SSTI Digest

True technology growth for Orange County hinges on a broader, more supportive infrastructure, argues the latest research report by the Los Angeles Regional Technology Alliance (Larta). Raising the Curtain: The Technology Economy of Orange County examines the state of the region's health and stability, the obstacles that curtail its growth, and the strengths that will help move it forward as a leading economic and technology destination. Backed by technology industries in electronics, computer hardware, bioscience, telecommunications and computer software, Orange County's diverse economy positions it "to be more stable and resilient than many other well known technology regions, such as Silicon Valley," the report states. Industry clustering in Irvine, the mid-county area near Fullerton, and the South County area near Lake Forest and Aliso Viejo, according to the report, has allowed for greater networking opportunities and more efficient sharing of resources, "leading in turn to greater degrees of innovation and specialization." Orange County clustering efforts also have…

From angel capital to university technology commercialization, there are myriad facets to technology-based economic development (TBED). The key to success lies in a solid understanding of your respective element of the field — from grasping the policy issues to developing effective programs and practices to implementing sound evaluation techniques. While the SSTI Weekly Digest and SSTI's annual conferences are designed specifically to help you in your quest for economic growth through science and technology, we recognize there are additional tools you need for your job. So, we've compiled a catalog of 116 of the best titles currently available to assist the TBED community. Descriptions in SSTI's 20-page publication catalog are grouped in 15 categories organized by specific TBED goal. For instance, there are five titles for growing a bio-based economy, 13 covering the local aspects of TBED, 12 for engaging higher education in your TBED quest, and eight for encouraging entrepreneurship. Books selected for inclusion are geared to varied audiences from practitioners and policy makers to…

The SSTI Weekly Digest and Funding Supplement will not be published next week as the office will be closed during SSTI's 6th Annual Conference, Building Tech-based Economies: From Policies to Practice on October 1-3. The next issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest will be released on October 11.

"California must continue to increase funding for science and technology in its university systems or risk losing one of its most important comparative advantages," warns the Milken Institute in the State Technology & Science Index: Comparing and Contrasting California. Commissioned by TechVentures Network and the California Technology Trade and Commerce Agency's Division of Science Technology and Innovation, Milken set about to develop a series of indicators to measure the performance of California’s high technology-based economy against the rest of the country. The result is a set of 73 indicators arrayed across five composites: R&D inputs; risk capital and infrastructure; human capital investment; technology and science workforce; and technology concentration and dynamism. Based on the aggregate scores, the Milken Institute reports Massachusetts, Colorado and California are in the best position to succeed in the technology-led information age. California's success at attracting scientific and technology talent from other regions of the country help offset a "…

The relaxation of international trade barriers and increased emphasis on globalization have had significant effects on the world's high-tech manufacturing industry. Two recent papers look at the phenomenon. An Infobrief from the National Science Foundation focuses on the growth of high-tech manufacturing in Latin America and a working paper released by the National Bureau of Economic Research considers the changes in the composition and character of the U.S. manufacturing industry in light of globalization. Brief summaries and links to download each report follows below. Latin America: High Tech-Tech Manufacturing on the Rise, But Outpaced by East Asia High-tech manufacturing has grown substantially over the last decade in Latin America according to an August 2002 InfoBrief by Derek Hill for the National Science Foundation. Latin America: High Tech-Tech Manufacturing on the Rise, But Outpaced by East Asia states that the combined high-tech manufacturing production of seven Latin American countries has increased 93 percent between 1991 and 2000 to a total of $52 billion by the end of…

Many states and communities are working to be leading participants in the rapidly growing biotech industries. Investments in academic research facilities and college scholarships to encourage more students to pursue biology and science degrees are among the strategies states are pursuing. A report released last week by the National Research Council (NRC) suggests significant changes are needed to overhaul biology education, however, in order to ensure majors in these disciplines are prepared for the new demands of biotech. Bio 2010: Undergraduate Education to Prepare Biomedical Research Scientists reports a better understanding of DNA, new laboratory techniques, and greater computer power have revolutionized the field of biology in recent years. This revolution has also changed the way biologists work, forcing them to develop know-how in other scientific disciplines. Math and computer models, for example, are crucial when trying to decipher the role played by a single gene among hundreds of thousands, and laser beams are being used by biologists to manipulate molecules. The NRC found…

