SSTI Digest

The use of Congressional earmarks on federal agency budgets to support projects and programs in academic institutions has exploded since 1996, according to statistics compiled by and reported in the September 27, 2002 issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education. Whether measured by the number of institutions involved (up 27 percent over 2001), the number of individual earmarks (up 35 percent), or the total dollar value involved (up 10 percent), the 2002 federal budget saw a record use or abuse of the technique to circumvent competitive review of proposals. The Chronicle reports there were 1,645 individual earmarks garnering 668 institutions a total of $1.84 billion in 2002. For comparison, 128 schools received a total of $300 million through 215 separate earmarks in fiscal year 1996. Arguably bad public policy smacking of backroom cronyism, earmarks nevertheless have become an integral component of many state and local efforts to develop technology-based economies over the past six years. For states with members of Congress in senior leadership positions, earmarks can…

With more than 1,000 links to socio-economic data sources, EconData.Net provides a convenient and valuable starting point for gathering information to understand regional economies. Funded by the Economic Development Administration, EconData.Net is a 100 percent free website offering easy access to state and sub-state socio-economic data for practitioners, researchers, students and data users in general. EconData.Net provides eight sections on its website to help locate data: Links By Subject - Over 750 links to data are grouped into 10 subject categories. Links By Provider - All links are grouped by the organization that provides the data. What’s New - This page provides details on changes to the website, changes in data series and new listings. For example, this month's issue highlights several sources for gauging the level of R&D activity in a state or region. Ten Best Sites - Lists the 10 best sites in regards to the amount of data and user-friendliness. Data Collections - Provides 150 websites that include multiple data series. Quick Links - A condensed page for…

Minnesota Technology, Inc. (MTI), the state's leading tech-based economic development corporation, currently is searching for a dynamic individual with top-notch skills to help bring federal technology transfer activities to Minnesota companies. The successful candidate will develop partnerships with federal labs, identify opportunities for tech transfer activities, and assist companies with the development of proposals, agreements and licenses, and implement solutions to enhance their ability to compete and grow. Successful applicants will hold a Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Manufacturing/Engineering, Science or related field (advanced degree is preferred). Experience in new technology development and commercialization, and product development; experience with DOD, DOE, NASA, NIST or other federal labs is required. Additional information regarding the position is available on SSTI's job corner: http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm

Anthony Armstrong returns to the Indiana 21st Century Research and Technology Fund as its new director. Bay Area Regional Technology Alliance (BARTA) has been renamed the TechVentures Network as the Bay Area's leading source of access to financing, business data and services for emerging technology. John Bradley is the Tennessee Valley Authority's as its first chief of economic development. Bradley had been senior vice president of economic development at the Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce. Randy Goldsmith resigned as President & CEO of the Oklahoma Technology Development Corp to assume the role of President and CEO of the San Antonio Technology Accelerator Initiative. J.A. Hans Roeterink, chief technical officer and vice president of network operations for T-Systems in New York, is the new executive director of the Alaska Science & Technology Foundation. Roeterink begins Nov. 1, succeeding Jamie Kenworthy. Dennis Yablonsky, who has been serving as CEO for both the Pittsburgh Digital Greenhouse and the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse for most…

Anthony Armstrong returns to the Indiana 21st Century Research and Technology Fund as its new director.

Bay Area Regional Technology Alliance (BARTA) has been renamed the TechVentures Network as the Bay Area's leading source of access to financing, business data and services for emerging technology.

John Bradley is the Tennessee Valley Authority's as its first chief of economic development. Bradley had been senior vice president of economic development at the Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Randy Goldsmith resigned as President & CEO of the Oklahoma Technology Development Corp to assume the role of President and CEO of the San Antonio Technology Accelerator Initiative.

J.A. Hans Roeterink, chief technical officer and vice president of network operations for T-Systems in New York, is the new executive director of the Alaska Science & Technology Foundation. Roeterink begins Nov. 1, succeeding Jamie Kenworthy.

Dennis Yablonsky, who has been serving as CEO for both the Pittsburgh Digital Greenhouse and the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse for most of the past year, has decided to focus exclusively on the biotech initiative. His replacement as president and CEO at the Pittsburgh Digital Greenhouse is David Ruppersberger.

A ballot proposal being put forth by Citizens for a Healthy Michigan would reduce funding for Michigan Life Sciences Corridor sponsored projects by nearly $50 million annually, estimates a report released by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).  The annual reduction includes both the cut in direct funding and required matching funds for Corridor funded projects. It also takes into account the loss in expected yields from the Corridor’s loans, equity stakes investments and direct investments in venture capital funds. "Within the past six months, many states have announced that they have eliminated or significantly curtailed their life sciences initiatives," Doug Rothwell, chairperson of the Life Sciences Corridor Steering Committee, said in a press statement. "Michigan, on the other hand, has received national acclaim for its continuing commitment to the program and the positive results that have been achieved. Approval of this ballot proposal would significantly reduce funding for the Life Sciences Corridor and associate Michigan with other states that are pulling back,…

The Advanced Technology Program (ATP) has announced 40 awards potentially totaling $101.6 million in ATP funding matched by an industry cost-share of $92 million if carried through to completion. These awards were selected from proposals submitted to 2002 competition. Managed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, ATP provides cost-shared funding to industry-led teams which can include non-profits and universities to help advance particularly challenging, high-risk research and development projects that have the potential to spark important, broad-based economic or social benefits for the U.S. The program supports projects that industry cannot fully fund on its own because of significant technical risks. ATP awards are made on the basis of a rigorous competitive peer review process that considers scientific and technical merit of each proposal. In addition, awards are based on potential for broad-based economic benefits to the nation, the need for ATP funding, and evidence of a clear commercialization pathway and broad diffusion. ATP accelerates enabling technology…