On the heels of their big win last week in Portland, OR, SSTI’s 2013 Excellence in TBED award winners have announced more exciting news surrounding their programs’ impact and new initiatives to support regional growth strategies. This year’s winner for Most Promising TBED Initiative, ASU Entrepreneurship & Innovation Group (EIG), has attracted a new partner to expand on their model for entrepreneurial support by repurposing existing library space.

Save the date!
Hosted by the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, SSTI's 18th Annual Conference will be held in Chicago at the Westin Chicago River North Hotel on September 14-16, 2014.

Chicago provides an excellent backdrop for SSTI's 18th Annual Conference. Illinois has a vibrant technology community that is using innovative approaches to bring together state and local partnerships to positively impact the economy.

RoseAnn Rosenthal, president and CEO of Ben Franklin Technology Partnership of Southeastern Pennsylvania, was presented with the Iris Newman Award from the Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs.

Rob Wiltbank recently became the CEO of Galois. Prior to Galois, Wiltbank was a professor at Willamette University's Atkinson Graduate School of Management.

Eager to attract investment and spur startup activity, city and state officials launched entrepreneurship programs, high-tech R&D centers, and sector-specific facilities as part of the innovation hub trend in 2013.

As we plan for 2014, Dan Berglund, SSTI president & CEO, will provide us with an in-depth view of the latest trends affecting tech-based economic development (TBED), new developments in the field, opportunities for the year ahead, and the implications and issues for TBED policymakers and practitioners. This webinar will be a good opportunity to reflect on 2013 and look forward to 2014.

Throughout our travels across the country, SSTI always is impressed by the important work TBED organizations are doing to improve economic conditions for their state or region. Many of these organizations have been around for decades, and continue to innovate and evolve, while others are just getting off the ground with a creative approach. SSTI seeks to honor these initiatives as part of the 2012 Excellence in TBED awards program.

Several SSTI members met yesterday with Sen. Moran (R-KS), his staff, and staff for Sens. Coons (D-DE) and Rubio (R-FL) to express support for the creation of a fund to commercialize university-developed technology, and also encouraged the bill's sponsors to broaden eligibility for funding to include public and nonprofit organizations working with institutions of higher education to commercialize technology. SSTI as part of its efforts in DC will be working on this issue over the coming months.

It's easy to recognize a great thing when you see it. Over the years, judges of the SSTI Excellence in TBED awards program have seen promising tech-based economic development initiatives worthy of showing off to the community. If your organization is working toward improving economic conditions through a creative approach, we want to hear about it. This is a great opportunity to capture national recognition and secure support for your program. Judges also look for strategic partnerships and a well-defined action plan.

Past judges of the Excellence in TBED award program have told us they want to read a clear, concise and compelling story about how tech-based initiatives are improving local, state and regional economies. To assist applicants in their quest for the trophy, SSTI has provided several resources for writing an outstanding proposal. First, we recommend downloading the brochure, which explains the program philosophy and provides complete instructions. Writing samples from past award winners are available to gain a better understanding of what the judges are looking for in the narrative.

Do you like to plan ahead? Do you have some funds left over you need to spend this fiscal year? Why not register early for SSTI's 16th Annual Conference in Atlanta, Oct. 29-30? Every year, our conference offers engaging conversations and expert opinions from the world of technology-based economic development. Visit our site for more information about this year's conference, including our opening reception at the Georgia Aquarium on Oct. 28. Read more at ssticonference.org... Interested in becoming a sponsor of this year's conference? Many sponsorship opportunities are still available!

Each year, a group of talented and dedicated practitioners from across the country converge to learn from one another, share successes and challenges, and participate in a national dialogue on improving innovation and competitiveness. This year's theme, The Power of Re- Defining, Imagining and Energizing Regional Economies, echoes the need for bold, innovation-centered ideas and TBED organizations are leading the charge.

SSTI is introducing a new category in our awards program to recognize the Most Promising TBED Initiative. Through strategic partnerships, leveraged resources, and diversified funding, these initiatives have "all the pieces of the puzzle," they just haven't been around long enough to demonstrate the impact SSTI generally seeks in an Excellence in TBED award winner. Proposals submitted in this category should address a specific need in a community geared toward improving overall economic conditions.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development is looking for an executive director who is an ambitious, successful professional that will provide leadership in Kentucky's efforts to develop a knowledge-based economy. The executive director will work in partnership with all levels of government, academia, and the private sector to help create a supportive high-technology environment.