technology Association of Wisconsin selected Jim Rice to serve as the organization's first president and CEO. South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford named Joe Taylor to serve as the new Secretary for the S.C. Department of Commerce. Taylor succeeds Bob Faith, who is taking Taylor's position as chairman of the S.C. Jobs-Economic Development Authority.