SSTI Digest

Note: This is the first in a series of articles SSTI will be running over the next several weeks to provide synopses of selected breakout sessions from SSTI's 9th Annual Conference, held Oct. 19-21, 2005, in Atlanta. Ideas for 2006 conference sessions can be forwarded to skinner@ssti.org. Look for more news on SSTI's 10th annual conference beginning in late winter. The Oct. 21 morning conference session, Sound Strategies for Encouraging Regional Entrepreneurship, was presented by two dynamic speakers who offered an array of valuable lessons learned garnered through years of experience promoting growth through strategic science and technology strategies. Michael Finney, former president and chief executive officer of Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE), began the session with the story of how the public-private partnership became a success so quickly. A team of practitioners visited 24 regions in the U.S. to interview, learn and observe what was being done to encourage regional entrepreneurship, and what seemed to be working. The GRE team then created a top 10 best practices list…

In another wing of the InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta, site of SSTI's 2005 conference, participants shared what their states and regions are doing in the area of encouraging the development and deployment of alternative energy. Lee Cheatham, executive director of the Washington Technology Center, and Karl Jessen, program director of industry support under the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust (RET), led the session. Cheatham opened his presentation, highlighting the market potential for alternative energy. Worldwide energy use is estimated at 382 quadrillion British thermal units (BTU), Cheatham said. Between 1950 and 2004, energy use in the U.S. rose from 34.62 quadrillion BTU to 99.7 quadrillion BTU. Historically, Cheatham said, the subject of energy use has been a business and policy matter. However, increased commercial and residential applications, as well as industrial and transportation uses, have resulted in a shift from business and policy to energy as an economic development driver, he said. Opportunities exist with renewable solar, wind, geothermal, fuel cell and…

There were recurring themes underlying the design and development of SSTI's 9th Annual Conference, Investing in a Brighter Future: Building Tech-based Economies, held Oct. 19-21 in Atlanta, Georgia: inevitability, irrelevance and inspiration. Our two keynote addresses by Rob Atkinson and Duane Ackerman elucidated the inevitability of change and the opportunities presented by the challenges of globalization. Twenty spirited breakout sessions highlighted local and regional efforts to avoid economic irrelevance through strategic investments in science and technology. And, based on the feedback we've received, the discussions in the breakout sessions, and the spirited conversations overhead during the reception and networking breaks, SSTI believes many of the 354 conference participants came away inspired to improve their own efforts to strengthen their local, state or regional economy through technology-based economic development. The event couldn't be considered a success without the eager participation of those 354 TBED enthusiasts from across the globe and the active support of the conference's local hosts…

Anne Wein is the new executive director of Southeast BIO, a nonprofit organization concentrating on the growth of the life sciences industry.

Conference Only seven days remain until the opening of SSTI's 9th Annual Conference in Atlanta. More than 330 of the nation's top thinkers and practitioners for the TBED community will convene at the InterContinental Hotel seeking guidance from their peers. Some will seek better ways to commercialize innovation coming out of their university and industrial research labs. Some will want methods to improve delivery of  their entrepreneurial assistance or research grant programs. Some will question the direction ­ or even existence ­ of our national innovation policies and research funding priorities. Some will look for new approaches, new thinking for increasing local access to risk capital. Some will ask for tools to measure the effectiveness of their public-private investments to encourage tech-based economic growth. All will find answers at Investing in a Brighter Future: Building A Tech-based Economy. The only question remaining is will you be among them at the tech-based economic development community's premier opportunity for professional growth and inspiration? More…

On Monday, Oct. 31, the Southern Growth Policies Board, the Southern Technology Council, Georgia Institute of Technology, the Council on Competitiveness and the Georgia Research Alliance will host a one-day Southern Technology Innovation Summit at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center in Atlanta. The meeting will review the findings from the Council on Competitiveness’ recently released National Innovation Initiative report and launch a new Southern Innovation Initiative. The Innovation Summit will gather business executives, science and technology professionals, economic developers, and university and corporate research scientists to discuss how to promote innovation in the Southern region's economy, institutions and culture. Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue will open the meeting, and discussion and panels will feature regional and national speakers on topics including Innovation and Investment, Innovation Infrastructure, and Innovation in a Corporate Context. Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco will close the summit with the announcement of a new Southern Innovation Initiative in 2005-2006. The…

Due to SSTI's annual conference being held in Atlanta next week, the next issues of the Digest and Funding Supplement are slated for Nov. 7, 2005.

Drawing expertise from 53 speakers and panelists from 19 states, SSTI's 9th annual conference - to be held Oct. 19-21 in Atlanta - promises to provide its attendees unparalleled opportunity to learn about the latest and best thinking to encourage state and regional growth through tech-based economic development. Want proof? SSTI has published brief speaker bios on our conference website: http://www.ssti.org/Conf05/bios.htm Each of the 20 breakout sessions are designed to encourage engaging discussion and give-and-take among conferees. In addition, the long breaks between sessions and the hosted reception allow conversations started in one session to spill into the halls as participants are able to network with the more than 300 fellow attendees from 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and four countries. Don't miss out. There is still time to register for the field's premier professional development opportunity and networking event of the year: https://www.ssti.org/Conf05/registration.htm

Not too surprising. Put the premier professional development opportunity for the tech-based economic development community in a great city and you'll draw hundreds of participants from at least 45 states and several other countries. Offer conference attendees five-star accommodations at prices well below market and we've ended up with the largest room block yet for an SSTI annual conference. It's a formula guaranteeing an incredible experience for everyone joining SSTI in Atlanta on Oct. 19-21. SSTI is extremely grateful to the management of the InterContinental Hotel Buckhead-Atlanta for agreeing to expand the reserved block by 13-14 percent to allow as many of our participants as possible to savor the comfort of this luxurious property while they attend SSTI's 9th Annual Conference. With the InterContinental Hotel Buckhead-Atlanta sold out or near capacity for the three days of the conference, SSTI has identified several alternate hotels near the event to accommodate the continuing flow of registrants. The following five properties are within an easy walk of the hotel…

Limited Seating Remaining in Three Preconference Sessions The desire to establish sound metrics to evaluate performance and progress for science and technology investments has grown as S&T programs mature, state and federal funding tightens, and good managers simply want to know what's working and what isn't. As a result, SSTI's all-day intensive pre-conference on sound TBED evaluation models has sold out. Limited seating remains for the other three preconference workshops, described below. Individuals interested in attending any of the three are strongly encouraged to register on SSTI's website as soon as possible: http://www.ssti.org/conference05.htm Developing Successful Angel Organizations: A Practical Guide Access to capital sources is an essential element for building a tech-based economy and growing thriving businesses. Policymakers and practitioners in many regions worry about how their tech firms will finance growth. Just as the weather varies across the country, so, too, do the philosophy, the motivations, and the depth of the…

For more information on the positions below, visit SSTI's online Job Corner at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm. Georgia SBIR Assistance Program This new program of the Georgia Tech Advanced Technology Development Center, one of the leading university-based technology incubators in the nation, is seeking a Biosciences Project Manager. The ideal candidate will have a Life Sciences background and experience with the SBIR/STTR programs. This person will provide guidance and hands-on assistance to companies in preparing SBIR/STTR proposals. More information on this position opening is available through the SSTI Job Corner at: http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm. Georgia Tech is an EEO/AA employer. Washington Technology Center The Washington Technology Center (WTC), a state-chartered economic development organization, has openings for two positions: (1) Director, Research and Program Operations and (2) Director, Development. The Director, Research and Program Operations develops and delivers all WTC research and economic development programs. This position sets…

The early bird registration and hotel room block for Investing in a Brighter Future: Building Tech-based Economies, SSTI's Ninth Annual Conference, ends on Tuesday, September 20.  To register for the conference, which is October 20 and 21, you can visit the conference website at http://www.ssti.org/conference05.htm and select the registration form. To book a room at the Intercontinental Buckhead-- Atlanta for the greatly reduced rate of $165 call the hotel today at 404.946.9000 and tell them you're part of the SSTI Conference. After Tuesday, we can't guarantee what the room rate will be at the hotel or room availability.