SSTI Digest

With a $25 million funding opportunity currently on the streets for manufacturing and infrastructure research projects, the Technology Innovation Program (TIP) has added three more locations and dates for proposers' conferences next week. The free public meetings will provide general information regarding TIP, guidance on preparing proposals, and the opportunity for questions and answers. NIST/TIP staff will answer questions about the TIP eligibility and cost-sharing requirements, evaluation and award criteria, selection process, and the general characteristics of a competitive TIP proposal at the Proposers' Conferences and by phone and email. Monday, April 13, 2009 Boston Massachusetts 1PM - 5PM Eastern Time Marriott Boston Cambridge Wednesday, April 15, 2009 Detroit Michigan 1PM - 5PM Eastern Time Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center Friday, April 17, 2009 San Jose California 9AM - 1PM Pacific Time San Jose Marriott Pre-registration is not required to attend any of the three meetings. The points of contact at TIP for information are: Margaret Phillips, 301-975-4350 or Donna Paul, 301-975-…

The Technology Innovation Program (TIP) in the National Institute of Standards and Technology is using its FY09 award competition to support high-risk, high-reward research in civil infrastructure and manufacturing. The program has $25 million available to support as many as 25 new awards. TIP is open to individual small-sized or medium-sized businesses or to joint ventures that also may include institutions of higher education, nonprofit research organizations and national laboratories. TIP awards are limited to no more than $3 million total over three years for a single company project and no more than $9 million total over five years for a joint venture. Approximately $15 million in first-year funding is allocated for R&D projects in manufacturing that would enable better, more cost-effective use of advanced materials in innovative products. The competition is limited to the three classes of materials considered most critical to potential growth areas for manufacturing: technologies for nanomaterials; composites and superalloys, alloys; and smart materials. TIP is seeking proposals for new technologies for predictive modeling to enable improved material…

The following overview is a synopsis of select recent announcements from research parks across the nation, including groundbreakings and development plans to support vibrant regional economies based on science, technology and innovation.  The University of Missouri Mizzou Innovation Center is the anchor research tenant in the new Missouri Innovation Park - a 500-acre knowledge-based science and technology park being developed by the City of Blue Springs and the university. The project will support public research organizations, private businesses, and other research-related organizations establishing business clusters that focus on commercializing technological innovations. Initial seed capital is provided by the Blue Springs Economic Development Corporation, the City of Blue Springs and Kansas City Power & Light. Tenants are expected to move into the research park within the next five to 10 years, reports the Columbia Daily Tribune. Plans for a 350-acre biomedical research campus in Kansas City were unveiled last month by Oxford Redevelopment Company. The proposed development, which is called Oxford on the Blue, is part of an overall concept…

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick's secretary of Housing and Economic Development, Daniel O'Connell, resigned for personal reasons and was replaced by Greg Bialecki, an undersecretary who has been responsible for business development SRI International announced that Stephen Ciesinski has been appointed Vice President of Strategic Business Development. John Fremstad has left his post at the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission to join the BE&K Building Group. Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley announced the appointment of Christian Johansson, a Harvard University-educated entrepreneur who most recently ran a Baltimore-based business and government alliance, as the secretary of the Department of Business and Economic Development. Johansson, who must be confirmed by the Senate, would replace David Edgerley. The South Dakota Wind Energy Association, a group geared toward supporting the development of wind energy in South Dakota, has been established. Suzy Ticknor joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory as the director of the Industrial Partnership Program. Previously she was vice president of the Council on Competitiveness.

DATELINE: RICHMOND, Va. The following information was released by the office of the governor of Virginia: Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced appointments to the following boards and commissions: * denotes reappointment Medical Advisory Board for the Department of Motor Vehicles Juan A. Astruc Jr., M.D.* of Glen Allen, partner at the Retina Institute of Virginia; Parker C. Dooley, M.D. of Accomack County, medical director of Eastern Shore Rural Health System, Inc.; Anil Kumar, M.D.* of Glen Allen, assistant professor for MCV-VCU Health Systems; Thomas Pellegrino, M.D.* of Norfolk, associate dean for education at Eastern Virginia Medical School; John Sheppard, M.D.* of Cape Charles, president of Virginia Eye Consultants. State Lottery Board Susan Smith Feaster* of Loudoun County, chairman of the board and CEO of the World Leadership Institute. Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits Joyal M. Mulheron…

In support of the state's goal to attract and grow biotechnology companies, Gov. Martin O'Malley's executive budget recommends increasing by $400,000 the state's investment in stem cell research, while maintaining current funding for biotechnology tax credits and slightly increasing the appropriation for the Nanotech Biotechnology Initiative Fund. Announced last summer, Maryland's Bio 2020 Initiative is the state's plan to invest up to $1.3 billion over the next 10 years in Maryland's biotechnology industry (see the June 18, 2008 issue of the Digest). Gov. O'Malley recommends $18.4 million in FY10 for the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, which is administered by the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO). Although lawmakers approved $19 million for the fund in FY09, budget documents reflect $18 million in total funds were available. The program has funded a total 82 projects at Maryland research universities and private sector corporations since 2006. TEDCO would also receive $3.7 million ($600,000 less than last year) for technology development, transfer and commercialization through its University Development Transfer Fund and the Maryland Technology…

