SSTI Digest

Many state and regional TBED organizations see federal laboratories as an integral partner in their efforts to promote technology development and commercialization. At least 22 of the leading state TBED organizations across the country have established partnerships with at least one federal laboratory to address a broad range of goals, according to a recent SSTI survey. Advancing collaborative research, strengthening industry clusters, transferring technology to/from federal labs and companies, and assisting in education and outreach were the most commonly cited reasons for pursuing closer relationships with the nation's network of 700 federal labs and research centers.

The survey also found state TBED-federal lab collaboration crosses state boundaries more easily than some may expect: SSTI discovered one-third of all relationships state TBED organizations have with federal laboratories take place at laboratories outside of their state. In addition, more state and local TBED organizations are looking to form new partnerships or expanding existing arrangements based on the successes seen from their initial efforts.

Earlier this month, Oregon’s University Venture Development Fund began operations, which will allow the state’s taxpayers to receive a 60 percent income tax credit on contributions that will be applied toward commercialization and entrepreneurial programs at Oregon’s eight public universities. Authorized by the state legislature, the fund will enable $14 million to be provided to the universities in aggregate, with each institution’s allocation formulated by its annual income from research grants and contracts.   The program allows individuals or corporate donors to make unrestricted gifts of cash or publicly traded stock to one or more of the selected universities. Upon university receipt of the contribution, the donor will receive a tax credit for Oregon income tax equal to 60 percent of the original donation. The credit that can be claimed by the donor in a year is 20 percent of the original contribution or $50,000 – whichever is less and does not exceed the donor’s tax liability. Any remaining income tax credits will rollover to subsequent years.  

Dr. J. Timothy Stout has been named to the newly created position of vice president for commercialization strategies at Oregon Heath and Science University.

The Four-County Economic Development Corp. in Portland, Ore., has changed its name to Greenlight Greater Portland.

Oregon lawmakers haveagreed to fund nearly all of Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s innovation proposals, including investments in seven new industry initiatives and the creation of two new signature research centers. The innovation plan passed by lawmakers falls $10 million short of the original $38 million proposal introduced by the Oregon Innovation Council and included in Gov. Kulongoski’s fiscal year 2007-09 budget released in December 2006 (see the Dec. 18, 2006 issue of the Digest).  

The Oregon Innovation Council (Oregon InC), which spent a year reviewing how best to expand the state’s economy by leveraging industry-supported initiatives with public investments, may get to see the toils of its labor come to fruition. Gov. Ted Kulongoski released earlier this month his 2007-09 budget, with full support for the innovation plan put out by Oregon InC. Oregon InC, a private-public statewide advisory council created by the 2005 legislature, had proposed $38.2 million for investment in industry and research initiatives to increase productivity and generate innovative technologies (see the Oct. 2, 2006 issue of the Digest). The governor's budget includes full funding for the council's proposals, including:

John Tortorici is retiring as president of the Software Association of Oregon.

The Open Technology Business Center, a Beaverton, Ore.-based incubator, has named Steve Morris as its third executive director.

Complete descriptions of the position openings described below are available at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski last month signed Senate Bill 838, creating the Oregon Innovation Council to provide him and the legislature with advice regarding business innovation in order to strengthen competitiveness in global markets. The council will include representatives from industry, education and government.

In addition, the bill recognizes the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI) as the state's first Signature Research Center and appropriates $7 million for operations and leveraging of private and federal funds. According to the governor's office, every state dollar invested into ONAMI delivers a $30 return through private investment.

The Oregon Legislature overwhelmingly passed S.B. 853 last week, creating venture development funds to facilitate technology commercialization for students and faculty at the state's seven public universities.

Under the legislation, revenue for the newly created funds will come from donors who, in turn, receive credit on their state income tax returns. The development funds will use capital raised through university foundations to bridge the gap between an idea and the point where private investors become interested.

Commercialized research and Oregon's first signature research center are among those initiatives slated for funding in the governor's 2005-07 proposed biennial budget for the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department (OECDD). Gov. Ted Kulongoski's recommended budget, the "Oregon Principles," is centered around six core principles for targeted investments to deliver a strong return on taxpayer dollars.