Upcoming Webinars

SSTI Webinars are a great way to keep up on the major issues and initiatives impacting technology-based economic development. The live interactive webinars provide a convenient and cost-effective platform to learn about new approaches and tools that can help you in your work. This informative and educational webinar series is hosted by SSTI staff, thought leaders and colleagues from around the country with relevant experience and knowledge.

What to Expect

  • In-depth examinations of current state and regional approaches to financing startup companies, crowdfunding and commercializing university research, among others;
  • Strategies for successful economic transformation through intelligent, strategic investments in tech-based economic development; and,
  • Stimulating dialogue and thought-provoking exchange among your peers from across the country.

Upcoming Webinars

Starting down the path to SBIR reauthorization: the minority bills
May 28, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET | Zoom 

The next advance along the path to SBIR/STTR reauthorization has been made with the introduction of identical bills in the House and the Senate by the ranking minority members of the small business committees of their respective chambers of Congress. To help the regional innovation community understand the bill(s), SSTI will hold a webinar on Wednesday, May 28, at 1:00 pm EDT to walk through the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2025 as introduced by Senator Edward Markey and Representative Nydia Velázquez. SSTI held a similar session on March 24 on Senator Small Business Committee chair Senator Joni Ernst's INNOVATE Act and, on May 28, we'll show where the bills agree and disagree, setting up an opportunity for considerable future discussion and negotiation. 

 

Both aim to reauthorize and reform the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. While they share common goals of supporting small business innovation, they differ significantly in their approaches, priorities, and policy mechanisms. Interested technology-based economic development organizations may register here to attend or receive SSTI’s summary slide deck of the bills after the event.
 

TBED Community of Practice Subcommunity Meetings

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. 

Subcommunities on Entrepreneurship Development; Research Parks; Risk Capital; and, Lab-to-Market are meeting regularly. 

Visit the community information page to learn more or complete this brief registration form to sign up.