SSTI Digest

At its winter meeting last week, the National Governors' Association (NGA) launched a new initiative to explore how states can meet the challenges of governing in the New Economy. During the next six months, NGA's Center for Best Practices will release a series of papers that focus on seven different aspects of the New Economy. A complete list of the papers included in the series can be viewed at: http://www.nga.org/Releases/PR-26Feb2000Strategies.asp

A new 50-page report, State Strategies for the New Economy, begins this series by presenting action steps to the nation’s governors from the NGA Task Force on the New Economy. The Task Force calls for changes in the way states govern, deliver services, and attract the workers and businesses driving the New Economy.

Arizona Legislation has been introduced to permit one percent of the permanent state trust funds to be invested in economic development projects as authorized by the Arizona Board of Investment. The concurrent resolution, HCR 2033, was referred to several committees for consideration. Another bill under consideration in the Arizona House, HB 2447, would create the Arizona Capital Access Program, a revolving investment fund secured by state tax credits to encourage technology-focused venture capital investments in the state.

The State of Maine’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Committee seeks a Statewide EPSCoR Director to coordinate and facilitate the activities of the State’s EPSCoR Steering Committee, called the Research Capacity Committee (RCC). A three-person management team consisting of the Chancellor of the University of Maine System (UMS), the President of the Maine Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF), and the Chair of the RCC appoint the Director and oversee the Director’s activities. The Director reports directly to the Chair of the RCC. Letters of application, a resume, and three references should be submitted in time to be received no later than April 7, 2000.

SSTI has added two new features to our web site to make your visits easier. Both are free services from Mind-It.com. First, a site search engine has been added to our home page http://www.ssti.org allowing quicker browsing and researching.

The second new feature is a free notification service http://www.ssti.org/whatsnew.htm  which sends subscribers email messages whenever our site is updated. Recipients are then able to click on the link to SSTI's home page to see the modifications we've made to the site (follow "What's New"). Mind-It.com allows individual users to monitor several unrelated web pages with this valuable service http://mindit.netmind.com/

Earlier this month, Governor Ben Cayetano released The New Millenium Growth Strategy for Hawaii's Economy, an economic development plan to improve the state's performance in a knowledge-based economy. The 90-page report, penned by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, includes several new initiatives for developing and growing technology businesses as well as strengthening existing economic development efforts.

The plan hopes to have "high-tech activities permeate all sectors of Hawaii's economy." As a result, separate sections are dedicated to discussing technology-based approaches to building a stronger economy through high technology, information technology, biotechnology, defense and dual-use technology, health care, resource development, environment, and tourism. The plan also identifies and addresses proposals for workforce training and infrastructure capacity needs for a technology-based economy.

Mark Your Calendars! Book your Flights! Make your Reservations! Pack Your Bags!

Planning is underway for SSTI's fourth and largest annual gathering of S&T policymakers and practitioners. The event will be held October 3-4, 2000 in Chicago, Illinois. As in the past, two limited-seating in-depth workshops will precede the conference on Monday, October 2.

Efforts to transform rural Berkshire County, Massachusetts from an area of economic decline into an equal player for the New Economy through improved telecommunications access are bearing fruit. Berkshire Connect, a consortium of business, cultural, academic, and community leaders has successfully negotiated an agreement with Global Crossing, Ltd. and Equal Access Networks to provide low-cost, equal access telecommunications throughout the region. This agreement will allow area businesses to save 50% over their current rates for T-1 Internet access.

The Army Medical Research and Materiel Command has recently posted in the Commerce Business Daily the following solicitations for research proposals:

Cliff Numark has been named CEO for the San Diego Regional Technology Alliance, filling the position vacated by Joe Raguso when he became Deputy Secretary in the California Department of Trade and Commerce. Mike Wojcicki, chief operating officer and vice president of research at KTEC, has been named President of the Modernization Forum (ModForum) in Livonia, Michigan. Nola Miyasaki is serving as Acting Executive Director and CEO of the Hawaii High Technology Development Corp. Dan Hill, Assistant Administrator responsible for SBIR activities in the SBA, is leaving to work on international trade issues in the Department of Commerce.

Cliff Numark has been named CEO for the San Diego Regional Technology Alliance, filling the position vacated by Joe Raguso when he became Deputy Secretary in the California Department of Trade and Commerce.

Mike Wojcicki, chief operating officer and vice president of research at KTEC, has been named President of the Modernization Forum (ModForum) in Livonia, Michigan

Nola Miyasaki is serving as Acting Executive Director and CEO of the Hawaii High Technology Development Corp