Webinar Library

Webinars are a great way to stay up to date on the newest developments. They offer timely information from experts and have the flexibility of being viewed at your convenience without the expense of travel. SSTI's Webinar Library puts SSTI webinars at your fingertips — when you want them.

Most SSTI webinars are available for purchase, while events hosted by SSTI's Tech-based Economic Development Community of Practice and others are available to the general public.

 

TBED Community of Practice Webinars

With support from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), SSTI's Tech-based Economic Development (TBED) Community of Practice builds the capacity of EDA grantees to achieve greater impacts for their regional innovation economies. Webinars hosted by the community are free of charge and just require registration to view the recording or slides. 

For quick video explanations of programs, visit the Federal Funding Video Library.

 

TBED COP Webinar: Community college strategies for TBED talent development
September 19, 2024

Community colleges are increasingly expected to play a central role in regional innovation strategies. This webinar focused on how partnerships between industry, community colleges, and local organizations can effectively train the next generation of professionals for advanced technology sectors. Speakers from Lorain County Community College discussed their semiconductor and microelectronics curriculum and share insights on a community college’s role in facilitating program delivery, engaging industry partners to align curriculum with workforce needs, and providing ongoing support to drive student success. 

Access the webinar recording and slides here.

Build to Scale FY 2024 Funding Opportunity Information Session

September 17, 2024

EDA released the FY 2024 notice of funding opportunity for Build to Scale, which has a deadline of Oct. 28. This webinar shares details about the competition, presented by EDA's Eric Smith, features audience Q&A, and resources available through SSTI's TBED Community of Practice.

Access the webinar recording and slides here.

Immigration pathways for TBED
July 25, 2024

Immigrant talent is a key driver of innovation in technology and entrepreneurship. However, navigating and understanding the many legal options available can be challenging. During this TBED Community of Practice webinar, we learned about pathways for TBED immigration, including lesser-known tools and under-utilized features of common immigration paths. Doug Rand, Senior Advisor to the Director of USCIS and a former Assistant Director for Entrepreneurship in the Office of Science and Technology Policy and Sophie Alcorn, Founder & CEO of Alcorn Law, presented.

Access the webinar recording and slides here.

Hear from your Peers – Three Build to Scale Success Stories
June 20, 2024

Interested in leveraging EDA's Build to Scale program to launch or grow your innovation programs? Go beyond what you can learn from the NOFO and video explainers and hear from three B2S awardees about their experiences with the program. Amanda Hedrick with Shawnee State University/Kricker Innovation Hub, Stacy Nimmo with Red Wing Ignite, and Tim Jones with Innosphere Ventures discussed what challenge they sought to address, how that process developed in practice, and what impact the award helped them achieve in their communities. 

Access the webinar recording and slides here.

How ecosystem mapping can aid your region
May 22, 2024

Ecosystem mapping facilitates clear communication about the resources, support programs, and key players available to entrepreneurs and innovators in a region. For TBED organizations, it is also a valuable tool for identifying potential partners, facilitating referral networks, and uncovering new strategic opportunities. However, keeping these maps current and reflective of a region’s growing and evolving economic landscape can be a challenge. In this webinar, experts from EcoMap and SourceLink demonstrated how they approach developing ecosystem maps tailored to your region as well as strategies to keep these tools up-to-date and seamlessly incorporated into your daily operations. This webinar provided the actionable insights needed to integrate ecosystem mapping into your organization’s strategic toolkit.

Access the webinar recording and slides here.

 

TBED Funding in the FY 2024 federal budget
May 9, 2024

Federal programs provide a key source of capital to launch or expand many tech-based economic development initiatives. During this TBED Community of Practice webinar, SSTI provided an overview of key initiatives funded in the FY 2024 budget so you know where and when to look for opportunities in the coming year. The discussion included programs at the Department of Energy, Economic Development Administration, National Science Foundation, Small Business Administration, and more. Edwina Manyeh, Tech Hubs Deputy Director at EDA provided an overview of upcoming EDA funding opportunities as well. 

Access the webinar recording and slides here.