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell named George Cornelius, the immediate past president and CEO of Arkema Inc., as secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development. Mark Crowell, head of economic development and technology transfer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been appointed vice president for business and technology development at the Scripps Research Institute. Robert De Wit, a former Pfizer Inc. executive, has been appointed president and chief executive officer of the business incubator of Western Michigan University's Parkview Campus. Michael Dockter has been hired as the new associate vice chancellor for research and technology transfer and chief research officer at Arkansas State University. David Edgerly, who for the last two years has headed Maryland's Department of Business and Economic Development, will resign from his post. Jim Fram, the president and chief executive of the Bartlesville Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Bartlesville Development Corporation, is resigning. He will leave Feb. 2 to become the senior vice president of economic development for the Tulsa Metro Chamber. Nate…

Gov. Jim Douglas plans to merge the Vermont Departments of Economic Development and Housing and Community Affairs. Douglas's deputy chief of staff Betsy Bishop was appointed commissioner of the Department of Economic Development. She replaces Mike Quinn, who stepped down after serving six years in the position. Linda Brander resigns as program manager of the Montana Technology Innovation Partnership Program to begin a new job as the Restoration Coordinator at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. John Collar has been named Executive Director of the Colorado BioScience Association. The Tech Council of Maryland has announced that chief executive office Julie Conns is resigning her post. Matt Dugener resigned from the LEAP (Lansing Economic Area Partnership). Denyse Ferguson, Executive Vice President, has agreed to serve as the interim president. Governor Brad Henry of Oklahoma has been elected chairman of the Southern Growth Policies Board. Saul Kaplan resigned as the executive director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation. Kelsey Kohler has left her position as executive director of the…

The outcome of Tuesday's election resulted in several wins and some defeats for TBED among the more than 150 ballot measures presented to voters across the nation. Outlined below are the unofficial election results of select ballot measures from each state's respective election office and local media reports as of Wednesday, Nov. 5. More detailed information on the measures is provided in last week's issue of the Digest, which is available at: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/2008/102908.htm#election. Arkansas Voters approved 63 percent to 37 percent a constitutional amendment authorizing the General Assembly to establish, operate and regulate state lotteries to fund scholarships and grants for residents enrolled in two- and four-year colleges and universities in the state. Voters also approved a measure to shift the state's budgeting from a two-year cycle to an annual cycle. California Two measures supporting renewable energy were defeated by California voters. Proposition 7, requiring public and private utilities to generate a percentage of their power from renewable energy, was defeated 65 percent to 35 percent. Proposition 10, authorizing the state to…

While the Presidential election takes center stage on November 4, voters in several states also will cast their votes on statewide ballot issues affecting the TBED community. In addition to the 11 gubernatorial races and more than 5,800 state legislative seats up for grabs, voters across the nation will consider measures to provide funding for public education, expand investment in alternative and renewable energy, lift restrictions on stem-cell research, and eliminate income tax and state spending caps. Following is a summary of selected ballot issues from across the nation. Funding Public Education Florida Florida voters will be asked to amend the state constitution to require that the legislature authorize counties to levy a local option sales tax to supplement funding for public community colleges. Ballot question 8 requires voter approval to levy the tax. Maryland A proposal in Maryland asks voters to approve an amendment to the state constitution authorizing video lottery terminal gaming to provide funds for public education. Question 2 legalizes up to 15,000 machines at sites in four counties and the city of Baltimore. HB 4 requires…

Four recipients selected as best practice models in technology-based economic development were honored during an awards ceremony last week in Cleveland during SSTI's 12th Annual Conference. The awards follow a national competition emphasizing impact and replicability in approaches to building and sustaining tech-based economies. "A crucial component to growing the nation's economy is supporting programs that are successful in developing and implementing initiatives that create high-paying jobs and provide U.S. businesses with the tools they need to compete in the global economy," said Dan Berglund, SSTI President and CEO. "This year's award recipients have generated significant returns for local, state and regional economies, each having an impressive story to share."  The following recipients were selected to receive the Excellence in TBED Award for 2008: Maryland Technology Transfer Fund - Commercializing Research Category A program of the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO), the Maryland Technology Transfer Fund supports product development in early-stage companies by providing funds to defray the…

Technology-focused incubators are an important component to fostering entrepreneurial development in a region by nurturing businesses in the earliest stages of development and helping them grow into larger companies that employ high-wage workers and bring new technologies to the market. The following select announcements provide an overview of new incubators from across the nation, illustrating the vital role of entrepreneurial development in growing high-tech regional economies. Ann Arbor Spark announced last month a new location for its proposed business incubator in downtown Ypsilanti, reports the Ann Arbor News. The 8,500-square-foot incubator, which is expected to open in December, will provide space for 10 start-up technology companies for two years, the article states. Battle Creek Unlimited announced in August they are developing a virtual incubator as a Web 2.0 network to match high-tech start-up companies with universities and public entities. With partial funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the virtual incubator will offer services including quick access to resources, business progress monitoring, and the ability…