NEW HAMPSHIRE MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP, STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAUNCH NEXT GENERATION MANUFACTURING STUDY
DATELINE: CONCORD, N.H.
The New Hampshire Business Resource Center issued the following news release:
Status of major legislation
Status of some of the major legislation in the 2009 session of the 52nd Oklahoma Legislature as of Feb. 6:
SB 1 by Gumm NICK'S LAW: Would mandate coverage by private health insurers of the diagnosis and treatment of autism. Referred to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee.
SB 59 by Rice VETERANS INSURANCE: Would make some uninsured veterans eligible for a state premium assistance insurance program. Passed by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, sent to full Senate.
GOV. GREGOIRE APPLAUDS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION STRATEGIC PLAN
DATELINE: OLYMPIA, Wash.
Gov. Christine Gregoire, D-Wash., issued the following press release:
Gov. Chris Gregoire today praised the state's Economic Development Commission, which just released its strategic plan to help guide Washington as it develops a stronger, 21st century economy.
Sponsor: Bill will create jobs
Doug Johnson of UniverCity Connections believes a bill providing tax credits to angel investors putting their money into start-up companies will create hundreds of new jobs in Colorado and help stimulate the lagging state economy.
107 NASULGC UNIVERSITIES COMMIT TO INCREASE POOL OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS TEACHERS
DATELINE: Washington
The following information was released by the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges:
The lack of highly qualified science and mathematics teachers in middle and high school classrooms across America is a crisis that is well-established. If the U.S. is to remain a leader in engineering, technology and innovation in the global market place, the state of science and mathematics education must be reversed.
Superclusters push CSU inventions
Superclusters can be explosive.
Colorado State University this week announced that its researchers have more than doubled the number of inventions, a phenomenal effort in two years. University officials attribute the success to the supercluster concept, which unites researchers with those in the private sector who can take their ideas and run, such as business experts, patent attorneys, marketers, etc. While the superclusters don't create new research, they foster it by speeding the transfer of technology from research to implementation.
UCF Seminole incubator graduates 1st firm
Spectrum Bridge Inc. has become the first graduate of the University of Central Florida's Incubation Program Seminole County/Winter Springs office.
According to a release, the Lake Mary-based Internet marketplace and mapping technologies company joined the program in February 2008.
The company has begun generating revenue and completed rounds in venture capital funding totaling $8.1 million, said Esther Vargas-Davis, site manager at the Seminole County incubator office, in a release.
France Biotech Reports a 79% Fall in Equity Investments in French Biotech Companies in 2008 and Asks the Government to Implement a Stimulus Plan for Young, Innovative Companies
Lake agrees to boost business incubator
LEESBURG -- Lake County commissioners agreed to partner with the city and the University of Central Florida to beef up a business incubator in hopes of attracting more start-up companies.
The partnership includes $85,000 in county funds for the UCF Research Foundation to support the incubator's staffing. The incubator, which was created last year, is at the Leesburg Business & Technology Center on Market Street.
GOVERNOR KAINE ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS FEBRUARY 2 2009
DATELINE: RICHMOND, Va.
The following information was released by the office of the governor of Virginia:
Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced appointments to the following boards and commissions:
* denotes reappointment
Medical Advisory Board for the Department of Motor Vehicles
Juan A. Astruc Jr., M.D.* of Glen Allen, partner at the Retina Institute of Virginia;
Missouri, Ohio and Texas Governors Seek Increased Support for TBED Efforts
Not all of the news coming out of governors' offices is bad for TBED strategies. For example, just in the past week, governors in Missouri, Ohio and Texas proposed increases in state investments for job creation in emerging fields, higher education scholarships, and technology commercialization and research programs. The following overview provides highlights of their recommendations for TBED proposals in the upcoming fiscal year or biennium.
$65M Available for Labor's WIRED Initiative
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced it will provide $65 million in new grants under the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) Initiative.
SSTI Calendar of Events: Something for Everyone
Looking for that perfect professional development opportunity for you or your staff. If so, the SSTI Web calendar of events should prove useful in your search.
By visiting www.ssti.org/calendar.htm, you can view more than 170 technology-based economic development events.
Events include:
Hawai`i Governor Outlines Broad-based Innovation Strategy
With the opportunity presented by a $732 million budget surplus, Gov. Linda Lingle wants Hawai`i to shift its public investment philosophy away from land development and toward encouraging, nurturing and rewarding innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship and risk-taking. Most of Gov. Lingle's State of the State Address on Jan.
Arizona Governor Unveils $75M TBED Initiatives in 2008 Budget
Earlier this month, Gov. Janet Napolitano presented Arizonans with a three-part plan to prepare for the 21st century economy in her annual State of the State Address. The One Arizona Plan would support state economic growth by investing in education, physical infrastructure and innovation. During her address, Gov. Napolitano emphasized the need to increase Arizona’s innovation capacity and to build a technologically-savvy workforce.
VC Investment in Cleantech Drops for First Time in 2 Years
The Cleantech Venture Network (CVN) announced last week that U.S. venture investment in clean technologies fell 34 percent in the fourth quarter of 2006. Investment in cleantech, which includes products and services that reduce or eliminate environmental impacts, declined to $613 million last quarter -- down from a record-breaking peak of $933 million in the previous quarter. The drop brought to an end nine consecutive quarters of gains for cleantech, but still capped a record-breaking year for VC investment in the sector.
U.S. Labor Dept. Selects WIRED II Recipients
On Jan. 17, the U.S. Department of Labor announced 13 regions across the country will share $65 million in the second round of Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grants.
OPPAGA Recommends Next Steps for Florida Biotech
A recent report by the Florida Legislature’s Office of Program Policy and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) recommends the state’s next steps to develop its biotechnology industry should include the creation of a privately managed early-stage capital fund for investing in start-up companies, to be financed by the Legislature.
SSTI Website Provides Easy Access to Wealth of TBED Information
Looking for information on individual states or on key statistical indicators? If so, the SSTI Weekly Digest archives are a resource that should prove helpful in your search.
By visiting www.ssti.org/Digest/digest.htm, one can browse headlines or view Digest articles dating back to 1996 or use any of these tools:
SSTI Job Corner
Complete descriptions of the position openings described below are available at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.
Democrats '07 Budget Increases Research Funding
Less than one week before President Bush releases the Administration's budget request for fiscal year 2008, congressional Democratic leadership released its solution to the FY 2007 fiasco. The need to remain within spending caps approved last year and the need to focus on FY08 spending meant the FY07 fix would be simple, but slightly painful for agencies used to above-inflation-rate increases each year. Sixty programs reportedly will see cuts from their FY06 funding levels.
Québec Commits $1B+ for Innovation & Research Strategy
The provincial government of Québec committed to infusing $888 million (Canadian) into its science and technology community over the next three years, as a result of the innovation and research strategy released earlier this month. The new investment is in addition to $278 million committed this year alone for research infrastructure and the Québec Aeronautical Industry Development Strategy.
Tech Talkin Govs, Part III
Delaware
Gov. Ruth Minner, State of the State Address, Jan. 18, 2007
Stem Cell Research Target of More State Dollars in Iowa, Md., Fla.
In Iowa
Less than two weeks after his inauguration, Iowa Gov. Chet Culver called for the state legislature to lift the state ban on embryonic stem cell research. The ban was first instituted in 2002.