Measuring the success of state commercialization programs

Mar. 20, 2024

How do you know if your technology commercialization programs are working? What are the right metrics for the type of initiative you're proposing? What sort of data should you be collecting? How are results presented in meaningful ways to stakeholders? In this TBED Community of Practice webinar, John Hardin, Executive Director of the Office of Science, Technology & Innovation at the NC Department of Commerce and Vinit Nijhawan, Managing Director of MassVentures, shared insights on how to measure and demonstrate the success of state programs designed to move innovations out of the lab and into the marketplace.

Access the webinar recording and slides here.

A conversation on the pros and cons of Salesforce for grant reporting
Feb. 21, 2024 

Salesforce is the most widely-used customer relationship management platform, but it has limitations. Even with free nonprofit licenses, impactful add-ons can be expensive. During this webinar, SSTI's Susan Niple and Jason Rittenberg shared their process of using Salesforce for tracking, reporting, and communicating about TBED initiatives, and BioSTL's Courtney Shaw and Taylor McCabe explained how they use the platform for grant management.

Access the webinar recording and slides here.

Build innovation and entrepreneurship into CEDS
Jan. 18, 2024

New technologies and entrepreneurs are important to a thriving regional economy – and strong infrastructure, housing, and economic resiliency are important to attracting investments in innovation. Despite mutual needs and benefits, many regions do not exhibit deep collaboration between Economic Development Districts and organizations supporting tech-based economic development (TBED) strategies. This joint webinar from SSTI and NADO Research Foundation begins to explore one area of mutual interest: EDA’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). This plan is required both to establish an Economic Development District and to apply for most funding from EDA. David Ives, Deputy Director, Performance, Research & National Technical Assistance Division at EDA discussed the CEDS purpose, and then Padmini Roy-Dixon, Economic Development Director & Regional Innovation Officer with one of the country's most recently-approved districts, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, discussed their recent CEDS plan and implementation with one of their TBED partners, Alicia Oddi,  Managing Director, Entrepreneur Programs at Rev1 Ventures.

Access the webinar recording and slides here.

Lessons learned in TBED grant management
Dec. 5, 2023

Congratulations on winning federal funding! Are you ready to manage it? A first federal award can be a significant challenge for organizations, and even experienced groups can find efficiencies or hit challenges when new agencies have different expectations or definitions. The Tech-based Economic Development (TBED) Community of Practice held this conversation with Erin Burcham, President of Verge, and Kris Khalil, Executive Director of New Orleans BioInnovation Center, about lessons learned in handling requirements around federal awards.

Access the webinar recording and slides here.

Communicating Tech-based Economic Development
Oct. 31, 2023

How do you explain your work to others? Explore this important and challenging topic with your peers during a TBED Community of Practice webinar. SSTI's Jason Rittenberg shared findings about public perception and interpretation of common TBED activities, such as that people think tech transfer means moving files to a new device, and facilitated a discussion with Bryan Barnhouse of the Arkansas Research Alliance and Lindsey Cox of LaunchTN about effective strategies to build public awareness and stakeholder support. View to gain new ideas for how to communicate your work to partners, funders, legislators, and even your family.

Access the webinar recording and slides here.

Measuring impact beyond jobs 
June 22, 2023

Compelling metrics are a critical component of explaining how tech-based economic development (TBED) initiatives make a difference in your region. Jobs created, new licenses or follow-on investment have the advantage of being straightforward measures but do not always convey a good sense of where your region is and how your work is helping it to advance. During this TBED Community of Practice webinar, we dove into the Illinois Innovation Index -- a three-part analysis of entrepreneurship, research and workforce -- with Colleen D. Egan and Austin Green from the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition to discuss their methodology, costs and staffing, and impacts of the measurement and reporting process itself. 

Access the webinar recording and slides here.

Speed and scale: One organization leverages its CRM for web, and ecosystem visibility
April 12, 2023 

During this TBED Community of Practice webinar, Amy Beaird with the Florida High Tech Corridor discussed how the organization has implemented AirTable as a flexible customer relationship management platform and leverages off-the-shelf and custom tools to add functionality to its website and to rapidly advance its ecosystem visibility and project goals. 

Access the webinar recording and slides here.

