In the July 18, 2007 Issue:

Copyright State Science & Technology Institute 2007. 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.

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Pennsylvania Budget Includes Major Investments in Education; TBED Initiatives Pushed to Fall
As part of the budget deal agreed upon earlier this week between Gov. Ed Rendell and Pennsylvania lawmakers, two of the governor’s major TBED priorities - the Jonas Salk Legacy Fund and an alternative energy fund - will be voted on later this year. 
 
Under the budget agreement, lawmakers committed to a roll call vote in November to decide on the Jonas Salk Legacy Fund, which proposes borrowing $500 million from the state’s tobacco settlement proceeds to invest in scientific research (see the Feb. 19, 2007 issue of the Digest). The initiative will be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis, yielding $1 billion in new bioscience investments, according to the governor’s press office.
 
Gov. Rendell will call a special legislative session beginning Sept. 17 to consider alternative energy and conservation legislation. Lawmakers agreed to consider a $60 million annual commitment with the option of a bond authorization of up to $750 million. The governor’s Energy Independence Strategy calls for the creation of a fund to help bring energy products and technologies to the market.
 
The fiscal year 2007-08 budget for the state's Department of Education includes increased funding for Pennsylvania public high schools to prepare students for careers in high-skill areas. The budget includes $90 million – a $70 million increase over last year – for the Classrooms for the Future initiative, which provides laptops to high school students in more than 350 public schools. Other investments in education include:

The enacted budget includes $51.7 million for the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority Fund within the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). DCED will receive $45 million for the Opportunity Grant Program to create and retain agricultural, manufacturing and R&D jobs, $22.5 million for customized job training, and $2 million for Keystone Innovation Zones. Gov. Rendell signed the FY 2007-08 budget into law on Tuesday.
 
HB 1286 is available at: http://www.budget.state.pa.us/budget/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=167632

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NGA Awards $500,000 to Six States for STEM Initiatives
Six states recently were awarded $500,000 grants from the National Governors Association (NGA) to establish and strengthen centers that specialize in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education development. The STEM Center Grant program, funded with the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Intel Foundation, is a component of the Innovation America initiative set forth by NGA Chair and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.

The program extends from the recommendations of Building a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Agenda, a report published earlier this year by NGA. It recommends that governors lead efforts within their states to: coordinate state K-12 standards and assessments with postsecondary and workforce expectations; monitor and enhance the internal capacity to improve teaching and learning; and, identify best practices in STEM education, then enlarge their scale.

The competition was open to all states and U.S. territories, 24 of them applying for the program. The following states were awarded grants:

The NGA’s Center for Best Practices administers a website dedicated to education issues, providing information about early childhood, K-12, postsecondary education, and governors’ efforts to promote STEM development within their states. The site can be accessed at http://www.nga.org/center/edu.

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As NSF Moves Closer to Historic Budget Increases, South Dakota Site Chosen for Underground National Lab
The deepest mine in the U.S. has been selected by the National Science Foundation as site of its Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory. Also known as the “Homestake” in the Black Hills of South Dakota, the site contains 375 miles of tunnels, some extending more than 8,000 feet into the earth.

Why build a national laboratory with some components more than a mile below the earth’s surface? Because the unique environment deep under the earth allows for some very interesting experiments to occur. In the field of particle physics for example, thousands of feet of rock can be used to shield equipment from the cosmic rays that make particle detection difficult. In microbiology, tiny organisms living without sunlight miles below the surface with the ability to degrade waste and produce energy can be observed and studied. And in the earth sciences, geophysical characteristics of the earth’s crust including thermal properties and tectonic stresses can be further explored.

The winning proposal was presented by a team consisting of the University of California at Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, and the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority (SDSTA). The SDSTA was created by the South Dakota state legislature in 2004, specifically to convert the mine into a center for science, research, and education.

The state of South Dakota allocated $35 million toward the effort of transforming the site. Additionally, the philanthropist T. Denny Sanford pledged $70 million for the laboratory if the project were to choose Homestake. In recognition of the gift, the laboratory will be named the Sanford Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory, or SUSEL. Now that the site is selected, NSF will provide $5 million per year over the next three years to prepare detailed technical designs for the laboratory. The entire project is estimated to cost $500 million, but in order for the project to move forward, it must be approved by the National Science Board of the National Science Foundation (NSF), the president and Congress and must successfully compete against future NSF research projects.

