SSTI Digest

South Carolina's three major research universities were awarded a total of $30 million this week to establish the state's first six centers of excellence, according to The State, a Columbia, S.C.-based newspaper. Created by the state General Assembly during the 2002 legislative session, the Centers of Excellence program annually will endow professorships in research areas that will eventually lead to enhanced economic opportunities for the state. The program is to serve as an incentive for Clemson University, the University of South Carolina (USC) and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) to raise capital from the private sector to support the recruitment and maintenance of leading scientists and engineers whose work will ultimately promote the growth and expansion of knowledge-based industries and the creation of more and better paying employment opportunities for the people of South Carolina. The six centers, selected competitively by the 12-member Centers of Excellence Review Board from the 27 proposals received, include: $10 million for an automotive research…

As many states are striving to increase their academic research capacity in areas that will strengthen long-term economic competitiveness, the governor of the Lone Star State is pursuing an alternate course that closely resembles traditional business recruitment and retention models. Using his line-item veto power, Texas Governor Rick Perry signed on June 22 a state budget that eliminates $54.5 million for programs designed to encourage university research. Texas' state budget now is void of the $22.5 million that was appropriated for each of the Texas Excellence Fund (TEF) and University Research Fund (URF) and the $9.5 million allocated for the state's Advanced Research Program (ARP). Remaining in the budget is the $295 million Texas Enterprise Fund the Governor requested for use as a discretionary incentive/inducement fund to help attract and retain employers and jobs in Texas. Both TEF and URF were created in 2001 by the Texas Legislature to improve research capacity at universities other than those in the large University of Texas (UT) and Texas A&M systems. TEF…

The Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) has issued a new study showing Maryland continues to underperform in some key areas of innovation while leading competitor states in other areas. The Maryland Innovation and Technology Index 2003 is a detailed assessment of the state's technology assets and the degree to which they are reflected in economic performance. Building on its earlier editions in 1999 and 2001, the Index considers Maryland's competitiveness in three broad categories of innovation: Resources – the human, intellectual, financial and physical capital that provides the infrastructure for innovation; Dynamics – processes that add management, talent, financing and know-how to transform discovery into products and services with commercial potential; and, Performance – the economic impact of the successful introduction of scientifically-based innovations into the marketplace. The 2003 Index improves upon its earlier versions, measuring Maryland's performance in 50 statistical indicators — four more than the 2001 edition and 12 more than the 1999…

The St. Louis BioBelt announced this week it is well along in launching four new initiatives designed to position the region as a "location of choice" for start-up and evolving plant and life science companies. Two research and commercialization projects are in the planning and development stages, one located in a 1,000-acre area of midtown-St. Louis called Technopolis and the other located in the City of Creve Coeur in St. Louis County. When finished, these two areas will provide multi-tenant wet lab and related life sciences infrastructure. Technopolis is a unique collaboration of key research institutions including Washington University, Saint Louis University, the University of Missouri-St. Louis, the Missouri Botanical Garden and the BJC Health Care System. Each of these institutions and the Center for Emerging Technologies – a 100,000-square-foot life sciences business incubator – plan to jointly capitalize on each other's research in what will be an urban advanced technology research district. A second joint effort, between the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and The DESCO…

A new 225-page report released by the U.S. Department of Commerce examines employer demand for information technology (IT) workers, the IT education and training landscape, and the role of employers and workers in IT education and training. Education and Training for the Information Technology Workforce, mandated by the American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act of 2000, highlights five broad findings: The IT education and training infrastructure has grown significantly in size and scope over the past decade. Today, there is a vast array of IT education and training opportunities, with different types of programs and curricula serving different purposes. Jobs in the IT field are varied, complex and specialized, as are the knowledge, skills and experience required to perform them. Employers seek workers who possess a specific combination of technical skills and experience, often coupled with a college degree, soft skills and business or industry knowledge. Typically, employers prefer job candidates with the exact skill set who require no additional training. There is no…

Rosellen Kraus has announced she will be leaving the Central Florida Technology Partnership at the end of the summer. The Virginia Institute for Defense and Homeland Security has named Hugh Montgomery, Jr. as the consortium's first director, effective July 1. Neil Shpritz, executive director of the BWI Business Partnership in Maryland, is retiring in October. Fred Tompkins, professor and interim dean of the University of Tennessee (UT) College of Engineering, has been named interim executive director of the UT Research Foundation.

Rosellen Kraus has announced she will be leaving the Central Florida Technology Partnership at the end of the summer.

The Virginia Institute for Defense and Homeland Security has named Hugh Montgomery, Jr. as the consortium's first director, effective July 1.

Neil Shpritz, executive director of the BWI Business Partnership in Maryland, is retiring in October.

Fred Tompkins, professor and interim dean of the University of Tennessee (UT) College of Engineering, has been named interim executive director of the UT Research Foundation.

With preparations for SSTI's 7th Annual Conference on October 20-22 well underway, we have received many questions from local, regional and state organizations wanting to host the premier event for the tech-based economic development profession in 2004. Because of the increased interest, SSTI has bumped up its schedule for selecting the 2004 site. We are accepting nominations of host organizations and locations for SSTI's 8th Annual Conference until July 11, 2003. Held in late September or October each year, SSTI’s annual two-and-a-half day event attracts approximately 300 participants from more than 40 states and several countries. The conference is especially designed for those engaged in tech-based economic development on the local, regional, state or national level. To be the host organization or location for SSTI's conference is to showcase nationally and internationally the success of your state, region or community tech-based economic development efforts. Specific benefits include: Minimal or no travel expenses incurred for conference attendees from your selected state.…

SSTI is declaring its independence from publishing an issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest on July 4. The Digest will resume on July 11.