SSTI Digest

New Mexico Firms Would Receive $30M in Venture Funding New Mexico might be close to closing on two venture deals worth a combined $30 million, the Albuquerque Journal recently reported. The New Mexico State Investment Council (SIC) gave preliminary approval of the $30 million to two Santa Fe-based firms early last month. Flywheel Ventures, one of the two companies in consideration for the money, was said to be raising its own $30 million for investment in seed and early-stage technology companies. Rio Grande Venture Partners, the other beneficiary, would indirectly contribute to tech firms through a $100 million fund it hopes to close this spring. The New Mexico investment program requires that both companies provide match funding and do business in the state, either whole or in part. The state has committed roughly $168 million to about 20 venture capital funds over the last decade, with $70 million in commitments made since 2003, the Albuquerque Journal states. The $168 million comes from a pool of $200 million for venture capital investment, drawn from New Mexico's $3.5 billion…

Debra Elston has been named the Federal Highway Administration's director for research, technology, and innovation deployment within the Office of Research, Development, and Technology. Garza Fernandez, president of the Southern Arizona Industry and Aerospace Alliance, announced her resignation to devote more time to the Technology Development and Research Institute. Arthur A. Garcia has been appointed director of the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund in the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Until his appointment, Garcia has been administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Housing Service. Elizabeth Gatewood has been named director of Wake Forest University's new Office of Entrepreneurship and Liberal Arts. At Indiana University, Gatewood was the Jack M. Chair of Entrepreneurship and the director of the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Paul Hiller, formerly managing director of the economic development arm of the Irvine Chamber of Commerce, is the new president and chief executive officer for the Inland Empire…

Debra Elston has been named the Federal Highway Administration's director for research, technology, and innovation deployment within the Office of Research, Development, and Technology.

Garza Fernandez, president of the Southern Arizona Industry and Aerospace Alliance, announced her resignation to devote more time to the Technology Development and Research Institute.

Arthur A. Garcia has been appointed director of the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund in the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Until his appointment, Garcia has been administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Housing Service.

Elizabeth Gatewood has been named director of Wake Forest University's new Office of Entrepreneurship and Liberal Arts. At Indiana University, Gatewood was the Jack M. Chair of Entrepreneurship and the director of the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Paul Hiller, formerly managing director of the economic development arm of the Irvine Chamber of Commerce, is the new president and chief executive officer for the Inland Empire Economic Partnership.

Linda Johnson, president and chief executive officer of the Center for Information Technology Enterprise, has announced she will be leaving the position this fall to return to her academic career at Western Kentucky University.

Bruce Mehlman and Alex Vogel have formed a new firm, Mehlman & Vogel, Inc. The company offers clients a full range of public affairs services including strategic planning, message development, coalition management, legislative and executive branch lobbying, corporate positioning, guidance for political activities and public relations.

Arundeep Pradhan is the new director of the Office of Technology and Research Collaborations at the Oregon Health and Science University. Pradhan was the head of technology transfer for the Colorado State University Research Foundation.

2004 S&E Indicators includes chapter of state-level metrics The U.S. remains the world's leading producer and net exporter of high-technology products, ranking among the global leaders in research and development (R&D) spending. However, ongoing economic and workforce changes make the outlook for the future uncertain, according to Science and Engineering (S&E) Indicators 2004, a biennial report of the National Science Board (NSB) to the President. S&E Indicators shows, for example, the U.S. now ranks 17th among nations surveyed in the proportion of its 18- to 24-year-olds earning natural S&E degrees. In 1975, the U.S. ranked third. State indicators are presented in 25 tables across six categories: secondary education, higher education, workforce, financial R&D inputs, R&D outputs, and science and technology in the economy. R&D output is measured by S&E doctorates conferred, academic article output and academic patents. The measures for science and technology in the economy include high-tech employment, high-tech share of all business establishments, and…

Venture capital (VC) kept up a steady pace in the first three months of 2004, according to the latest PricewaterhouseCoopers/Thomson Venture Economics/National Venture Capital Association MoneyTree™ Survey. Investments in the first quarter of 2004 totaled $4.6 billion going into 618 companies, the data show. The figure is below the $5.2 billion invested in the fourth quarter of 2003, but above the first quarter total of a year ago, $4.2 billion. Life Sciences companies outpaced other industries for the seventh consecutive quarter, among MoneyTree™ Survey highlights. Investments in the sector totaled $1.3 billion, or 27 percent of all venture capital, and remained near their 12-year high reached in 2003. Biotech, alone, accounted for $943 million, while Medical Devices garnered $325 million. Software, with 162 companies securing $956 million, was the single largest industry category in Q1 2004. The industry reclaimed the top spot following a two-quarter run as the second-leading industry category behind Biotech. Investments into the Telecommunications Industry showed a slight increase over the…