Recent Research: What two new studies tell us about innovation networks
Two recent research papers approach entrepreneurship and innovation from very different perspectives but arrive at a similar conclusion about how regional economies grow and change over time. Keeping technology-based economic development (TBED) initiatives proactively thinking about and addressing that evolution is a central aspect of all SSTI TBED-focused programming. Empirical research, like is discussed below, provides external evidence of how needs are changing and programs may want to adapt.
State News for May 21, 2026
Rep. Haley Stevens leads bipartisan Build to Scale Reauthorization Act to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship in regional economies nationwide
Today, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11), along with Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN), introduced the bipartisan Build to Scale Reauthorization Act of 2026, legislation to extend and strengthen the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) successful Build to Scale program through fiscal year 2030. The bill helps startups grow, strengthens regional innovation hubs, and creates good-paying jobs across Michigan and the country.
Today, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11), along with Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN), introduced the bipartisan Build to Scale Reauthorization Act of 2026, legislation to extend and strengthen the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) successful Build to Scale program through fiscal year 2030. The bill helps startups grow, strengthens regional innovation hubs, and creates good-paying jobs across Michigan and the country.
SBA seeks public comment in two areas related to supply chains
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) seeks public comment for two Requests for Information. The first, Supply Chain Gaps and Entrepreneur Assistance, is focused on the future of SBA’s Innovation Network Programs—FAST, GAFC, RICs—and how each program can align entrepreneur support in critical industry areas. These are programs that are relevant to TBED organizations, accelerators, incubators, investors, universities, research institutions, and tech transfer offices.
Slowing Q1 VC investment could mean more selective investors and difficult fundraising
Venture capital investments so far in 2026 are showing the same trends as 2025, with more funding going to fewer companies. According to PitchBook, quarterly U.S. VC investment totaled $267 billion, with the five largest deals raising a combined $195 billion, or over 73% of all Q1 capital. The heavy bias toward the top deals underscores the importance of narrowing the deal segments to understand what trends are faced by the majority of companies.
What happened in 2018 that is still affecting new college grads seeking jobs?
Historically, college graduates, recently matriculated or old alums, were more likely to be employed than all workers combined. However, beginning in 2015, as the labor market data released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows in the graph below, unemployment rates for recent college graduates and all workers were in relatively tight competition until October 2018, when new grads began experiencing higher unemployment rates than all workers—a position they have held ever since. Might it have something to do with the degrees students are earning and changes in the job market?
The Illinois-Wisconsin-Indiana region could see as many as 191,000 quantum jobs by 2035
TBED Works: Sandia spinout creates commercial opportunities for lab-developed technologies
Recent Research: Findings demonstrate the positive impact of government venture capital on startup business growth
State News for May 7, 2026
Action needed: Endorse the Build to Scale Reauthorization Act of 2026
Researchers find AI adoption moderate across firms, stronger among individuals
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System recently published a new FEDS Notes article titled Monitoring AI Adoption in the US Economy. The article examines trends in AI adoption in the U.S. using three publicly available surveys: the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS), Real-Time Population Survey (RPS), and Survey of Business Uncertainty. These surveys respectively capture data at the firm-level, individual-level, and from business executives.
As BBBRC programs mature, SSTI gears up to tell their stories
The momentum building in the 21 “Building Better Regions” (BBR) projects is growing, and RTI, the leader of the BBBRC Community of Practice, and SSTI are seeing positive impacts and approaches to collaborative regional innovation that could benefit other practitioners and TBED stakeholders if made aware of the success.
Key Senate approps subcommittee chair, members concerned over proposed MEP elimination
“We need clear answers on how the department intends to support these manufacturers if this program is eliminated.”
Within the first minutes of his opening remarks for the committee’s hearing with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), chair of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, suggested the Senate needed to be convinced of the administration’s call to shutdown of NIST’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
SBIR slowly relaunching following president’s signature
Following the April 13, 2026, reauthorization of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, federal agencies are beginning to resume activities after a lapse of more than six months, though progress so far has been uneven.
What does bird migration have to do with regional innovation?
Carolina Chickadee
(Credit: Mr. Jamsey)
An FY25 decline in public higher ed funding raises questions about future trends
A recent State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) State Higher Education Finance (SHEF) FY 2025 report suggests that public higher education funding is at a potential crossroads. Education appropriations per full-time equivalent (FTE) student peaked in FY24, then declined by 1.0% in FY25. It is unknown whether this recent downturn marks the beginning of a downward trend or is just a glitch in the previous 12-year run of increases.
GAO finds Bayh-Dole still working
The federal government invests billions of dollars each year in R&D, expecting these investments to lead to new technologies, firms, and broader economic growth. Under the framework established by the Bayh‑Dole Act, universities, small businesses, and nonprofit institutions may retain ownership of inventions developed with federal support and pursue their commercialization. A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, Technology Transfer: Funding Recipients Keep Most Federally Funded Inventions, but Some Cited Reporting Challenges, examines whether the policies governing federally funded inventions are helping or hindering the transfer of those inventions. The analysis is timely given the current policy focus on strengthening domestic innovation capacity and supply chain resilience.
ASAE reports on the health of associations: Uncertain times ahead
What are current trends in the financial health and well-being of the business, industry, and trade associations, including tech councils and chambers of commerce, that can play various roles related to a state or regional innovation strategy? Association involvement can cover the full spectrum of helpfulness and harm as these communities may serve as allies, antagonists, assistants, advocates, or adversaries—sometimes simultaneously.
What are current trends in the financial health and well-being of the business, industry, and trade associations, including tech councils and chambers of commerce, that can play various roles related to a state or regional innovation strategy? Association involvement can cover the full spectrum of helpfulness and harm as these communities may serve as allies, antagonists, assistants, advocates, or adversaries—sometimes simultaneously.
State News for April 23, 2026
Member News April 23, 2026
SC Launch Inc., the investment affiliate of the South Carolina Research Authority, was named in PitchBook’s 2025 Global League Table for the Southeast region. The ranking award is attributed to SC Launch Inc.’s acceleration in investment activity during recent months. Since J
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Administration’s FY 2027 budget repeats cuts desired in R&D and economic development
The Trump Administration’s FY 2027 budget request, submitted to Congress on April 3, bears considerable resemblance to its FY 2026 request with proposals to cut funding for many of the agencies and line items of most interest to the state and regional innovation community. Congress approved a FY 2026 budget that in most ways mirrored previous years’ allocations for TBED-related programs and priorities, such as R&D.
SSTI Webinar celebrates the work of Al Link and Don Siegel on Technology Transfer & Entrepreneurship
Ten-day clock ticking on SBIR reauthorization
The 2026 SBIR/STTR reauthorization bill (S. 3971, the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act) has cleared Congress and is now awaiting final action by the President. The Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent on March 3, 2026. The House subsequently approved the Senate-passed measure on March 17, 2026, by a vote of 345–41. Because the House adopted the Senate version without amendment, the bill moved straight to enrollment, where the final official copy is prepared for signature before being sent to the White House.