Webinar: Federal TBED Funding: CHIPS & the FY23 budget
Feb. 1, 2023

During this TBED Community of Practice webinar, EDA's Chivas Grannum and Amanda Kosty discussed programs within the agency's Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and SSTI's Jason Rittenberg provided an overview of new and expanded federal funding from the FY 2023 budget and CHIPS & Science Act that can help you launch or scale support for your regional innovation economy.

Access the webinar recording and slides here.

 

Webinars Available for Purchase

Many episodes from the SSTI Inspiring Thought webinar series are available for purchase individually or as part of a bundle. Prices are just $29 each or $75 bundled for members and $49 each or $95 for non-members. Following your purchase, a link to the recorded presentation including all audio, slides and questions will be sent immediately to your inbox. The presentation is not available for download. The link will be active for 60 days following your purchase. Speakers or headphones and an internet connection are required. Contact Susan Niple (niple@ssti.org | 614-901-1690) with any comments or questions and be sure to check out our Upcoming Webinars and mark your calendar to join us for a future event!

 

 

Research Universities and the Public Good - A Conversation with the Author 
Presented February 2019

Should America invest more in top R&D universities? How are social and political forces changing the context in which universities operate? Join SSTI for a conversation with Jason Owen-Smith, author of Research Universities and the Public Good. We will talk about his book and have a broader conversation about some the outside forces exerting pressure on universities and the impact those forces are having.

Speakers:

  • Jason Owen-Smith, executive director, Institute for Research on Innovation and Science, University of Michigan
  • Jason Rittenberg, policy & development director, SSTI

Available for purchase individually or as part of a bundle. Order now.

 

 

Building an Innovation Network in Rural Areas
Presented August 2018

Rural areas face unique challenges in their economic development efforts. Tune in to this joint webinar between SSTI and the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) to learn about winning strategies and key elements to consider when creating an innovation network to strengthen your economy. Our panel of experts will share their lessons on developing partnerships and growing innovative collaborations to strengthen communities in rural areas, with a segment on agricultural outreach as well.

Speakers:

  • Stephanie Cook, Idaho National Laboratory’s manager of Technology Based Economic Development and Technical Assistance Programs
  • Dan Ripke, past director of the Center for Economic Development, California State University, Chico, and current board president of the University Economic Development Association
  • Jay Olsen, director of agriculture and farm business management at Snow College and chair of the Rural Community College Alliance agriculture group

Available for purchase individually or as part of a bundle. Order now.

 

 

Prior awardees' tips on a successful RIS program
Presented June 2017

In 2017, EDA issued a $17 million funding opportunity for the Regional Innovation Strategies program, which supports networks that strengthen the transformation of innovations into new products, businesses and jobs. SSTI and a panel of previous RIS winners discuss their strategies and lessons learned on application development and program implementation.

Speakers:

  • Danielle Blount, Project Manager, Launch NY
  • Kevin Lunke, Entrepreneur Trailblazer, Center for Innovation at the University of North Dakota
  • Bob Starzynski, Director of Business Development, Innovation Works

Available for purchase individually or as part of a bundle. Order now.

 

 

Evidence for Workforce Interventions
Presented January 2017

From assessment of worker skill-available position matches, to apprenticeship programs and corporate-identified needs, workforce initiatives throughout the country are increasingly focused on evidence-driven training. In this SSTI Inspiring Thought webinar, a panel of researchers and practitioners discussed recent research and investments related to workforce programs and the outlook for these initiatives in 2017 and beyond.

Speakers:

  • Ted Bauer, director workforce development strategies, MassMEP
  • Susan Helper, Carlton professor of economics, Case Western Reserve University
  • Ryan Noonan, economist, U.S. Department of Commerce

Available for purchase individually or as part of a bundle. Order now.

 

 

SBIR State Matching Grants: Who, What and Why
Presented September 2016

More than a dozen states have programs that provide a matching grant to companies that win a federal award. There are some key differences across states in program structures, and few states report useful impact metrics. On this SSTI Inspiring Thought webinar, John Hardin with the North Carolina Department of Commerce and Lauren Lanahan from University of Oregon discussed what one state has strived to achieve with their program and what research tells us about the opportunity to influence SBIR's effectiveness.

