SSTI Digest

To build the state’s economy and create opportunity, North Dakota Governor John Hoeven is launching Smart Growth, a host of programs linking education, job creation and career development to build the state’s economy and communities. The Governor announced his plan with release of the 2003-2005 executive budget. Smart Growth includes funding for these initiatives: Full implementation of the higher education roundtable, a forum for making recommendations that will enable universities to leverage state resources with private sector and federal research dollars. Three new venture capital funds: Centers of Excellence Fund - a $5 million fund to help create job opportunities through research and education on North Dakota campuses; New Venture Fund - a $10 million fund to help finance new and existing businesses; and, Seed Capital Fund - a $1 million source of financing to help entrepreneurs in the earliest stages of business creation. An increase in teacher compensation of $4,500 for every teacher in North Dakota. A North Dakota Business…

What constitutes high tech employment? Through aggressive marketing of its annual reports, the AEA, formerly known as the American Electronic Association, has captured most of the media's attention around the country. While a very good report, AEA's Cyberstates only reports employment in its member industries, which represents just one-third of the nation's industrial R&D. The result is, when many people think of high tech, they only think of information and communication technologies (ICT). Obviously, high tech is more than ICT. Researchers in aerospace or the biosciences — to name two fields excluded in the AEA analysis — will point that out. Having the highest concentration of automotive research and researchers in the country, Michigan promoters also are quick to take issue with the annual AEA survey. As a result, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) recently released a study presenting a more comprehensive review of different technology employment figures across the country, which compares the results to the figures reported in Cyberstates. Conducted by the…

A new biotech report funded by a private foundation finds Arizona possesses many of the essential elements needed to become a national leader in the biosciences. Now, all the state needs is at least 10 years and a $1.4 billion public-private investment, according to the report Platform for Progress: Arizona's Bioscience Roadmap. The Flinn Foundation is counting on the encouraging findings of its report, the detailed roadmap therein, and the momentum of the planning process to help energize the entire state to make the necessary effort. The planning process was overseen by a 25-member committee of state, business, university and economic development leaders. Platform for Progress argues the biosciences not only would build upon Arizona's strengths in electronics, optics and advanced engineering, but also would bring stability to the state's economy by balancing more cyclical industries. To mazimize the impact of its investments, the study contends, Arizona should focus its near-term efforts on three existing and emerging research fields — neurological sciences, cancer therapeutics…

Earlier this week, the High Technology Development Corporation (HTDC) launched HiTechHawaii.com, the state's newest and most comprehensive high technology web portal. A collaboration with the Hawaii Technology Trade Association, the site provides a single point of access to information about Hawaii's technology industry, including business and technology resources, job listings, events and news articles. HTDC will be responsible for monitoring and keeping HiTechHawaii.com up-to-date. Among other features, the portal provides helpful information on doing business in Hawaii, tax incentives, funding opportunities, and meetings and conventions resources. The site also has valuable search capabilities, including a direct search and link to HTDC's Technology Business Directory and TechJobs Hawaii. With the launch of HiTechHawaii.com, Hawaii joins a number of other states using the Web to create a greater sense of community within a dispersed constituency base and to more easily share pertinent information across the state. The portals also can serve as tools for attracting new business…

The Oklahoma Technology Development Corporation (OTDC), a private, not-for-profit corporation dedicated to the creation and expansion of high-technology businesses in Oklahoma, is seeking a President and Chief Executive Officer. OTDC operates the Oklahoma Technology Commercialization Center, a state-funded initiative of the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology designed to stimulate and encourage technology-based business growth and assist with the processes of technology commercialization and early stage business development. Under a large, broad-based board of directors, the President and CEO of OTDC serves as the executive director of the Tech Center. Responsibilities will include business strategy development; long range planning; board interaction; interface with public sector partners, universities, and private industry for the purpose of forging productive partnerships; and increasing public awareness of issues facing technology-based firms. Interested applicants are requested to include current base salary information along with resume. The full job…

Howard Bell is the new executive director of Wayne State University's Research and Technology Park. One of the state's SmartZones, the park was recently named the permanent site for Michigan's $50 Million NextEnergy Center. Laurence Gebhardt has been selected to serve as the first director of Idaho's TechConnect East. Chuck Henderson has announced he will retire as president of the University of Nebraska's 130-acre Technology Park next June. Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack announced that the Director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development, C.J. Niles, will be stepping down effective December 31.  Mary Lawyer, the department's chief of staff, will serve as interim director. The Senate unanimously confirmed Anne B. Pope of Tennessee as Federal Co-Chairwoman of the Appalachian Regional Commission. Pope currently serves as Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Lewis D. "Luke" Rich, a vice president and Western New York regional director for Empire State Development Corp., is taking early retirement at the end of the year. …

Howard Bell is the new executive director of Wayne State University's Research and Technology Park. One of the state's SmartZones, the park was recently named the permanent site for Michigan's $50 Million NextEnergy Center.

Laurence Gebhardt has been selected to serve as the first director of Idaho's TechConnect East.

Chuck Henderson has announced he will retire as president of the University of Nebraska's 130-acre Technology Park next June.

Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack announced that the Director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development, C.J. Niles, will be stepping down effective December 31.  Mary Lawyer, the department's chief of staff, will serve as interim director.

The Senate unanimously confirmed Anne B. Pope of Tennessee as Federal Co-Chairwoman of the Appalachian Regional Commission. Pope currently serves as Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.

Lewis D. "Luke" Rich, a vice president and Western New York regional director for Empire State Development Corp., is taking early retirement at the end of the year.