Search

For several years governors across the country have announced life science and biotech initiatives that are as broad as they are large. The devil is in the details, and in most cases related to bio-based economic development, so are the opportunities.

EDA will implement a new grant approval process starting in FY2011, which is intended to improve competiveness, transparency and efficiency. The new process includes continuous technical assistance and customer service, quarterly rounds of funding, enhanced responsivenessand competitive selection framework. Only Public Works, Economic Adjustment and Global Climate Change Mitigation Incentive Fund (GCCMIF) investments will be made under the new system. The first funding cycle deadline will be Dec15.

California's next governor will inherit a dire budget situation and an unemployment rate that is above the national average. While the two main candidates vying for the job offer different visions for enhancing California's economy, both plans set forth policies and incentives to encourage renewable energy development and deployment and provide resources to support entrepreneurs. Jerry Brown (D) has a clean energy jobs plan that he says will produce half a million jobs in research, development, manufacturing, construction, installation, and maintenance over the next decade.

Two candidates vying for Georgia governor unveiled proposals to create technology jobs and invest in biomedical R&D. Democratic nominee Roy Barnes would expand the scope of the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) to build on programs that accelerate technology transfer. Barnes credited the organization with a 20-year track record of helping create high-value companies based on university research. Republican nominee Nathan Deal would expand access to capital for biotechnology startups and create a Certified Capital Company (CAPCO) program to help fuel R&D.

Recent graduates and grad students will have access to new resources aimed at helping them launch high-tech businesses and commercialize new technologies under the Government of Canada's new Scientists and Engineers in Business Initiative.

California's green economy remains strong through the Great Recession, according to a new report — the 2010 California Green Innovation Index. The yearly report published by Next 10 provides dashboard of indicators that track changes over time. This year's report indicates that California's clean tech companies continue to attract venture capital (VC) investments, the state leads the nation in clean tech patents and green manufacturing has grown.

Brookings' researchers contend that the U.S. region worst hit by the Great Recession has the potential to spearhead the U.S. towards a Next Economy. The Next Economy: Economic Recovery and Transformation in the Great Lakes Region provides a roadmap for federal, state and local stakeholders to transition the Rust Belt into a forward thinking economy. It replaces the old economy, which was driven by highly-leveraged, domestic consumption, with an export-oriented Next Economy powered by a low-carbon energy strategy and driven by innovation that benefits all Americans.

TechColumbus is seeking a director of Information Technology Commercialization responsible for the business development of TechColumbus client companies, including assessment, evaluation and organized assistance to Information Technology/Computer Science client companies, with emphasis on proactive advising and guidance resulting in company success and wealth creation.

Craig Dye was named director of the Mtech VentureAccelerator Program, a fast-track, early admission program tied to Mtech's Technology Advancement Program.

The Minnesota High Tech Association announced Margaret Anderson Kelliher, speaker of the Minnesota House, will assume the role of president of the Association beginning in January after she leaves public office.

The Obama administration's vision for the future of innovation and economic growth includes a commitment to the green energy sector. At the SSTI Annual Conference, held September 14-16 in Pittsburgh, you will be able to talk with officials from federal agencies and other experts who will provide insight into the administration's vision and enable you to capitalize on the increasing federal opportunities.

The Department of Energy will be accepting applications for projects that manufacture commercial renewable energy systems and components (e.g., energy storage systems, wind turbine systems, blades or solar photovoltaic components) through a new $750 million loan guarantee program. Energy Secretary Steven Chu believes the Commercial Technology Manufacturing Systems and Components solicitation will help to increase employment in the green manufacturing sector and keep U.S. green manufactures competitive in the global market.

Nancy L. Zimpher, the Chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), believes that SUNY campuses statewide can become "the engine of New York's economic revitalization."Chancellor Zimpher's vision of economic development fueled by higher education is supported by a recent report from the Rockefeller institute of Government. The report describes a new paradigm of economic development in which university-driven economic development will replace the traditional mix of business attraction and retention incentives.