Speakers:

  • John Hardin, Executive Director, North Carolina Board of Science, Technology and Innovation
  • Lauren Lanahan, Assistant Professor of Management, University of Oregon

Available for purchase individually or as part of a bundle. Order now.

 

Back to School: How is your region teaching entrepreneurship?
Presented August 2016

Universities throughout the country are increasingly interested in providing entrepreneurship education to undergraduate students. There are many forms for these efforts, including degrees and certificates, club activities, and mentorship or other partnerships with regional accelerators and venture development organizations. During this SSTI Inspiring Thoughts webinar, experienced practitioners discussed what it takes to make a student entrepreneurship program successful.

Speakers:

  • Laura Frerichs, Director, University of Illinois Research Park
  • Elizabeth Lemmonds, Director of Talent Programs, EPIcenter
  • Jed Taylor, Director of Operations, Technology Entrepreneur Center

Available for purchase individually or as part of a bundle. Order now.

 

Making Innovation More Inclusive
Presented July 2016

In recent years, the Pittsburgh region has gained national attention in its transition from an economy built on steel and heavy manufacturing to one that focuses on innovation, education, healthcare and cutting-edge research and development. As Pittsburgh continues to develop, however, new challenges have occurred, prompting civic leaders to make a concerted effort to view their innovation-led economic growth through a lens for inclusivity. In this Inspiring Thought webinar, hear how Pittsburgh is reinventing its regional economy, developing a roadmap for inclusive innovation, and building capacity to make sure that growth and opportunity occurs throughout the entirety of the region.

​Speakers:

  • William Generett Jr., President and CEO, Urban Innovation21
  • Debra Lam, Chief of Innovation & Performance, City of Pittsburgh

Available for purchase individually or as part of a bundle. Order now.

 

Applying P3 Models to University Entrepreneurship
Presented June 2016

Institutions of higher education throughout the country are playing a growing role in their regional innovation economies. Rather than operating independently, many institutions are forming partnerships with the private sector and other external stakeholders to achieve greater leverage and impact for their programs, centers and funds. SSTI and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Grants Resource Center jointly hosted this Inspiring Thought webinar to discuss the practical, legal and financial considerations required to make these models work.

Presenters:

  • Tim Bour, Executive Director, Innovation Center of the Rockies
  • Eric Braun, Vice-President for University Advancement, Shawnee State University
  • Chris Shaffer, Director of Institutional Research and Sponsored Programs, Shawnee State University

Available for purchase individually or as part of a bundle. Order now.

 

Identifying New Partners to Support Innovative Companies
Presented May 2016

Innovative companies in every region are looking to use or develop the latest and greatest tech, research and talent. Federal agencies are working with these companies more frequently and efficiently, whether by facilitating licensing, providing access to unique equipment, or through other efforts. During this Inspiring Thought webinar, a panel of federal officials discussed new initiatives and how organizations throughout the innovation ecosystem can work with the agencies to better support tech-based development.

Presenters:

  • Daniel Lockney, Technology Transfer Program Executive, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • Sanjiv Malhotra, Director of the Clean Energy Investment Center, U.S. Dept. of Energy Office of Technology Transitions
  • Eric Padmore, Scientific Program Analyst, National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute
  • Paul Zielinski, Executive Board Chair, Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer

Available for purchase individually or as part of a bundle. Order now.

 

University Pre-Accelerators New Hot Trend, But What Are They?
Presented April 2016

Since 2014, a number of universities across the country have launched pre-accelerator programs to support entrepreneurial growth among faculty and students. The growing popularity has raised several questions among economic development professionals including, “How are they structured?,” “What services do they provide?” and “How do they fit within an innovation ecosystem?.” During this month’s Inspiring Thought webinar, a panel of experts addressed these important questions about pre-accelerators and much more.

Presenters:

  • Maggie Brickerman, Director of gBETA, Gener8tor
  • Donald McCandless, Director of Business Development, Ben Franklin Transformation Services
  • John Vidmar, Director, Ben Franklin Transformation Services

Available for purchase individually or as part of a bundle. Order now.

 

Cultivating Entrepreneurs in Rural Communities
Presented March 2016

Enacting a successful tech-based economic development strategy poses unique challenges in rural areas. Yet, with educational attainment rates lower and poverty rates higher than metro areas, there are clear motivations for striving to improve rural prosperity. During this webinar, SSTI hosted a conversation with some of the country’s successful and innovative rural TBED programs.

