SSTI Digest

Steve Biggers has been promoted to Deputy Director for the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science & Technology.

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…

On the final day of March, Gov. Brad Henry signed legislation establishing a $475 million bond issue for a slate of higher education projects, much of which targets research and laboratory facilities. The Oklahoma Higher Education Promise of Excellence Act of 2005, which the governor called "desperately needed," was one of his top legislative priorities for the year (see the Feb. 7, 2005, issue of the Digest). The bill containing the bond issue, H.B. 1191, also provides $25 million in the form of a bond bank to finance future improvements at the state's colleges and universities. Projects slated for University of Oklahoma include construction of a chemistry and biochemistry teaching and research-laboratory complex, infrastructure improvements for the University Research Campus, and construction of new engineering and technology facilities. Oklahoma State University will receive $76 million for projects, including a new science and technology research center and renovation of existing research laboratory and office space. Gov. Henry noted that college enrollments are at record highs, but that the bulk of…

Galynn Beer succeeds Johnny Roy as the new chairman of the board of the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology.

Peter Abramo has been named executive director of Cameron University’s Center of Emerging Technologies and Entrepreneurial Studies, effective Aug. 30.

The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology has named Sheri Stickley interim executive director, following the resignation of William Sibley.

Oklahoma's Higher Education Day, when students and faculty are given the chance to discuss their concerns with the state legislature, recently provided a golden opportunity of sorts for Gov. Brad Henry. Held March 9 at the State House, the event enabled the governor to advocate support for a bond issue that would fund endowed chairs at Oklahoma's colleges and universities. According to Gov. Henry's budget figures, $44 million in private donations are waiting for matching state funds for the endowed chair program. The governor is proposing a bond issue to match those donations. Funding endowed chairs, which enables a college or program to recruit and retain faculty whose reputations elevate its prominence, is a key component of the governor's $1 billion Economic Development Generating Excellence (EDGE) initiative (see the Jan. 23, 2004, issue of the Digest). The EDGE task force, created last August as part of the initiative, consists of private and public sector volunteers that review the state’s economic development efforts and recommend improvements. Eliminating the present backlog in…

Kay Wade is the new president of the Oklahoma Professional Economic Development Council. Ms. Wade retains her position as director of the Center for Business Development at the Meridian Technology Center.

The satisfying flavor of success in tech-based economic development is whetting Oklahoma's appetite for more. Lots more. The past two weeks in the Sooner State have seen the release of the third annual impact report from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST), Gov. Brad Henry's appointment of a science and technology advisor, and the culminating $1 billion action plan of the governor's Economic Development Generating Excellence (EDGE) task force. Interest in advancing Oklahoma's competitive position and economic livelihood through science and technology-based economic development may be at an all-time high. For example, the six-month process of developing the EDGE recommendations drew involvement from more than 2,500 people in the state. Twenty-nine regional forums were held last fall to facilitate the exchange of ideas among these participants. Meeting Challenges in the New Economy, OCAST's third installment in an ongoing study of the Oklahoma's progress on a number of indicators, found the state is making steady improvement for its economy…

Sonya Buckner has resigned her position as director of the small business incubator for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce to become vice president of special projects for the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce. Douglas Jones will assume leadership of the Montgomery Incubator.

Correction: In last week's People column, Tom Walker's new title was incorrect. Mr Walker is executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Oklahoma Technology Commercialization Center.

Tom Walker has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Oklahoma Technology Commercialization Center.