The National Science Foundation recently released the latest edition of Characteristics of Doctoral Scientists and Engineers in the United States, which reports characteristics for 1999. Valuable data is presented in the report on the demographic and employment characteristics of doctoral scientists and engineers in the US. The goal of the publications is to provide policymakers and researchers quality data in regards to the educational attainment and career patterns of doctoral scientists and engineers. The National Science Foundation performs this survey biennially and is a longitudinal survey conducted since 1973. Current and past reports can be found online at http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/cdse/start.htm SSTI has prepared a table comparing the percent change from 1997 to 1999 by employer location and broad occupation for doctoral scientists and engineers in the United States. Each state’s percent increase or decrease in employment for these individuals in various occupational categories is calculated. The states are ranked from highest to lowest in percent increase or decrease for…

Are you looking for funding for high-risk research? The Advanced Technology Program (ATP), part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, bridges the gap between the research lab and the marketplace stimulating prosperity through innovation. ATP’s mission is to accelerate the development of innovative technologies through partnerships with the private sector. Program Impact ATP fills a gap between invention and innovation not substantially funded by private investors. About 80 percent of ATP funded projects have brought, or are soon bringing, one or more new products or processes into the marketplace. Eighty new products or processes are in the marketplace or expected soon. ATP accelerates technology development. Approximately 86 percent of 673 organizations in 347 projects reported that they are ahead in their R&D cycle as a result of ATP funding. Fifty-three percent said that they are ahead by one to three years. ATP fosters collaboration. Almost 85 percent of ATP projects engaged in collaborations with other companies, universities, federal…

Do you have a great idea for a new industrial product or process that can help save energy, reduce emissions, and/or provide clean manufacturing? If so, then you will want to look to the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for possible financing. Several programs provide finance solutions through grants and seed money to help companies get energy ideas off the ground. Mission The EERE mission is to strengthen America’s energy security, environmental quality, and economic vitality in public-private partnerships that enhance energy efficiency and productivity; bring clean, reliable and affordable energy technologies to the marketplace; and make a difference in the everyday lives of Americans by enhancing their energy choices and their quality of life. Partnering EERE is strengthening its partnerships with other government entities and the private sector to better leverage the Federal investment in research, development and deployment (RD&D) of new technologies. These partnerships involve other components of the Department of…

The Washington Technology Center (WTC), based in Seattle, WA, is searching for a person to fill the newly created position of Manager of Statewide Programs. This person will design and develop a statewide network of programs, services and connections to serve companies and entrepreneurs across Washington State. The person stepping into this position will lead the state's efforts to drive innovation and technology into economic growth through partnerships with local technology, economic development and research organizations. The Statewide Program Manager should be someone with a technology and business background that is exceptional at: understanding the needs of companies and entrepreneurs developing innovative programs to fill those needs, attracting financing to support these new programs, and engaging others in this network. More complete information is avaiable on the WTC website: http://www.watechcenter.org The Statewide Program Manager position is posted now through October 4.

Tuesday’s primary resulted in the selection of gubernatorial candidates in nine states: Arizona, Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. As of press time, Florida’s primary results on the Democratic side were still uncertain. SSTI reviewed the candidates’ campaign websites to determine their positions on economic development and the role of science and technology in today’s economy. Conventional political wisdom would indicate that in poor economic times, a major campaign theme would be economic development. If that’s the case this year, the theme is not reflected in most candidates’ websites. Of the 20 major candidates advancing as a result of Tuesday’s election, SSTI found that only eight offered substantive discussion of issues of interest to the tech-based economic development community. The analysis reveals, however, that those advocating investments in science and technology continue to come from both parties; bipartisan support for science and technology has been a hallmark of tech-based economic development since its…

Earlier this week, the European Commission presented its strategy to respond to the March 2002 Barcelona European Council's call to raise research spending to 3 percent of the European Union's (EU) average Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2010. Today, Europe is at 1.9 percent on average across the member countries. The Communication More Research for Europe looks into Europe's under-investment in science and technology and its harmful consequences for EU competitiveness, growth and employment. R&D investment (private and public) in the U.S. now exceeds EU expenditure by more than €120 billion every year. In 2000, in the U.S. €288 billion was spent on R&D, while only €164 billion was spent in the EU. The report states Japan already has achieved the 3 percent level, with R&D expenditures accounting for 2.98 percent of its GDP in 2000. The USA is coming closer (with 2.69 percent in 2000, which has been constantly rising since 1995). In Europe, R&D intensity, at 1.93 percent in 2000, has been stagnating at under 2 percent since the beginning of the last decade, the…