Presenters:

  • Bruce Gjovig, Entrepreneur Coach & Director of the Center for Innovation, University of North Dakota
  • Catherine Renault, Principal and Owner, Innovation Policyworks LLC
  • Heather Stafford, Assistant Director Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Business Oregon

Available for purchase individually or as part of a bundle. Order now.

 

Crowdfunding Entrepreneurial Programs
Presented February 2016

Consumer products are not the only initiatives that can benefit from America’s growing acceptance of crowdfunding – organizations supporting entrepreneurs are also learning how to tap into this trend. Join this month’s Inspiring Thought webinar to hear about some of the successful projects across the industry and to learn the nuts and bolts of the Launch NY experience.

Presenters:

  • Marnie Lavigne, President and CEO, Launch NY
  • John Timmerman, Founder and CEO, Good Monster

Available for purchase individually or as part of a bundle. Order now.

 

Communicating Innovation Policy to the Public
Presented January 2016

The general public is overwhelmingly positive about supporting innovation, but how we talk about relevant policies and programs has real impacts on this support. Whether advocating for new policies or funding, tech-based economic development organizations must communicate their impacts and needs successfully to elected officials and other public stakeholders. This Inspiring Thought webinar discussed a national survey SSTI conducted about innovation policy and provide practical advice for practitioners.

Presenters:

  • Jill Allen Murray, Managing Director, The Sheridan Group
  • Ben Johnson, Vice President, Programs, BioSTL

Available for purchase individually or as part of a bundle. Order now.

 

 

Publicly-Available Webinars

The following webinars are available for free to the public.

Build to Scale FY 2024 Funding Opportunity Information Session

September 17, 2024

EDA released the FY 2024 notice of funding opportunity for Build to Scale, which has a deadline of Oct. 28. This webinar shares details about the competition, presented by EDA's Eric Smith, features audience Q&A, and resources available through SSTI's TBED Community of Practice.

Access the webinar recording and slides here.

Regional Innovation Strategies: Strengthen your region's economy

This webinar offered a conversation about how to access funding to help you strengthen your regional innovation economy. EDA's Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship explained the Regional Innovation Strategies program -- including some important changes for the FY 2020 funding program (currently set for $30 million in the House and $31 million in the Senate). Past recipients New Jersey Innovation Institute and Massacusetts Life Sciences Center talked about their experience in using the program to support entrepreneurship and commercialization in their regions.

Both the recording and slides are available: Register now to access for free.

Informational Webinar: 2019 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition
Presented June 2019

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the 2019 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition, which will make 60 awards of $50,000. Eligible organizations provide accelerator (and similar) services to high-tech entrepreneurs around the country that are potential SBIR or STTR program applicants, and particularly to those that are underserved. During this webinar, John Williams & Brittany Sickler from the SBA's Office of Investment and Innovation explained the purpose and process of the competition and answered audience questions.

Both the recording and slides are available: Register now to access for free.

Regional Innovation Strategies FY 2019 Informational Webinar
Presented February 2019

Hosted by SSTI on behalf of the EDA Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, this webinar will provide information on the FY 2019 notice of funding opportunity for EDA's Regional Innovation Strategies program -- the i6 challenge and seed fund support awards.

Both the recording and slides are available: Register now to access for free.

Regional Innovation Strategies FY 2018 Informational Webinar
Presented June 2018

EDA’s Regional Innovation Strategies program — which makes i6 challenge and seed fund support awards — has released its notice of funding opportunity for FY 2018. During this webinar, EDA’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship discusses the program and application process.

Both the recording and slides are available: Register now to access for free.

U.S. Cluster Initiatives Driving International Partnerships
Presented July 2017

Thriving regional innovation clusters are not only competitive on a national scale, but also internationally. Clusters and regional innovation initiatives can play an important role in helping to boost international partnerships to advance economic development. In this webinar, Dean Amhaus with The Water Council and Vijay Chauhan and Donn Rubin with Global STL how they are cultivating partnerships on an international scale to increase exports, foreign direct investment, and sector-driven collaboration.

