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Lara L. Vande Walle is the new president of the Washington DC Technology Council (DC Tech).
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Useful Stats I: S&E Doctorate Awards by State
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a statistical report on Science and Engineering Doctorate Awards: 2001. The data show trends in science and engineering (S&E) doctorate awards by S&E field and recipient characteristics, institutions awarding doctorates, and postgraduation plans of recipients.
Useful Stats II: Innovation Indices Revisited
We appreciated hearing from so many of our readers that last week's special Digest issue on innovation indices was particularly timely or useful. As an additional resource on the topic, SSTI has prepared three matrices presenting the common indicators included in the national, state and local indicator reports referenced in the issue.
Washington Tech Center Seeks Federal Program Development Manager
The Washington Technology Center (WTC), the state's science and technology organization that stimulates growth in the state, is seeking someone to become Federal Program Development Manager. WTC helps Washington companies develop commercially viable technology through statewide programs and services.
Why A Special Issue on Innovation Indices?
One of the more common topics in the information requests SSTI receives regards how to do or what are good examples of innovation indices or S&T report cards — compilations of statistics and data presenting a geographic area's standing against similar areas across several metrics thought to be useful guides in assessing economic health or potential for growth.
A Couple of Cautionary Notes
An important aspect of all indices, regardless of their geographic orientation, is that each is created with a different purpose or goal in mind. As a result, each index has an inherent or implicit bias toward the data collected, the manner in which the data is manipulated and presented, and the conclusions drawn or policy recommendations made.
Web Resources for Developing an Index
One of the more popular sections of the SSTI Weekly Digest — according to our annual surveys of readers — are the periodic useful stats, which point to or present comparative statistics across cities or states. Fortunately, because we try to standardize the information for more meaningful interpretation, several of these tables provide useful data for developing a local or state innovation index.
Wayne State University to House Michigan's NextEnergy Center
Michigan's NextEnergy Center, the central component of Gov. John Engler's $50 million fuel cell initiative, will be located within Wayne State University’s Research and Technology Park in Detroit, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) recently announced. Wayne State is situated in the Woodward Technology Corridor, one of 11 SmartZones located across Michigan.
Useful Stats: Academic Pork 1990-2002
The use of Congressional earmarks on federal agency budgets to support projects and programs in academic institutions has exploded since 1996, according to statistics compiled by and reported in the September 27, 2002 issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education.
People
President Bush has nominated Los Angeles resident Hector Barretto to serve as Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
People
Philip Psilos is the new Director of Economic & Technology Policy for the National Governors' Association.
People
Timothy A. Klein has been selected to become the Associate Administrator for Innovation, Research, and Education for the U.S. Department of Transportation.
People
SSTI extends its congratulations to Bruce Gjovig, Director of the Center for Innovation in Grand Forks, North Dakota, for his induction into the North Dakota Entrepreneur Hall of Fame.
Economic Slowdown Reflected in State Budgets
With the slowdown in the economy, there is widespread concern about the kind of painful belt-tightening which occurred in the states in the early 1990s. Because of this perception and the rapid change in so many states’ fiscal situations, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) released this week a new survey to update its January 4, 2001, State Fiscal Outlook for 2001.
President Creates Working Group on Federalism
On February 26, President Bush issued a memorandum to 21 departments, agencies and other executive offices to create an Interagency Working Group on Federalism. The group is to:
a) Identify initiatives that promote principles of federalism, such as:
Incubators: Proven Tools for Tech-based Economic Development
The headlines of many tech and business publications scream of massive Internet incubator layoffs, closures, and restructuring. The rapid rise and fall of these organizations has left some local tech-based economic development practitioners wondering if encouraging the growth of incubator facilities is a worthwhile strategy to pursue.
Useful Stats: NSF Releases State S&E Profiles
The National Science Foundation has published online the latest edition of the annual series: Science & Engineering State Profiles: 1998-99. By presenting one-page statistical summaries for each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, Profiles provides rankings, state and US figures for easy reference across 30 science and engineering statistics as well as the distribution of federal R&D obligations by department and performer.
Creating Tomorrow’s Workforce: An Evaluation of School-to-Work
With the 1994 School-to-Work Opportunities Act sunsetting this year and the increasing importance of developing a skilled workforce for a tech-based economy, many are asking if the initiatives launched or expanded by the Act have been successful.
New Governors Out of the Gate Fast On S&T
Two new Governors, Bob Wise of West Virginia and Wisconsin's Scott McCallum, have put tech-based economic development in the forefront of their respective economic agendas.
West Virginia
More Reports Indicate President to Recommend S&T Budget Cuts
The latest word in the national press regarding the FY 2002 budget President Bush will present to Congress next week suggests President Bush may propose significant cuts in investment in research and tech-based economic development. Many of the programs potentially under fire are instrumental to state and local efforts to promote stronger economic growth through science and technology.
ED Groups Lay Out Agenda for Feds
Stressing partnerships and flexibility, seven regional and national organizations have drafted an action agenda for the federal government to use to strengthen local and regional economic development efforts. After a brief introduction to the New Economy and its implications for local economic development, Partnership for Prosperity: A Federal Economic Development Policy Agenda includes several specific recommendations of interest to Digest readers:
Australia Announces $2.9 B Innovation Package
Imagine President Bush using his entire State of the Union Address to present a $23 billion five-year strategy to encourage research, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the country. While it has not received much press in the United States, the equivalent happened when Australian Prime Minister John Howard gave his annual Federation Address on January 29.
Competitiveness Council Sees Regional ED Efforts Playing Important Role
The past decade’s economic boom has masked some serious cracks in the foundation of U.S. competitiveness– and it will take a strong policy of local and regional “innovation stimulus” to get the country back on track, says the Council on Competitiveness in U.S. Competitiveness 2001: Strengths, Vulnerabilities and Long-term Priorities.
Tech to Take Hit in First Bush Budget?
President Bush is expected to release his first budget at the end of the month, and a published report indicates at least one tech program might be slated for significant cuts. The Wall Street Journal in a February 16 article ("Bush Aims to Reduce Digital Divide Funds") reported that their sources indicate the U.S. Department of Commerce's Technology Opportunities Program (TOP) may be slashed 65 percent from $42.5 million to $15 million.
Industry Commits $45 Million to NY Photonics Center
In what could be the largest private sector commitment yet to a single industry/university research center, Corning, Kodak ,and Xerox have combined to pledge a staggering $45 million toward establishing a Center of Excellence in Photonics and Optoelectronics in Rochester, N.Y. The three corporate giants also committed to help raise another $30 million from other private sector companies for the new partnership involving New York State, higher education, and private enterprise.