SSTI Digest

With technology's pervasiveness and important role in most aspects of the policy agenda before Congress, the need for accurate, nonpartisan information on technology may never have been greater. Two approaches to meeting the need were the topic of Technology Assessment: Identifying the Needs of Congress, a recent forum co-hosted by ASME International and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The forum provided an opportunity for an exchange of information on technology assessment legislation currently proposed in the House and Senate. Forum speakers included Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ); Jonathan Epstein, Congressional Fellow, Senator Jeff Bingaman's (D-NM) office; and, Amy Fraenkel, Counsel, U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Attendees included representatives from various scientific, engineering and technology organizations. There are currently two bills pending in Congress that would help address the need for improved technology assessment for Congress. Rep. Holt has introduced H.R. 2148 to reauthorize the…

Industrial R&D intensity, or measuring industrial research and development expenditures as a proportion of Gross State Product, is just one method to standardize the data for comparison across states (see the April 12, 2002 edition of the SSTI Weekly Digest). Reviewing a state's expenditures on the basis of its population is another technique. SSTI has prepared a table presenting industrial R&D per capita values and rankings for 1997-1999 for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The table reveals different results in rankings than industrial R&D intensity for many states. The top five states for industrial per capita in 1999 were Michigan, Delaware, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Washington. Data for the table was obtained from the Census Bureau estimates and the National Science Foundation's Survey of Industrial Research and Development: 1999, which is available at: http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/nsf02312/htmstart.htm

The U.S. Small Business Administration has named Heath Copp as the Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Mr. Copp, 24, is a resident of Grand Forks, North Dakota. Gary Neil Drummond has been elected chairmain of the board for the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama. Joseph Hammang is leaving his position as director of science and technology at the Rhode Island Economic Policy Council to join the pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer, Inc. John S. Maxson has been named as the new president of The Illinois Coalition. Mr. Maxson fills the position vacated by Shaye Mandle earlier this spring. The Illinois Innovation Initiative has named Jerry Mitchell to serve as commercialization manager. Mr. Mitchell is also president of the Midwest Entrepreneurs Forum. Sacramento's economic development director, Andy Plescia, is moving on to become a private development consultant. Marguerite Wilbur has been named president and CEO of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley.…

The U.S. Small Business Administration has named Heath Copp as the Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Mr. Copp, 24, is a resident of Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Gary Neil Drummond has been elected chairmain of the board for the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama.

Joseph Hammang is leaving his position as director of science and technology at the Rhode Island Economic Policy Council to join the pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer, Inc.

John S. Maxson has been named as the new president of The Illinois Coalition. Mr. Maxson fills the position vacated by Shaye Mandle earlier this spring.

The Illinois Innovation Initiative has named Jerry Mitchell to serve as commercialization manager. Mr. Mitchell is also president of the Midwest Entrepreneurs Forum.

Sacramento's economic development director, Andy Plescia, is moving on to become a private development consultant.

Marguerite Wilbur has been named president and CEO of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley.

David Winder, currently executive director of the Utah Department of Community and Economic Development, has been appointed to a newly created post as Governor Mike Leavitt's special assistant for post-Olympic projects. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Mr. Winder will serve both positions until a replacement is named for the DCED position.

The State of Colorado is creating an office to recruit and assist space technology businesses, the Associated Press reported. Approximately $240,000 has been raised for the office, which will be led by a yet-to-be-named "Colorado space advocate." One fourth of the funds are provided by the state, with the balance received from the private sector.