Copyright State Science & Technology Institute 2002. Information in this issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest was prepared under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration. Redistribution to all others interested in tech-based economic development is strongly encouraged — please cite the State Science & Technology Institute whenever portions are reproduced or redirected. Any opinions expressed in the Digest do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
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In the December 5, 1997 Issue:
SSTI Releases Strategic Planning Report
The State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI) recently released State Science and Technology Strategic Planning: Creating Economic Opportunity. This report is the first comprehensive study of state science and technology strategic planning processes.Prepared under a grant from the Economic Development Administration, Creating Economic Opportunity describes the key factors that contribute to the successful development and implementation of state science and technology strategic plans.
The study found there were ten best practices for successful strategic plans:
- The planning process had a champion
- The process was structured to obtain a wide range of viewpoints
- The strategy articulated a vision for the state's future and was based on a thorough understanding of the state's industry and technology resources
- The strategy was designed to benefit all areas of the state, including distressed areas
- The strategy was built on existing delivery systems
- The strategy addressed the key elements needed to support technology-based development
- The strategy included performance measures related to specific outcomes
- The strategy included a detailed implementation plan assigning responsibilities and timelines
- The strategy was tied to the state budgeting process
- Strong leadership was provided to oversee implementation of the strategy over the long-term.
The report also reviewed the means by which state science and technology strategies are addressing the needs of distressed communities and disadvantaged populations. The review of science and technology strategic planning suggests that benefiting distressed areas has not been a priority for state technology initiatives. The report includes recommendations for the states and the federal government on leveraging science and technology investments to benefit distressed areas.
In a detailed appendix, the report identifies and examines state strategic plans adopted between 1991 and 1995.
To obtain copies of this report or for more information, call 614/421-SSTI (7784) or order from SSTI homepage: www.ssti.org. The first copy of the report is free. Additional copies are $10 each.
NBIA Releases Study Demonstrating the Impact of Business Incubation
The National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) has released a new report that confirms that business incubators are helping to build healthy, long lasting businesses, and they are doing it at minimal cost with a good return on investment to supporters.The report was conducted by the University of Michigan, NBIA, Ohio University and the Southern Technology Council under a grant from the U. S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration. It examines the impact of business incubators which house early stage companies and provide on-site management and a full array of business planning, marketing and financial services.
The study indicates that:
- Incubator companies experience very healthy growth. The average firm's sales increase by more than 400 percent from the time they enter the incubator until they leave the program.
- Business incubation programs produce companies with a high survival rate. A reported 87 percent of the companies that fulfilled the program's requirements are still in business today.
- Business incubation programs create new jobs for minimal cost and good return on investment. The estimated cost per job created in relation to public grants was $1,109.
The lessons learned from this project will enable incubator practitioners to assess and improve their programs in the future The researchers also developed a "toolkit" to help local communities and incubators carry out an incubator impact assessment of their own.
For further information on the study or to obtain a copy of the report contact NBIA at 614/593-4331 or via the web at www.nbia.org. The cost for the publication is $50.00 a copy.
EPA Requests Applications for FY98 STAR Grants
The Environmental Protection Agency's National Center for Environmental Research and Quality Assurance has announced the topics for its FY 1998 Science to Achieve Results (STAR) grant program. STAR grants are open to principal investigators in universities, non-profit organizations and state and local governments. The program is designed to improve the quality of science used in EPA's decision making process.Applications in the topic areas listed below are due on the following dates:
January 15: Decision-Making and Valuation for Environmental Policy
January 21: Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention
January 29: Air Pollution Chemistry and Physics; Health Efects of Particulate Matter
February 12: Indicators of Global Climate Change; Urban Air Toxics; Regional Scale Analysis and Assessment; Interindividual Variation in Human Susceptibility to Environmentally-caused Disease
February 16: Ecological Indicators
February 17: Technology for a Sustainable Environment
February 26: Drinking Water
April 11: Water and Watersheds
A letter of intent is due January 10 for Chemical Mixtures in Environmental Health with applications due February 10.
The STAR program is anticipating funding approximately 200 grants, with the typical grant lasting three years. Funding levels vary between $75,000 and $500,000 per grant per year, depending on the solicitation and research area. Other topics may be added to those listed above.
Additional information is available on the Internet at www.epa.gov/ncerqa/grants/ or from the NCERQA Hotline at 1-800-490-9194.
Ray Kammer Confirmed as NIST Director
Raymond Kammer was sworn in as eleventh director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on November 12. Kammer had been NIST's deputy director since 1993. Robert Hebner had been acting director of the agency since the position was vacated by Arati Prabhakar in March.
Industry Group Formed to Support Small Technology Businesses
A new industry association, the Small Business Technology Coalition (SBTC), has been organized to represent the interests of small, high technology firms in Washington, D.C. and in individual states. Since its creation, SBTCs membership has grown to 300, with members from 30 different states.SBTCs initial objectives include: 1) becoming a strong recognized voice in the formation of public policy that is of direct interest to small, high technology firms; 2) providing a forum for executive networking and education as well as interfacing with investors; and 3) leveraging member efforts and buying power to provide cost effective business support services.
For more information about SBTC call 415/813-9124 or visit their web site at www.sbtc.org
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