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Czech Republic, Singapore to Double R&D Investments

While the U.S. commitment to science is threatened by flattening federal R&D investments, two more countries demonstrate their shared belief that the way to economic prosperity is through science and innovation.

Czech Republic The Czech Republic has outlined a five-year economic development plan that calls for doubling R&D's share of the gross domestic product by 2010. To achieve that goal requires increasing government spending for science and innovation by 20-25 percent annually, according to Martin Jahn, deputy prime minister for the economy.

Recent Research:The Economic Compass Points Back to the Core

Should policymakers focus on urban core centers as keys to economic growth or seek greater economic equity in the less developed periphery? A new study on regional policy and economic geography suggest policies should be directed toward core growth.

In New Economic Geography, Empirics, and Regional Policy, the authors examine historic development patterns in Europe and test a new geographic model with time series data. Authors Steven Brakman, Harry Garretsen, Joeri Gorter, Albert van der Horst, and Marc Schramm conclude that economic activity quickly balances in favor of existing central clusters regardless of policies. In fact, policies focused on building regional infrastructure, as a way to pull commerce into less developed regions, often results in drawing activity back to core areas over time.

The study highlights the following policy-related conclusions:

People

Arizona State University professor James Collins is the new assistant director for biological sciences at the National Science Foundation.

Larry Cox is the new director of the Ball State University Entrepreneurship Program, effective Aug. 22.

Louisiana Department of Economic Development announced Robert Fudickar will be the technology industry director for the state agency.

Russel Hancock is the new president and CEO of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley.

People

Arizona State University professor James Collins is the new assistant director for biological sciences at the National Science Foundation.

People

Larry Cox is the new director of the Ball State University Entrepreneurship Program, effective Aug. 22.

People

Louisiana Department of Economic Development announced Robert Fudickar will be the technology industry director for the state agency.

People

Russel Hancock is the new president and CEO of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley.

People

The U.S. Department of Commerce is promoting Chris Israel to serve as coordinator for international intellectual property enforcement. The new position will coordinate interagency protection efforts to combat international IP piracy.

People

William "Bill" Mahoney is the new president and CEO of the South Carolina Research Authority.

People

Joan Myers, president and CEO of Raleigh-based N.C. Technology Association, is the 2005-2007 president for the Council of Regional Information Technology Associations (CRITA).

People

Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski appointed Bill Noll as commissioner of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. Noll has been serving as the governor's communications director.

People

Jack Pfunder is the new executive director of the Manufacturers Resource Center in Bethlehem, Pa.