The decision to move forward with the underground national lab comes at a time when NSF may see its budget dramatically increase in the upcoming years, providing additional opportunities for states and regions that partner with NSF. Within the Administration’s federal budget proposal released in the beginning of this year, NSF’s funding for fiscal year 2008 was $6.43 billion, an increase of 8.7 percent from the previous fiscal year.

In recent weeks, FY 2008 appropriation bills began making their way through Congress. Both House and Senate versions of the appropriations bill would increase NSF’s budget by at least 10 percent. The Association of American Universities reports, however, that President Bush has threatened to veto the bill, because the overall Commerce-Justice-Science appropriation is 5 percent higher than the Administration’s FY08 request. 

NSF’s website for the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory, which contains technical information and links to the winning site, is http://www.dusel.org/.

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Captivating Youth Interest in High-Tech Manufacturing Fields
From federal, state and local governments to nonprofit organizations and private industry, nearly every sector has a stake in recruiting youth to the high-tech manufacturing jobs of the future in order to maintain a competitive advantage.
 
According to a 2005 Survey by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), 80 percent of U.S. manufacturers indicated they face a moderate-to-severe shortage of qualified workers. The survey finds that “this human capital performance gap threatens our nation’s ability to compete in today’s fast moving and increasingly demanding global economy.”
 
In addition, research shows a direct relationship between manufacturing’s negative image – which is tied to the old stereotype of the assembly line – and the decreasing number of young people pursing manufacturing careers, according to NAM. Several states have enacted programs and partnerships to address not only the shortage of qualified workers, but also the stigma of traditional manufacturing.
 
In Maryland, the Carroll County Department of Economic Development, Carroll Community College, and manufacturing industries joined forces to address a manufacturing workforce shortage in the region. The Carroll County Manufacturing Consortium was formed earlier this year with the goal of recruiting and attracting qualified and trained workers to the many specialized niche manufacturing industries in the county.
 
In 2004, Carroll County had 4,532 jobs available in manufacturing reported by 166 companies, said Denise Beaver, deputy director of the Carroll County Department of Economic Development. According to data from 2003, only 7 percent of the manufacturing workforce in Maryland is 24 years old or younger. Three-quarters of workers are in their prime working years of 25-54.
 
“The aging workforce is a major problem in the state,” Beaver said. The other main issue is overcoming the preconceived notions of traditional manufacturing and presenting manufacturing jobs as an appealing option for youth, Beaver added.
 
Many of the manufacturing industries in Carroll County are smaller shops that feed larger manufacturing companies, providing specialized products, equipment, and component parts for aerospace, biomedical, commercial and defense contractors throughout the region.
 
Industry representatives have asked the consortium to review apprenticeship programs for high school students and recent graduates. The consortium also is considering ways to offer college credit for machine technology coursework at the local career and technology center. Industry representatives have stated that current curriculum is out of touch with modern day manufacturing, Beaver said.
 
During the consortium’s first meeting in May, a marketing committee was formed to generate ideas for recruiting youth to manufacturing. Ideas discussed during the meeting include developing a web portal for local manufacturing companies to market opportunities to the public and an internal forum on Carroll Community College’s Blackboard to enable shared applications and resumes. In addition, the Carroll County Department of Economic Development is seeking grant money to offer internships and career connections for students. The consortium will meet again in August to discuss the marketing initiatives.
 
While it may prove challenging to capture the attention of young people in the classroom, a summer camp setting may be the ticket to sparking youth interest in high technology fields.
 
Last month, Montgomery County Community College in Pennsylvania offered week-long Advanced Technology summer camps in engineering and nanotechnology/biotechnology for high school students. The camps are part of the ongoing Advanced Technology Initiative, which seeks to support and encourage the research, development and implementation of new and revised programs in advanced technologies at both the college and in the region.
 
Students attending the engineering camps were exposed to the areas of physics, engineering, graphics, chemical engineering, robotics binary coding and material science. Camp directors provided lessons and activities to engage students.
 
During the nanotechnology/biotechonology camps, students completed lab work in the areas of drug design, crime scene investigation, bioengineering, bioterrorism, infectious diseases, and scanning electron microscope analysis. State and federal funding sources allowed for the camps to be provided at no cost to the students.
 
