SSTI Digest

Jim Petell is the first director of technology transfer and commercialization for the University of North Dakota.

The Fayetteville Economic Development Council named Steven Rust as its new executive director, beginning Aug. 15.

Growth in personal income tax has led to a revival of state tax revenues, the same source that led to the previous decline, according to a report released by the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government. The report indicates sustained growth in states' economies over the past three quarters, with increases in revenue from personal, sales and corporate taxes, creating optimism for the future of state budgets. State tax revenue grew by 8.1 percent in the January-March quarter compared to the same period in 2003, a continuous growth since the last period of decline in July 2001 through June 2002, according to State Tax Revenue Recovery Gathering Steam. Legislated tax increases enacted in several of the states over the last three years have contributed to the revenue growth, the report indicates, although the January-March quarter growth was still strong after tax hikes were factored out. Three underlying forces account for the trends in growth, the author notes, including differences in state economies, how these differences affect each state’s tax system, and recently legislated tax changes. Other…

The city of Montpelier, Vt., will soon join the ranks of other high-tech cities as it prepares to implement its first Wi-Fi “hotzone” in the central downtown area. With support from Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt), city officials and local businesses, the Vermont Broadband Council recently launched MontpelierNet, a high-speed Internet network that will bring wireless broadband Internet access to the city. The network is designed to expand and improve high-speed telecommunications services, reduce costs for the city, and provide faster transmission at a lower cost to businesses in the area. MontpelierNet is comprised of three phases, which include: Phase One, completed this month, consisting of a wireless network linking City Hall to other facilities, including the waterplant, wastewater treatment plant and town garage; Phase Two, providing high-speed, high-capacity Internet connection to the city and to local businesses; and, Phase Three, creating the Wi-Fi “hotzone” in central downtown. Wi-Fi zones, or “hotspots,” enable anyone with a laptop or handheld device access…

Two years following its creation, the Louisiana Technology Fund has $2.3 million to help the early-stage technology companies for which it was intended, the Baton Rouge-based Advocate reported earlier this month. The fund stems from 2002 legislation that revived Louisiana's Certified Capital Companies (CAPCOs) program. With the initial pool of money, the fund could support up to 12 Louisiana technology startup companies. The money is derived from the state's CAPCOs, which are required to invest 10 percent of their earnings into such startups. The state's four research parks, located in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, New Orleans and Shreveport, will oversee the fund, according to the Advocate. The Louisiana CAPCO program was created in 1983 to encourage private sector investment. Since 2002, the program has generated $80 million. Only one of Louisiana's participating capital companies chose not to deposit its required amount into the new fund. More information on the Louisiana Technology Fund is available by contacting Louisiana Technology Park at http://www.latechpark.com.

A bill designed to encourage collaborative research among universities and between universities and industry passed the Senate last Friday. The Cooperative Research and Technology Enhancement (CREATE) Act of 2004 will allow researchers and inventors who work for different organizations to share information without losing the ability to file a patent. Passage of the bill has been supported by the Association of American Universities (AAU), the American Council on Education and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. These proponents argue the need for the amendment to federal patent and trademark law stems from a 1997 court decision (OddzOn Products Inc. v. Just Toys) that deemed information shared among collaborators may be deemed a prior art, which could invalidate a patent unless there is a single owner of the invention. The CREATE Act, AAU contends, solves the problem by treating inventions as if they have a single owner as long as a formal, written joint research agreement in place between collaborators before the invention is made. The bill adds language…

A pilot program meant to spur entrepreneurship with community involvement is set to begin in Torrington, Wy., in the next two months. A joint venture between the Goshen County School District, Eastern Wyoming College, and Goshen County Economic Development, the project, Planned Approach to Community Entrepreneurship (PACE), is designed to facilitate small businesses and help them achieve higher success rates. The Torrington economy is largely driven by entrepreneurship; however, the county has the fifth highest business failure rate after one year of operation and second highest after three years, according to a recent article in the Torrington Telegram. Starting and maintaining a business in the city has been a major source of frustration for local business owners, and community leaders are hoping PACE will help alleviate some of the frustration by actively involving residents in the project. As part of the project, a coalition consisting of about 30-40 people will be formed to represent different sectors of the community and serve as facilitators for challenges and barriers facing…