"Tapping the Technology Innovation Program and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership"
On September 14th from 9:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M., SSTI is co-hosting a regional meeting with officials from the Technology Innovation Program (TIP) and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) that we encourage you or one of your colleagues to attend. TIP and MEP are two of the most market-driven programs offered by the federal government. The meeting will give you a chance to learn directly from officials with the two programs about:

SSTI's popular plenary format with instant audience polling allows you to take part in the most pressing issues facing the TBED community by providing input, asking questions, and contributing data from your state or region. Through a request for information on commercializing university technology and a series of regional meetings, Obama administration officials have been seeking input on what universities' economic development roles have been, haven't been, should be, and what the federal government should do about it.

Years of double digit growth in broadband adoption have come to a halt, according to a report from the Pew Internet and American Life Project. Two-thirds of Americans currently use a high-speed Internet connection at home, about the same as in 2009. Among African-Americans, however, usage continued to surge, jumping from 46 percent in 2009 to 56 percent in 2010. A majority of respondents said that increasing broadband adoption should not be a priority of the federal government.

Want to participate in a new concept in innovation clusters? The Southern Advanced Materials in Transportation Alliance (SAMTA) is a regional innovation cluster that promotes the research, commercialization, and production of new and specialized materials important to the automotive and aerospace industries. Although traditional clusters are based on geographic concentration, SAMTA will use telecommunications networks to minimize geographic distance and facilitate the industry network. The Economic Development Administration has provided seed funding for this project.

Complete descriptions of these opportunities and others are available at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.

SSTI has an effective new learning tool for TBED policymakers and practitioners seeking guidance in approaches to building and sustaining tech-based economies. Through exclusive interviews with Excellence in TBED Award recipients, find out first-hand how these award winning initiatives successfully responded to a critical need by applying innovative approaches to generate substantial economic gains for their region.

Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law last week an economic development bill that includes the creation of the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation to provide access to capital and mentoring for small businesses capitalized with $35 million, and a $5 million recapitalization of the Massachusetts Technology Development Corporation to provide funds for early stage technology startups. The bill also reorganizes and consolidates economic development agencies focused on regionally based efforts to grow and attract businesses to the state, according to a press release.

North Carolina's Golden LEAF Foundation is seeking proposals for a special $4 million initiative to improve STEM education for 4th-to-9th graders in rural, economically-distressed and/or tobacco-dependent regions of the state. Applicants must be a governmental entity or 501(c)3 organization, and are eligible to receive up to $750,000 in funding. The program is seeking projects that have a regional focus and connect educational outcomes to the needs of local industry sectors. Letters of intent are due September 7, 2010.

The clean energy economy has "tremendous potential for growth" due to policies that create incentives to "develop new technologies, infrastructure and processes for clean energy, efficiency and conversation," according to a recent report from the Pew Charitable Trusts. Five types of policies — Financial Incentives, Renewable Portfolio Standards, Energy Efficiency Standards, Regional Clean Energy Initiatives and Vehicle Emissions Standards — should continue to fuel the growth of the clean energy technologies over the coming years.

In an interview with Globes, an Israeli business magazine, former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge discussed the importance of innovation in the renewable energy industry and its role in the transition from "the industrial era to the green era." Ridge said, "Renewable energy isn't another discovery and research field, it must be an applied science that will lead to energy solutions to guarantee our lives in the near and distant future." During his time in the Governor's office, Gov.

Two recent papers shed light on the distribution and benefits of entrepreneurial capital. A CB Insights' report on the "human capital" of venture-backed Internet companies finds that vast majority of company founders are white. They also tend to be between 35 and 44 years old, male and have MBAs. The second report provides evidence that getting angel capital boosts a company's odds of survival, securing additional funding and faster growth. These benefits derive not only from the injection of capital, but also from the sustained guidance and supervision provided by angel groups.

Specialized and high-tech incubators provide crucial services and resources to promote and enhance Commercialization & Entrepreneurship, one of the six thematic tracks of this year's annual conference. Three sessions tied to this theme will be explored during SSTI's annual conference, focusing on direct lessons from successful and proven TBED programs, regional innovation clustering, and more. They include:

• Distributed, Non-University Models for Commercializing New Technologies

John Hindman announced his resignation as secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development.

Governor Rick Perry recently announced Alan Kirchhoff of Austin has been promoted to director of Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF). Kirchhoff replaces longtime Perry advisor and former TETF director Mark Ellison, who left the Governor's Office to become associate vice chancellor of economic development for the Texas A&M University System beginning Oct. 1, 2008.