Addressing local manufacturing needs, the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association (FMA) also offers manufacturing summer camps at locations across the country - each aimed at changing the image of manufacturing for youth.
 
“In the media, you hear only about manufacturing companies going offshore and jobs being lost,” said Terry Egan, director of FMA Foundations. The truth is, manufacturing companies in the U.S. are producing more than ever, utilizing the latest technologies, Egan said. The companies are no longer unclean, loud and unsafe.
 
Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, FMA provides grant money and the basic structure of how the camp should be conducted. The organizations then use their community resources to build the camps based on local manufacturing needs. This year, 20 camps were organized throughout the nation with a goal of 500 camps by 2010, Egan said.
 
The camps are geared toward students between the ages of 13-16. During the first couple of days, students use computer assisted design to create a project. They then transfer their designs to a computer numeric control machine and are able to take their finished products home. The final days of the camp are reserved for visiting local manufacturing companies to see what types of career opportunities are available.  
 
More information about FMA's Manufacturing Summer Camps is available at: http://www.fma-foundation.org/Student-Center.cfm

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Useful Stats
Industry Financed R&D at Colleges and Universities by State, FY 2001-2005
Every year, the National Science Foundation releases its Academic R&D Expenditures report, filled with statistics concerning the characteristics of research and development at U.S. colleges and universities. Using these reports, SSTI has prepared two tables detailing the funds provided by industry from 2001 to 2005 for institutions of higher education in each state and the District of Columbia.

The first table displays the amount of R&D funds provided by industry for each year from 2001 to 2005, the percent change over the years, and each state’s ranking by this percent change. Over the five years, industry’s contribution to academic R&D increased by 184 percent in Rhode Island, growing from $2.28 million in 2001 to $6.34 million in 2005. South Dakota, Hawaii, Indiana, and Ohio rounded out the states with the largest increases, while 26 states witnessed decreases in funding over the five-year period. For the U.S. as whole, total R&D funding from industry to academia increased by 3.3 percent.

The second table ranks each state by 2005 funding and by the percentage of total academic R&D that comes from industry. For the U.S. as a whole, expenditures by industry at colleges and universities in 2005 was $2.29 billion, the highest level since 2001. Among the states, California had the most from industry at $269 million, followed by North Carolina at $200 million, Texas at $164 million, Pennsylvania at $160 million, and New York at $143 million.

As a share of total R&D funding for academia, industry’s share was greatest in North Carolina at 12.1 percent. This was followed by Ohio at 8.4 percent, Indiana at 8.3 percent, Alaska at 7.4 percent, and Florida at 7.2 percent. South Dakota and Wyoming were the only states where this share was less than 2 percent. For the U.S. as a whole, 5 percent of total academic R&D spending was from industry.

To see where each state ranks, visit SSTI's tables at http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/071807t.htm (2001-2005 data) and http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/071807t2.htm (2005 data only).

Academic Research and Development Expenditures Report: Fiscal Year 2005 is available at:
http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf07318/

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People & TBED Organizations

The business development organizations Ann Arbor SPARK and Ann Arbor IT Zone are in the process of finalizing a merger. The resulting organization will be Ann Arbor SPARK.

Canada's 17 research parks have agreed to join forces, creating a formal association.

Conexus Indiana, a new initiative focused on the state’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries, will be led by President and CEO Carol D’Amico, former executive vice president and chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College.

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman has named Dr. Ragula Bhaskar chairman of the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) Board. In addition, GOED has appointed Tamara Goetz as the state's new science advisor.

Alex Fischer, formerly Oak Ridge National Laboratory's director of technology and economic development, has been tapped as the new vice president for commercialization for Battelle.

Rick Homans announced that he will step down as executive director of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, effective July 27.

Albert Johnson Jr. is the new vice president for university advancement at Cameron University. Ronna Vanderslice also has been selected as dean of the university's School of Education and Behavioral Sciences.

Dr. Russ Lea has been named vice president for research at the University of South Alabama.

The Putnam County Development Authority (W.Va.) has appointed Heather Lewis as its new economic development project director.

Jay Moskowitz was named the first president of Health Sciences South Carolina.

Boise State University has tapped Mark Rudin as its new vice president for research.

Charles Sparks was named business development director of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

Indiana University announced that William Stephan will be the university's new vice president of engagement, a newly created position that becomes effective in September.

E. Norris Tolson is officially the president and CEO of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, having served as interim CEO since January.

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