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Disaster relief is not directly within the purview of technology-based economic development organizations. Nonetheless, disasters frequently impact the partners and constituents of TBED organizations and exacerbate the social determinants of economic growth. Therefore, teams of people from TBED organizations frequently choose to step up and step out of their economic development sphere and engage in societal recovery from disasters.

This week’s 2025 off-year elections resulted in two new governors, solidified legislative Democratic majorities in New Jersey and Virginia, and the approval of significant ballot measures in California and Texas. While the gubernatorial campaigns centered on affordability and tapped into an electorate’s concerns about state and national economies, they also kick off speculation on the 2026 midterms.  

Technology-based economic development organizations work with economic development professionals throughout the U.S. to help build their local innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems. Sometimes, bringing in outside expertise with established networks to R&D and finance can accelerate the local capacity to support innovation-driven startups. gener8tor, a venture capital and startup accelerator founded in Wisconsin, is one such example of external partners supporting TBED capacity building anywhere.

On Nov. 17, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael  announced a trimmed-down list of six Critical Technology Areas (CTAs) as priorities for R&D and demonstration. Eight areas were dropped or incorporated within the new list.  

With fewer than 1,000 Initial Public Offerings in any year, the most common exit strategy for investors in early-stage innovation firms is to find an acquisition opportunity. For the broader economic goal of encouraging innovation because it drives growth and societal progress, when large firms acquire smaller, innovative companies, does it promote innovation, or does it primarily help dominant players thwart possible competition and consolidate market power?

The federal student loan landscape is undergoing its most sweeping restructuring in decades. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) of 2025 and the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED's) proposed regulations, the definition of “professional degree” is being reinterpreted, sharply reducing the number of students eligible for the higher federal loan caps reserved for professional training.