Both the recording and slides are available: Register now to access for free.

2017 Regional Innovation Strategies Program Informational Webinar
Presented May 2017

SSTI hosted with the Economic Development Administration an informational webinars regarding the 2017 Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) program. Under the RIS program, Commerce solicited applications for $17 million in funding awards. These awards are intended to help develop regional innovation ecosystems that provide support and funding to startups engaged in the commercialization process that ultimately lead to high-growth companies – the drivers of regional economic prosperity and job creation. Andria Fisanich and Eric Smith with EDA's Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship presented.

Both the recording and slides are available: Register now to access for free.

Bridging the Gap: Analyzing and Addressing Capital Needs
Presented May 2017

To help economic development practitioners bridge gaps in capital access, this SSTI webinar explored ways cluster and innovation initiatives are identifying and addressing unmet capital needs within their industries and regions. Bonny Moellenbrock with Investors Circle and Ron King of BioAccel discussed topics such as unlocking capital in a region, developing and managing investment funds for cluster companies, and collaborating with programs to connect companies with capital providers.

Both the recording and slides are available: Register now to access for free.

Community colleges as drivers of entrepreneurship
Presented April 2017

Regional innovation economies thrive when a variety of institutions promote entrepreneurship. Community colleges are often recognized for their contributions to workforce development but can be overlooked as supporters for startups and entrepreneurs. This joint webinar between SSTI and NACCE featured Tim Putnam, director, and Daniel Winegarden, director of business acceleration, of Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at North Iowa Area Community College and Laura Stein, vice president of Iowa Innovation Corp. discussing Iowa’s approach to regional innovation, which incorporates the state, industry, universities and community colleges as key partners for a thorough approach to entrepreneurial development. Listen to learn about the Hawkeye state and to discuss tools you can apply to your own region or institution.

Both the recording and slides are available: Register now to access for free.

Leveraging I-Corps for your region’s innovation economy
Presented March 2017

NSF’s I-Corps program has quickly grown to help nearly 1,000 teams of academic faculty, students and entrepreneurs test the commercial potential of university R&D. How prepared are your regional innovation initiatives to exploit the I-Corps opportunity and to integrate successful I-Corps outcomes into your innovation strategy? SSTI and a panel of Jim Aloise and Orin Herskowitz with Columbia Technology Ventures and Columbia University and Lynn Gellerman and Kaith Knutsen at TechGROWTH Ohio at Ohio University held an honest and interactive discussion about the program’s potential, its early impacts and ideas for how best to leverage I-Corps to achieve even greater economic outcomes in your region.

Both the recording and slides are available: Register now to access for free.

A Practical Guide to Cluster Development
Presented February 2017

Is your organization currently using or interested in pursuing clusters as an economic development tool? To help inform this process, Ifor Ffowcs-Williams, the CEO of Cluster Navigators and a Co-Founder of TCI, joined SSTI for a special webinar drawing on his experiences engaging more than 1,000 clusters in over 50 countries. With a focus on the United States, we explored how both established and aspiring cluster initiatives can use The Cluster Development Handbook and the 12 Steps of Cluster Development, authored by Ffowcs-Williams. Discussion included topics such as cluster identification, developing short- and long-term strategies for success, launching an organization, and measuring and evaluating impact. We also considered how public agencies (especially at the state and local levels) can support cluster development and potential future opportunities for cluster development in the U.S.

Both the recording and slides are available: Register now to access for free.

Awards Debrief: FY 2016 EDA Regional Innovation Strategies Program
Presented January 2017

The U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Regional Innovation Strategies program recently announced 35 awardees of the $15 million FY 2016 competition. Did your organization apply? Are you interested in applying for future funding opportunities? Have questions about the selection process or how to prepare an application? Representatives from EDA's Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship presented an SSTI-hosted webinar discussing the program, recent awards and tips on building a competitive proposal. Craig Buerstatte, Eric Smith and Andria Fisanich with EDA's Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship presented.

Both the recording and slides are available: Register now to access for free.

