TBED programs succeed by engaging with local communities
When a new TBED project comes to town, the TBED practitioners inside know the long-term benefits of technology-based economic development: they can see and understand their progress in building a strong economic foundation for their host region. But for community-based and workforce development organizations and K-12 education systems in the surrounding area, the TBED project might appear to be an opaque operation that operates independently of its neighbors.
The Illinois-Wisconsin-Indiana region could see as many as 191,000 quantum jobs by 2035
The Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) recently released a report, Advancing Together: A Unified Strategy for Scaling Midwest Quantum Talent, outlining a regional strategy to expand the quantum workforce. The Illinois-Wisconsin-Indiana region could see as many as 191,000 quantum jobs by 2035, according to a Boston Consulting Group analysis for the CQE. More than 70% of those jobs will be available to people who do not have graduate degrees, and nearly one-third will be open to those with associates degrees or technical training.
Federal higher-ed S&E support dips in FY24, but remains near all-time high
What to expect when you’re expecting (investment returns)
Universities as architects of regional innovation ecosystems
Ask most university leaders how their institution contributes to the regional economy and the answer is likely to include research expenditures, patents, startups, and jobs. Those measures remain important, but they overlook one of the university's most valuable contributions. In today’s economy, where innovation, talent, and technology shape how regions grow, universities are helping communities adapt, connect, and compete.
Recent Research: Should tax relief be targeted at entrepreneurs or workers?
State News for July 09, 2026
NSF selects 15 finalists to advance to the next round of its second Regional Innovation Engines competition
The U.S. National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program has narrowed the list of finalists advancing to the next stage of the program's second competition to 15 applicants—spanning critical technologies and applications ranging from enhancing energy grid security to maximizing the yield of critical minerals mining extraction to advancing quantum computing. The finalist teams, many of whom have been building their regional coalitions for a year or longer, are led by a range of organizations, including universities, nonprofits and private industry from across the United States.
Massachusetts lawmakers approve $4B for major initiatives in life sciences, climatetech, and AI
On Nov.
On Nov. 14, the Massachusetts’ House and Senate approved a compromise $4 billion economic development measure after months of negotiations that followed the end of their formal legislative session this past summer and the spring release of Gov. Maura Healey’s $3.5 billion proposal, An Act relative to strengthening Massachusetts’ economic leadership, or the Mass Leads Act. The Mass Leads Act sought to reauthorize the state’s life sciences investments at $1 billion for the next decade, launch a separate $1 billion, 10-year climatetech initiative, and build on the momentum of the state's CHIPS + Science wins by proposing targeted investments in advanced manufacturing and robotics. It also included $100 million to create an Applied AI Hub in Massachusetts.
The Great American AI Act is open for discussion
SSTI releases new members-only funding opportunity search
Every week, SSTI members receive the Funding Supplement, an exclusive members-only electronic publication with information on applications, eligibility criteria, and submission deadlines for funding opportunities offered by federal government agencies, foundations, and other organizations. Expanding this benefit, SSTI has released a Funding Supplement Search for members, including over 200 active and 5,700 total opportunities to reference. Every week, new opportunities are added and updated.
EDA AI funding opportunity may go undersubscribed
Corporations, former governors launch new national AI organization
Warning: Tighter budgets ahead
There’s a lot of churn in state budgets this year, but the bottom line is clear: tighter budgets are ahead for most states. As a result, governors and legislatures—with a few exceptions—are approaching Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 27) with cautious or constrained funding priorities.
Recent Research: Who actually benefits from R&D tax incentives?
BEA releases new income distribution data tool
SEMI launches microelectronics talent development network
TBED Community of Practice explores the importance of early customer discovery
This week's joint meeting of the Lab-to-Market and Entrepreneurship Development subcommunities of SSTI's TBED Community of Practice focused on how the NSF I-Corps and DOE Energy I-Corps programs help researchers move discoveries beyond the lab and toward real-world use. A central theme was the importance of engaging potential customers early, testing market assumptions, and confirming the existence of a real need before investing significant resources in technology development.
State News for June 25, 2026
Job Corner
Webinars
Webinar Library
Webinars are a great way to stay up to date on the newest developments. They offer timely information from experts and have the flexibility of being viewed at your convenience without the expense of travel. SSTI's Webinar Library puts SSTI webinars at your fingertips — when you want them.
Events hosted by SSTI's Tech-based Economic Development Community of Practice are available to the general public at no cost. Most SSTI webinars are available for free to members and for purchase by others.