Led by Govs. Bill Richardson and Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Western Governors' Association (WGA) announced last week it would support opportunities to develop a clean, secure and diversified energy system for the West and to capitalize on the region's energy resources. The New Mexico and California governors, respectively, are among those represented by the nonprofit WGA. Western Governors adopted a resolution that builds upon recommendations the governors received from the nearly 700 participants at the North American Energy Summit, held by WGA in April. Among the major goals of the resolution is reaching 30,000 megawatts of clean energy by 2015 and a 20 percent improvement in energy efficiency by 2020. A new working group will be formed to determine how to reach the above goal while ensuring the region has the necessary generation and transmission capacity. The group will have balanced representation, including state, local and Native American leaders; environmental organizations; state and tribal air quality agencies; the private sector; federal agencies; and representatives from Mexico and…

A new agreement between the State of Maryland and the National Security Agency (NSA) is expected to lead to new technologies for both. The two formalized a partnership earlier this month, signing a memorandum of understanding at the Maryland State House. The partnership joins NSA with Maryland's Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED). Present for the signing were Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich, DBED Secretary Aris Melissaratos, and Michael Hayden and Dr. Eric Haseltine of NSA. Hayden, who doubles as director of NSA and as a lieutenant general for the U.S. Air Force, said the agreement will enhance the agency's "transformation efforts to provide quality intelligence to the national leadership while promoting economic prosperity in Maryland." NSA's research division is responsible for developing new technologies for information purposes and signaling intelligence missions. Interacting with Maryland industry concerning new trends, theories, techniques and problems in research would further industry's understanding of the NSA's research needs. The defense industry…

As the U.S. approaches the July Fourth weekend, during which time we celebrate all the good that is America, columnists and politicians across the country will sing the praises of free-market capitalism. And with our material abundance and relative wealth compared to the vast majority of the world's population, examples of success for our chosen economic system are numerous. Readers of the SSTI Weekly Digest -- and there are thousands of you -- may recall, however, that most economic development policy is intended to address the failures of our market system. Or at least to prod it along to certain conclusions that it may not reach if left entirely to its own devices. For example: Location-based tax incentives (e.g. technology enterprise zones) and brownfield redevelopment are used to entice new development in previously used lands because the total social, environmental and economic costs of building on open land are not fully reflected in the market price nor borne by the developer of greenfield sites. Tax incentives to encourage early-stage, angel and venture capital buy down…

Missouri Enterprise Business Assistance Center, a Rolla-based, multi-office nonprofit organization that provides business and technical assistance to manufacturers, agricultural producers and startups, is seeking candidates for the position of President and Chief Executive Officer. The full description and application instructions can be found at http://www.missourienterprise.org/Ceo.asp

The roller coaster ride that represents Washington's manufacturing policies and fiscal investments took a turn that was welcomed by MEP supporters when the House subcommittee for Commerce, Justice, and State appropriations last week decided to fund the Manufacturing Extension Partnership at $106 million in fiscal year 2005. More than two-and-one-half times the Administration's FY 2005 request of $39.6 million, the appropriation would return the program to its FY03 funding level. The bipartisan outpouring of support for MEP has been substantial since the popular NIST program suffered the 63 percent cut in FY04 -- the result of a bit of budgeting gamesmanship that backfired during the debacle that represented the FY04 appropriations process. The ride for the 400 MEP centers across the country is not over, however. Senate action is still needed, although the Senate has been in recent years a strong supporter of MEP so it is likely they will join the House at $106 million. However, given that the last two budget battles extended 4-5 months into the fiscal years and that this is a closely…