Prospective Applicant Webinar: FY 2016 EDA Regional Innovation Strategies Program
Presented May 2016

SSTI hosted with the Economic Development Administration (EDA) an informational webinar regarding the 2016 Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) program. Under the RIS program, the U.S. Department of Commerce is soliciting applications for $15 million in funding awards. These awards are intended to help develop regional innovation ecosystems that provide support and funding to startups engaged in the commercialization process that ultimately lead to high-growth companies – the drivers of regional economic prosperity and job creation. Julie Lenzer, Craig Buerstatte, Eric Smith and Andria Fisanich with EDA's Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship presented.

Both the recording and slides are available: Register now to access for free.

Awards Debrief: FY 2015 EDA Regional Innovation Strategies Program
Presented March 2016

The U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Regional Innovation Strategies program recently announced 25 awardees of the $10 million FY 2015 competition. Did your organization apply? Are you interested in applying for the $15 million competition that will occur in FY 2016? Have questions about the selection process or how to prepare a successful application? SSTI was pleased to host representatives from EDA's Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for a webinar discussing the program, recent awards and tips on building a competitive proposal. Julie Lenzer, Craig Buerstatte, Eric Smith and Andria Fisanich with EDA's Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship presented.

Both the recording and slides are available: Register now to access for free.

 

Archived Webinars

Contact SSTI for information on how to access recordings of these webinars.

NIST MEP Center Recompetition

SSTI hosted a webinar to discuss the recompetition of Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers in 12 states and Puerto Rico. During the webinar, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) staff will provide an overview of the funding announcement - due April 25 - and answer questions. An additional 11 states are scheduled for recompetition in July.

Presenters:

  • Diane Henderson, Federal Program Officer and Competition Manager, NIST MEP
  • Mark Troppe, Director, Partnerships and Program Development Office, NIST MEP

Tech-Based Economic Development Trends and the Road Ahead

From student debt to manufacturing employment; from budget crises to emerging programs, this webinar reviewed the major trends of 2015 and looked ahead to 2016. The presentation touched upon a wide range of issues that affect the potential actions and impacts of the technology-based economic development community.

Presenter:

  • Dan Berglund, President and CEO, SSTI

New Ways to Understand the Links Between R&D and Innovation

Evaluating the economic impacts of any innovation initiative is challenging: even more so when the effort involves research spending. So, it’s exciting to see progress toward developing more useful metrics on the economic and social effects of R&D. The November 2015 Inspiring Thoughts webinar covered new data being analyzed at the Institute for Research on Innovation and Science (IRIS) at the University of Michigan. This data provides evidence for links between university research and regional economies.

Presenters:

  • Julia Lane, Professor, Wagner School & Professor of Practice, Center for Urban Science and Progress
  • Jason Owen-Smith, Professor, University of Michigan

Rethinking Startup Capital: Flexible Models for Success

Approximately 29 percent of startups fail due a lack of capital, according to a 2014 study from CB Insights. For many of these startups, the lack of capital kills the business within the first year due to the inability to attract second and third rounds of investment for working capital. Initial investors can play a vital role in addressing this capital deficiency by offering flexible terms that are appealing to other investors. In our first Webinar of 2015, SSTI will host a panel discussion on flexible models for financing startups that make the startups more appealing to future investors, increase their potential for growth, and can even provide a quicker return-on-investment for the organizations that support them.

Presenter:

  • Michael "Luni" Libes, Founder & Managing Director, Fledge, the conscious company accelerator

Moderator:

  • Ryan Glenn, Director of Statewide Initiatives, Ben Franklin Technology Partners

EDA Regional Innovation Grants

SSTI hosted with the Economic Development Administration two informational webinars regarding the recently released a solicitation for Regional Innovation Grants via the 2014 Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) program. Under the RIS program, Commerce is soliciting applications for three separate Regional Innovation Strategy funding awards, including: i6 Challenge grants; Science and Research Park Development Grants; and, Cluster Grants to support the development of seed capital funds. These awards are intended to help develop regional innovation ecosystems that provide support and funding to startups engaged in the commercialization process that ultimately lead to high-growth companies – the drivers of regional economic prosperity and job creation.

