SSTI Digest

States such as Oklahoma must leverage scarce resources if they hope to attract top scientists, stimulate development, and achieve measurable economic impact, says the latest impact report from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST). Over the past 17 years, OCAST has been successful in leveraging federal and private funds through its eight major program areas. Since its inception in 1987, OCAST has invested $118 million in R&D, technology commercialization and manufacturing modernization, which was used to attract more than $1.4 billion in private investments and federal funding, according to the report. The 2005 impact report, From Concept to Commercialization, outlines fiscal year 2004 accomplishments and highlights the success of various organizations and companies that have utilized OCAST services. During FY 2004, OCAST awarded $10.4 million through six of the eight programs, leveraging $199 million in private and federal funds. Programs with their FY04 impacts include: Health Research awards help researchers gather data…

As low-skill, labor intensive jobs are increasingly replaced by technology or outsourced in the emerging knowledge-based economy, a two-tiered labor market has emerged, thus presenting a challenge for workers to either work cheaper or work smarter, says a new report from the Southern Growth Policies Board. Only one of those options is appealing for those trying to improve your standard of living. Refusing to have the region left behind, Southern Growth developed a goal to create the talent pool needed to meet ongoing market needs and opportunities. The Southern Workforce Index is a working plan for tracking the South's progress in developing a knowledge-economy workforce and is intended as a guide for states to pursue their own individualized strategies. The index uses 15 indicators to compare the region and individual states to overall U.S. statistics. It also contains state-by-state data and summaries of workforce initiatives within the region. To guide the regions' progress toward realizing their goal, Southern Growth approved three major objectives: Create seamless…

Phil Bond, Under Secretary for Technology in the U.S. Department of Commerce, announced his resignation, effective May 13. A strong supporter of NIST and tech-based economic development, Bond will be missed as he becomes Senior Vice President for Government Affairs at Monster Worldwide. Diane Duff, former director of economic development and commerce for the National Governors Association, is the new executive director of the Southern Governors' Association. Gov. Bill Richardson appointed William Enloe, CEO of Los Alamos National Bank, to serve as chairman of the New Mexico Economic Development Partnership. Randa Hayes is the new director of the business development and trade division of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. The new Vice President for Business Ventures at the Mississippi Technology Alliance is Jim Lowery. TechNet named Lezlee Westine, White House Director of Public Liaison, to serve as its new director.named Lezlee Westine, White House Director of Public Liaison, to serve as its new director.

Phil Bond, Under Secretary for Technology in the U.S. Department of Commerce, announced his resignation, effective May 13. A strong supporter of NIST and tech-based economic development, Bond will be missed as he becomes Senior Vice President for Government Affairs at Monster Worldwide.

Diane Duff, former director of economic development and commerce for the National Governors Association, is the new executive director of the Southern Governors' Association.

Gov. Bill Richardson appointed William Enloe, CEO of Los Alamos National Bank, to serve as chairman of the New Mexico Economic Development Partnership.

Randa Hayes is the new director of the business development and trade division of the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

The new Vice President for Business Ventures at the Mississippi Technology Alliance is Jim Lowery.

TechNet named Lezlee Westine, White House Director of Public Liaison, to serve as its new director.

During the months of May and June, the SSTI Weekly Digest and Funding Supplement will be published every other week. SSTI staff over the next two months will be completing work on two major projects that require focused concentration. We look forward to resuming the Digest and Funding Supplement on a weekly basis in July. The next issue of the Digest will be May 16.

While the topic of embryonic stem cell research has been at the forefront of S&T policy since 2001, attention has shifted to the states in the last six months. Last fall, California voters overwhelmingly approved a $3 billion bond issue to support embryonic stem cell research over the next decade. This vote triggered action in a number of states concerned about the loss of researchers to California and increased activity on Capitol Hill to overturn the Presidential directive that limits the use of federal research funds to only those embryonic stem cell lines derived before Aug. 9, 2001. While New Jersey had already committed smaller levels of funding for embryonic stem cell research through a new state institute, the magnitude and scope of the California referendum led several states to consider their own legislation this year. Calls for multi-hundred-million-dollar investments filled the speeches of some elected officials, while others called for a complete ban on public support of embryonic stem cell research. At the heart of the controversy is a form of stem cell research known as somatic cell nuclear…

Recognizing the economic benefits of engaging young people in science and technology, Ontario's McGuinty government recently launched the Youth Science and Technology Outreach Program. The new program links high school students with researchers to support in-depth mentorship experience and postsecondary career advice. The Provincial government will provide $3 million over three years to fund projects that include speaking engagements, workshops and demonstration projects, short-term projects in a lab or field research site, student science competitions, expert-in-residence programs, and lab mentorships. According to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the goals of the program are to: Connect high school students, particularly those in rural and undeserved communities, with Ontario's publicly-funded researchers; Provide students with hands-on science and technology experiences that help them gain an understanding of the research process and the connection between lab research and the science taught in classrooms; and, Publicly promote science and technology…