SSTI Digest

In 2002, angels invested $15.7 billion in entrepreneurial businesses in the U.S., according to the Center for Venture Research. Yet – until now – there was no organization to establish best practices or collect data on how to maximize the performance of groups of angel investors. The new Angel Capital Alliance, sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, already has been endorsed by 46 angel capital organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada, with many other angel groups interested in membership. Approximately 170 angel capital groups have been identified across the continent. Approximately one in 10 start-up or early-stage companies in the U.S. receive equity capital from angel investors. Angel investors, on an individual basis or through groups, may invest up to 90 percent of the independent equity that early-stage businesses receive. Angel organizations are important because they help individual investors combine their funds with other angels, lead to better investing practices as members learn from one another, and make investors more accessible to entrepreneurs as groups…

Can universities, foundations and funding agencies, local governments and nonprofits work together to mainstream research and evaluation while improving program operations? Yes, states a recent report issued by the Pew Partnership for Civic Change. The report, University & Community Research Partnerships: A New Approach, is based on two years of research and a roundtable discussion convened by the Pew Partnership, a civic research organization. Six key findings emerged from Pew's efforts: College and university faculty members reap multiple and unexpected benefits from engaging in community-based research. Faculty engagement leads to greater university-community collaboration at the institutional level. Increasing the accessibility of colleges and universities to community practitioners is an essential factor in building successful partnerships. There is a demonstrated need for new networks to connect people working in the field of university-community research. Building research relationships with faculty members yields multiple benefits for nonprofits…

Iowa: Davenport Sells City Land for Tech Incubator To jumpstart the city's multi-million-dollar revitalization project, the Davenport City Council voted last week to sell city land to a developer to build a tech incubator, according to the Associated Press. The initial phase of the project, valued at $113.5 million in all, will begin with a 40,000-square-foot facility to house start-up, technology-based businesses. Construction of the business incubation center is slated to be finished by June 2004. Once complete, the center could situate up to 10 new high-tech start-up companies. Kansas: Lawrence Chamber Creates Life Science Task Force High-paying, high tech jobs in the life sciences should become more readily available in Lawrence, Kan., thanks to a task force recently created by the city's Chamber of Commerce. The 31-member Lawrence Life Sciences Task Force is being commissioned with the sole purpose of growing the area's life sciences industry. Scientists, business leaders and public officials in Lawrence comprise the group, which held its first meeting on Nov. 7. In…

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a statistical report on Science and Engineering Doctorate Awards: 2002. The data show trends in science and engineering (S&E) doctorate awards by S&E field and recipient characteristics, institutions awarding doctorates, and postgraduation plans of recipients. The 18-page Table 6 of the report presents the distribution of doctorates awarded in 2002 by institution, by state and by major field. SSTI has prepared an abbreviated table providing a state-by-state ranking for doctorates awarded by major field. The SSTI table also includes the values and state rankings for the total S&E doctorates awarded per 100,000 residents within each state, using the 2002 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. SSTI's table is available at: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/111403t2.htm Science and Engineering Doctorate Awards: 2002 is available at: http://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?nsf04303

Case Western Reserve University is seeking an executive director of The Power Partnership for Ohio, one of the new Wright Centers of Innovation funded in part by a $18 million grant from the State of Ohio. Headquartered at Case Western Reserve University, with satellites at Cleveland State University, Ohio State University, Stark State College of Technology and the University of Toledo, The Power Partnership was created to establish Ohio as a leader in the fuel cell industry, stimulating economic development and creating Ohio jobs in this emerging industry. The executive director will oversee all activities of the partnership, including research, development and commercialization, and will oversee the planning and implementation of programs. The successful candidate will have a degree in science or engineering and 15-plus years of progressive responsibility in management, preferably in a high-growth business or start-up environment, advanced power research and nonprofit collaborations. More information is available at: http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm

Sam Bodman, presently Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, has been nominated to serve as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Treasury. John Calvin, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Tourism and State Development, has announced his resignation effective Dec. 15. TechPoint, Indiana's statewide technology council, has named Cameron Carter to serve as president and chief executive officer. U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Thomas Q. Donaldson, V has been appointed Director of the John C. Stennis Space Center (SSC), effective Jan. 5, 2004. Carol Ann Dykes is the new president of the National Association of Management and Technical Assistance Centers. The new position of vice president of research and health services at the University of South Carolina will be filled by Harris Pastides.

Sam Bodman, presently Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, has been nominated to serve as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Treasury.

John Calvin, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Tourism and State Development, has announced his resignation effective Dec. 15.

TechPoint, Indiana's statewide technology council, has named Cameron Carter to serve as president and chief executive officer.

U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Thomas Q. Donaldson, V has been appointed Director of the John C. Stennis Space Center (SSC), effective Jan. 5, 2004.

Carol Ann Dykes is the new president of the National Association of Management and Technical Assistance Centers.

The new position of vice president of research and health services at the University of South Carolina will be filled by Harris Pastides.