Presenters:

  • Matt Erskine, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Economic Development Administration
  • Julie Lenzer Kirk, Director, Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration
  • Kerstin Millius, Senior Program Analyst, Performance and National Programs Division, Economic Development Administration

Building Legislative Champions: A "How To"

State legislative support for tech-based economic development activities increased in 2013—in part because of well-crafted strategies to secure that support. While state budgets have improved, resources are still limited and competition for them is fierce. Our experienced panelists will provide you with the "how to" needed to set the stage for success. The webinar highlights for lessons learned, gain inspiration and fine tune your state advocacy efforts through this engaging one-hour online event. You can make elected leaders among the strongest supporters for the good work your organization does to improve the local economy.

Presenters:

  • State Rep. Tobias Read, Oregon Legislature
  • John Sider, Managing Director of Statewide Initiatives, Ben Franklin Technology Partners
  • Mary Webber, Partner, Webber and Associates Government Relations
  • Mary Keenan, Partner, Webber and Associates Government Relations

Moderator:

  • Jill Allen Murray, Managing Director, The Sheridan Group

Case Studies on the Economic Power of Universities

Published more than 10 years ago, Innovation U: New University Roles in a Knowledge Economy described 12 universities impacting their regional economy. The sequel to Innovation U, Innovation U 2.0 Reinventing University Roles in a Knowledge Economy (Innovation U 2.0), includes another selection of 12 case studies of innovation-producing universities in the United States — what they do and how they came to be. The universities are exemplars not only in facilitating innovation, but also for the resulting economic impact. The universities are: Arizona State, Brigham Young, Cal Tech, Carnegie Mellon, Clemson, Florida, Georgia Tech, MIT, NC State, Purdue, Stanford, and Utah. Co-authors Louis Tornatzky and Elaine Rideout expand on their views of the "Innovation University" landscape and share personal insights about the project results.

Presenters:

  • Louis Tornatzky, co-author, Innovation U 2.0. and (retired) department chair, professor, and co-director of the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
  • Elaine Rideout, co-author, Innovation U 2.0. and Kauffman Entrepreneurship Fellow, CEO/founder of WISER Systems, Inc., founder of four startups, and adjunct professor at North Carolina State University.
  • Denis Gray, professor, and coordinator the Psychology in the Public Interest Program, Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University

Moderator:

  • Scott Doron, Assistant Director, Office of Science and Technology, North Carolina Department of Commerce

Trends, New Developments and the Year Ahead

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.

Presenter:

  • Dan Berglund, President & CEO, SSTI

Giving Communities the Space to Innovate 

Creating thriving, sustainable high-tech clusters requires a catalyst: some element that helps convert disparate businesses, researchers and investors into a robust community. This webinar examines how two leading tech-based economic development organizations are helping build more cohesive and vibrant innovation communities by making physical space available as a hub for entrepreneurial activity. These spaces represent low-cost ways that organizations can build an entrepreneurial culture, make valuable connections and establish their position as a leader in the regional tech economy.

Presenters:

  • Jim Cook, Director, Arizona State University, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Group
  • Jeanne Mell, VP Marketing Communications, University City Science Center

Tapping the Innovation Potential of Small Colleges and Universities

Major research universities are an invaluable asset in building thriving high-tech regions, but institutions of all sizes can play a key role in local innovation economies. The webinar features two successful regional networks connecting smaller colleges and universities to maximize their contribution to the high-tech economy. These networks are promoting inter-institutional collaboration, while also providing entrepreneurs with easy access to research services and commercializable technologies.

Presenters:

  • Barb Eccles, Manager, Technology Transfer, Lakehead University
  • Jill Edwards, Executive Director, Innovation Transfer Network

Staying Ahead of the Crowd: Crowdfunding Strategies for Today

While others are waiting on the sideline for the Securities and Exchange Commission to release equity-based crowdfunding regulations, several states and regions already have tapped into the potential of the crowd to support potential high-growth startups. With access to crowdfunding, entrepreneurs are able to gain access to new streams of capital and gauge market demand. Our panelists discuss the results of these early experiments in crowdfunding, share some of the lessons they have learned and explores what states and regions can do right now to unleash the potential of this powerful new tool.

Presenters:

  • Steve Wassom, Executive Director, Kansas Office of the Securities Commissioner
  • Lynn Hammes, Director of Finance & Administration, Kansas Office of the Securities Commissioner