TBED Community of Practice

With support from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), SSTI has launched a Tech-based Economic Development (TBED) Community of Practice.

This initiative builds the capacity of EDA grantees to achieve greater impacts for their regional innovation economies. 

SSTI’s work emphasizes:

  • Identifying and distributing best practices in structuring, measuring and planning TBED initiatives;
  • Fostering community among grantees around types of TBED activities and target audiences/technologies; and,
  • Facilitating communication with external stakeholders, including funders, clients and partners. 

The TBED Community of Practice is for grantees across all EDA funding programs -- Build to Scale, Economic Adjustment Assistance, Public Works, Technical Assistance and more.

We have two easy ways to connect with the TBED Community of Practice:

  • Sign up for more information at ssti.org/tbedcopinfo 
  • Contact SSTI's community of practice team at tbedcop [@] ssti.org. 

This information is also available as a factsheet [pdf].

 

Subcommunities of Practice

SSTI is supporting subcommunities that focus on strategies within the field. Given the broad nature of the TBED field, we believe that fostering networks within more specific areas of practice will help achieve these goals. Learn more about the purpose of the subcommunities from these FAQs.

The three subcommunities availble at this time are: Entrepreneurship Development; Risk Capital; and, Lab-to-Market.

To register for a subcommunity of practice, complete this brief registration form letting us know what subcommunities and topics most interest you.

 

Community Events

Maximizing Visibility: Leveraging Impact Reports for TBED Success
October 30 | 3:00pm ET

Join us for an insightful webinar on how economic development organizations (EDOs) can effectively use impact reports to capture the attention of media, funders, and other key stakeholders. Discover best practices for crafting compelling impact narratives, learn how to highlight your organization’s achievements, and explore strategies for engaging diverse audiences. Our expert panel will share real-world examples and actionable tips to help your EDO amplify its impact and secure the support needed to drive sustainable growth and development.

Register for this event here. 

 

SSTI's 2024 Annual Conference
Dec. 10-12 | Arizona

SSTI’s conference is the event for practitioners and policymakers working to strengthen their regions through science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. People attend to meet peers from around the country, reconnect with old friends, learn what initiatives are working in other regions, and discuss trends that are important to the industry. In addition to thought-provoking keynotes, the agenda will include open forums and ample discussion so that you can share your perspective and have your questions answered. 

Stay tuned to ssticonference.org for details and register today.

 

Past Events

Recordings and slides from previous TBED Community of Practice webinars are available in SSTI's Webinar Library. 

 

Research & Tools

Key Technology Area Investment Data Tool

SSTI has released a new data tool that defines investment activity, one indicator of the vibrancy of a region’s innovation economy, in each of 18 technology areas. Comprising two interactive visuals and a downloadable data file, this tool includes three investment data points by state, year (2013-2023), and investment stage (e.g., seed, angel, venture) for technology verticals that were selected to align with many of the key technology areas defined in the CHIPS and Science Act and included in the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Tech Hubs program. 

Access the data tool.

 

State SBIR/STTR resource guide
SSTI has created a new SBIR/STTR resource guide that includes examples of state-level initiatives in four broad categories: 

  • Proposal assistance and mentorship,
  • Technical assistance and networking,
  • Financial assistance, and
  • Commercialization support

The resource guide includes a downloadable Excel file of all programs and their offerings. Additionally, there is a map to visualize which types of financial assistance are available in different states. Lastly, the guide provides examples by state of the different types of support programs available nationwide.
Access the State SBIR/STTR Resource Guide.

 

Federal Funding Video Library

To help organizations that implement TBED strategies better-understand the wide variety of programs that can fund their work, SSTI has created the Federal Funding Video Library. Find brief explainer videos on the following programs:

  • EDA STEM Talent Challenge
  • EDA Build to Scale Capital Challenge
  • EDA Build to Scale Venture Challenge
  • EDA Revolving Loan Fund
  • Appalachian Regional Commission
  • EDA Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA)
  • SBA Regional Innovation Clusters Inititative (RIC)

View the full Federal Funding Video Library. 

SSTI is in the process of recording and editing additional videos. Suggest topics to tbedcop [@] ssti.org.

 

 

Note: The TBED Community of Practice is a project of SSTI using Federal funds under award ED22HDQ3070129 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations of resources on this page are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce