SSTI Digest

Convincing politicians to make a multi-year investment in a state's economic future is challenging, particularly when commitments made in one budget cycle or administration can be forgotten or ignored so easily in the next legislative session. The FY 2003-04 funding struggle for Michigan's $50 million-per-year-for-20-years life science initiative provides ample evidence: $50 million dropped to $45 million and eroded to $32.5 million because of budget problems. For FY04, the governor has requested only $20 million for the line item and added several other demands on the shrinking pot of funds. Getting a state's General Assembly to stick to it for 20 years, as Pennsylvania's Ben Franklin Technology Partners (BFTP) has seen since 1982, takes strong gubernatorial and legislative leadership across terms, administrations and parties — and results worthy of the increased public funds. And BFTP has delivered, according to an independent impact analysis. The analysis reported that  $311 million in public investments, resulted in 23 to 1 return on the public investment, or a $7.9 billion…

Increased funding for equity investments and a new university-industry R&D partnership program are among the pieces of legislation New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson signed this week, greatly expanding New Mexico's portfolio of programs to grow a tech-based economy. Most of the initiatives were included in the economic development agenda Gov. Richardson outlined during his first State of the State address in January. They are: As much as $300 million from the state Severance Tax Permanent Fund may be invested as equity in New Mexico venture capital funds and New Mexico business. HB 918 raises the maximum cap to 6 percent of the Fund's market value that is available for equity financing. A Technology Enhancement Fund is created in House Bill 391 to provide matching funds to state research universities to support collaborative applied research done in partnership with corporations or non-profit organizations. Supported research must lead toward the creation of new products and production processes in the fields of agriculture, biotechnology, biomedicine energy, materials…

In response to state and regional requests for assistance in identifying factors that influence regional innovation and competitiveness, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Office of Technology Policy (OTP) released this week an annual report measuring science and technology indicators in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The third annual edition of The Dynamics of Technology-Based Economic Development contains data to help policy makers and regional leaders better understand the factors that influence economic outcomes at the state and local level. Areas such as R&D investment, number of patents issued and education levels are among the categories measured. "Technological innovation and commercialization are the new drivers of economic growth, both in the U.S. and around the world," said Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy Bruce Mehlman. "As state business and government leaders attempt to fashion appropriate economic development strategies, many first try to measure and understand their existing science and technology assets and strengths. This…

The Mississippi Technology Alliance has released a second annual index focusing on the process of innovation, the links between innovation and technology-based economic development, and activities that government, academia and the private sector provide to support innovation and economic development. First published in January 2002, the Mississippi Innovation Index presents technology goals, targets and annual performance levels for Mississippi, using data from the Institutions of Higher Learning, the Mississippi Development Authority, the Mississippi Employment Security Commission, the Mississippi Tax Commission and other national databases. The 2003 index updates data for the most current years published by the agencies and the previous 3-5 years. Eight innovation goals, or areas of focus, are the subject of the Index. Using a standardized scoring system, the index shows Mississippi's overall index value among the areas is 325, up slightly from the baseline index value of 300 — an improvement of 8 percent. The 10-year goals include: wealth creation - increase high tech…

More than 1,000 economic development professionals, business and government leaders, nonprofit organization representatives and university officials from across the U.S. will come together when the Economic Development Administration (EDA) holds its national conference on May 6-9, 2003. Overseen by the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA serves to generate and retain high-skill, high-wage jobs in economically distressed areas of the nation. Its conference, Engines of Economic Growth for the 21st Century, is expected to provide participants the opportunity to discuss market-based strategies to compete in a global economy. Participants also can look to discuss economic development as it relates to "the Administration’s highest priority issues — winning the war on terrorism, protecting Americans here at home, and restoring robust economic growth." Twenty-five speakers will make presentations at EDA's conference, to be held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington D.C. The list includes presidents, directors, chairpersons, secretaries, vice-chancellors and at least one pastor. Complete…

The South Carolina Women's Business Center has opened its doors and already has 30 customers, the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SCMEP) recently announced. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the Women's Business Center will focus on serving only manufacturing facilities in 2003 but will add services to other types of businesses in 2004. More than 64,000 existing women-owned businesses in South Carolina figure to benefit from the center, which will provide such services as business start-up assistance, marketing, training and access to financing. The center also will collaborate with other organizations including Small Business Development Centers. Almost 85 percent of women-owned firms are sole proprietorships, compared to about 73 percent for all businesses, according to recent data released by the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Advocacy. SBA established the Women's Business Center Program in 1988, and in late 2002, SCMEP applied for and was awarded a 5-year grant to fund its center. Today, nearly 100 centers nationwide are funded by more than 80…

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty recently announced the formation of a Biodiesel Task Force to accelerate development of the state's biodiesel industry. The nine-member group will advise the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) on methods to increase production and use of biodiesel in Minnesota. Legislation passed by the 2002 Minnesota Legislature requires that 2 percent of Minnesota’s diesel fuel be replaced with biodiesel by June 2005. This requirement will take effect on the condition that the state has developed by that time an annual biodiesel production capacity of at least 8 million gallons. To help reach that production capacity and ensure a smooth introduction of biodiesel into the marketplace, the new task force will help promote and educate possible biodiesel developers, marketers, consumers and manufacturers. Governor Pawlenty said the task force will play a key role in making biodiesel use widespread in Minnesota. “The task force will be an important tool for spurring biodiesel production in Minnesota,” the governor said in a press statement. “It will…

NorTech – an organization whose mission is to ensure economic growth and leadership in Northeast Ohio by promoting entrepreneurially based globally competitive technology development and commercialization – seeks to hire an Associate Director who will be responsible for all activities associated with one or more initiatives and ongoing high level support for the initiatives. This includes for each assignment: planning; convening and coalescing support from CEOs; advocacy at the local and state levels; launching the initiatives; and maintaining an active governance or advisory role post launch. NorTech seeks highly qualified individuals who have demonstrated success as entrepreneurs, senior business development assignments in growth organizations, and/or leadership experience in public-private initiatives. More information is available at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.

The Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance announced this week that Clare Emerson will replace Lewis Attardo as executive director. U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta has named Samuel G. Bonasso as Acting Administrator of the Research and Special Programs Administration following the departure of former Administrator Ellen G. Engleman, who left to become Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds announced Friday that John Calvin has been named Secretary for the Department of Tourism and State Development. The newly formed department combines the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Department of Tourism, Office of Tribal Relations, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the South Dakota Housing Development Authority. Bill Duncan is the first president of the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute, which held its inaugural event at the end of March. Christopher Foster has been named technology coordinator for the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. John…

The Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance announced this week that Clare Emerson will replace Lewis Attardo as executive director.

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta has named Samuel G. Bonasso as Acting Administrator of the Research and Special Programs Administration following the departure of former Administrator Ellen G. Engleman, who left to become Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board.

South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds announced Friday that John Calvin has been named Secretary for the Department of Tourism and State Development. The newly formed department combines the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Department of Tourism, Office of Tribal Relations, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the South Dakota Housing Development Authority.