People
Mike Blouin has stepped down as director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development to become president of the Greater Dubuque Development Corp..
People
Tucker Fagan announced he is retiring as CEO of the Wyoming Business Council to join his sons in starting a Wyoming high-tech company.
People
Gov. Eliot Spitzer has named Daniel Gundersen co-chairman of the Empire State Development Corp. in New York.
People
Gov. John Baldacci has sworn in John Richardson as the new commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.
People
Chris Roybal announced he is stepping down as senior economic development advisor of the Utah Governor's Office to become president and chief operating officer of the Northwest Research Corp., effective Feb. 2.
Tech Talkin’ Govs, Part I
SSTI’s eighth annual Tech Talkin’ Govs series highlights new and expanded TBED proposals from governors’ state-of-the-state, budget and inaugural addresses. With mounting budget deficits spanning the nation, this year’s anticipated overarching theme is proposals aimed at mending states’ finances with less focus on the introduction of new initiatives. The first installment of the series includes excerpts from California and New York.
California
Federal Spending Bills Contain 2,526 R&D Earmarks, AAAS Analysis Finds
A new AAAS analysis of the disappointing federal budget for 2008 reveals Congress’s obsession with earmarks is back with a vengeance, guaranteeing that competition for the remaining federal funds for R&D will be even more fierce.
While lower than 2006, earmarks consumed $4.5 billion of the federal R&D budget, scattered among 2,526 projects AAAS was able to identify.
Two New Initiatives Aim to ‘Innovate’ and ‘Accelerate’ Wisconsin
Gov. Jim Doyle announced two new initiatives focusing on investments in manufacturing R&D and increasing angel and venture capital investment to grow new businesses.
Illinois Boosts TBED Strategy with New Entrepreneurship Initiatives
With rumors of recession building, several of the nation’s governors are announcing new TBED-focused initiatives in 2008 – many of which will be presented to lawmakers for funding in the coming months. In Illinois, Gov. Rod Blagojevich unveiled two new initiatives encouraging entrepreneurship to grow high-technology businesses throughout the state.
Report Identifies Benefits to U.S. Biopharmaceutical Industry through Investments in Technology Infrastructure
The average cost of bringing a Food and Drug Administration-approved drug to market could be cut by 25 percent to 48 percent by making targeted investments in the national biopharmaceutical R&D technology infrastructure, according to a recent report from the National Institutes of Standards and Technology. Economic Analysis of the Technological Infrastructure Needs of the U.S. Biopharmaceutical Industry cites current costs as averaging $560 million per drug, but could drop to between $289 million and $421 million.
Save the Dates!: SSTI's Annual Conference Set for Oct. 14-16, 2008
As you begin to fill in your 2008 calendar, remember to mark Oct. 14-16, 2008, to attend SSTI's 12th annual conference in Cleveland! Past attendees know SSTI's conference is the premiere professional development event for the TBED community. And 2008 will be no exception. Back by popular demand, we will be offering an array of pre-conference workshops on Oct. 14.
SSTI Job Corner
Complete descriptions of these opportunities and others are available at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.
People
Bill Bradley is the new executive director of the Jay County Development Corp. Bradley fills the vacancy left by the late Bob Quadrozzi.
Traci Hancock was named executive director of BioNebraska.
People
Bill Bradley is the new executive director of the Jay County Development Corp. Bradley fills the vacancy left by the late Bob Quadrozzi.
People
Traci Hancock was named executive director of BioNebraska.
People
Peter Hermann was selected as the N.C. Technology Association's new CEO. Hermann replaces Joan Myers, who took a position with a software company.
People
John McIver is serving as interim vice president for research and economic development at the University of New Mexico while the school searches for a permanent replacement to Terry Yates, who passed away in December.
People
Gary Margules was appointed vice president for research and technology transfer at Nova Southeastern University.
People
New Carolina, South Carolina's Council on Competitiveness, has formed the South Carolina Engineering Cluster. Lee Stogner will lead the cluster and its steering committee, which represents government, economic develoment, academia, engineering companies and professional societies aiming to promote engineering in South Carolina.
People
Dr. James Weyhenmeyer will become senior vice president for the State University of New York (SUNY) Research Foundation and SUNY senior vice provost for research, effective March 3, 2008.
Tech Talkin’ Govs, Part II
The second installment of the Tech Talkin’ Govs series includes highlights from state-of-the-state, budget and inaugural addresses from Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia.
West Virginia Governor Proposes $80M for University R&D, Workforce Training
Using one-time lottery surplus funds available for fiscal year 2008, Gov. Joe Manchin wants to invest $80 million in world-class research and specialized job training to propel the state toward a knowledge-based economy. The proposal was unveiled to lawmakers during Gov. Manchin’s State-of-the-State Address last week in conjunction with the fiscal year 2009 budget recommendation.
Mixed Results for TBED in State Budget Proposals
Coinciding with a plethora of state-of-the-state addresses delivered over the past week, several governors have released budget recommendations for the upcoming fiscal year. The following states’ budgets include crucial TBED investments and reductions in programs.
California
Recent Research and Useful Stats: NSF Releases Science & Engineering Indicators 2008
On Tuesday, the National Science Foundation (NSF) released Science & Engineering Indicators 2008, its comprehensive biennial analysis of the U.S. and international science and technology landscape. This version provides thorough details about the features of a rapidly-changing global economy, as countries continue to make investments in their knowledge-based capacity and industries.
Outdated Tax Systems Holding Back State Economies, Report Says
With many states anticipating or already preparing for budget pressures, state leaders are increasingly looking for ways to increase their revenue streams. A new report from the Pew Center for the States finds that in many cases outdated state tax systems are stifling growth and failing to build a stronger tax base. Authors Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene argue that many of these systems have not been overhauled since the rise of service economy. In 2005, service industries accounted for 68 percent of U.S.