SSTI Weekly Digest
A Publication of the State Science and Technology Institute
SSTI, 5015 Pine Creek Drive, Westerville, Ohio 43081
Phone: (614) 901-1690 http://www.ssti.org
Vol. 14, Issue 26

In the October 7, 2009 Issue:

If You Are Interested in Strengthening the Economy, This is the Conference to Attend!
The economic circumstances leading up to SSTI’s 13th annual conference make this year’s event critical. We encourage you to join us in Overland Park, Kansas, October 21 – 23, 2009 to Seize the Moment.

This year’s conference will bring together distinguished speakers like Josh Lerner of Harvard Business School and Rob Atkinson of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation who will challenge conventional thinking; experienced practitioners who will share best practices; and, leading individuals who are breaking new ground in their attempts to build a tech-based economies. Plus, we’ll have four stimulating roundtable discussions examining some of the thorniest issues we’re facing—improving metrics that are being used, re-examining equity programs, and engaging universities.

At this moment, every aspect of the U.S. economy is in a period of transformation. And nearly every aspect of getting out of the current mess is related to one or more of the fundamental principles of tech-based economic development, or TBED, for short. That’s pretty impressive. The public/private programs, policies and investments being made to support TBED have never been as important or critical as they are at this moment.

Even so, the rules for TBED’s fundamentals are in flux – capital access, university engagement, entrepreneurship assistance, research funding priorities, commercialization paths, you name it. To borrow from Ben Franklin, one of the nation’s great innovators, “When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.” In short, if your approach to promoting economic growth isn’t evolving, you’re writing its obituary.

To seize this moment, the visionary leaders of the TBED community need a forum to discuss how to turn the current realities into opportunities for innovation. SSTI’s 13th Annual Conference provides that forum. The following is a list of the sessions designed to help the TBED community seize the moment. Full descriptions and lists of speakers are available online at: http://www.ssticonference.org/schedule.html

Pre-conference Workshop Options:

Main Conference Sessions:

Registrations may be made by phone (614.901.1690), fax or online through the conference website at: https://www.ssti.org/Conf09/register.html.

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Headlining Speakers Will Address the Past and Future of TBED Initiatives
If we have no map, does that mean we’re lost? Hardly. But given the economic turmoil affecting every crossroad of the country, some folks may be having a hard time seeing which road leads in the right direction. This year’s conference will feature two speakers at the forefront of TBED research who will share their insight on how states and regions can prepare themselves for the challenges ahead.

Information Technology and Innovation Foundation founder and president Rob Atkinson will examine the choices we face in strengthening American competitiveness. Atkinson is the author of the State New Economy Index series and the book, The Past And Future Of America’s Economy: Long Waves Of Innovation That Power Cycles Of Growth. He has an extensive background in technology policy, has conducted ground-breaking research projects on technology and innovation, is a valued adviser to state and national policymakers, and a popular speaker on innovation policy nationally and internationally.

SSTI President and CEO Dan Berglund will join Dr. Atkinson for a discussion that will help broaden our thinking of the possibilities before us. There are tremendous challenges resulting from the current downturn; for stronger regional and state economies to arise, innovation and TBED have to be significant partners toward a recovery. This no-holds-barred discussion session will stimulate conference participants to begin to think of ways their TBED efforts back home can seize the moment.

Following that conversation, Harvard professor Josh Lerner will join us to discuss his upcoming, provocatively titled book, Boulevard of Broken Dreams: Why Public Efforts to Boost Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Have Failed–and What to Do About It. Lerner asks: when has governmental sponsorship succeeded in boosting growth, and when has it fallen terribly short? In his presentation he will provide valuable insights into why some public initiatives work while others are hobbled by pitfalls and offer suggestions for how public ventures should be implemented in the future.

Professor Lerner is the Jacob H. Schiff Professor of Investment Banking at Harvard Business School, with a joint appointment in the Finance and the Entrepreneurial Management Units. Previously, Dr. Lerner worked for several years on issues concerning technological innovation and public policy, at the Brookings Institution, for a public-private task force in Chicago, and on Capitol Hill. Much of his research focuses on the structure and role of venture capital and private equity organizations, which is collected in The Venture Capital Cycle and The Money of Invention.

This plenary session will provide opportunity for a lively discussion about when public capital initiatives are appropriate and what causes them to succeed or fail.

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Great Value for Insightful Pre-Conference Sessions
SSTI’s pre-conference workshops have received high praise from past participants because of their personalized nature, their dedication to sharing knowledge, and their opportunities to forge worthwhile relationships with other participants. The two pre-conference sessions scheduled on Wednesday, October 21 are no different and will provide plenty of value for those in attendance.

Our extremely popular “Where Do We Start?: Introduction to Technology-Based Economic Development” all-day pre-conference workshop is tailored to professionals new to the field of tech-based economic development. In a format that is engaging, educational and enjoyable, you will discover proven building blocks and programs for creating technology companies, financing high-tech firms, commercializing technology, and developing productive university-industry partnerships.

With a cost of just $75 for SSTI members and $95 for non-members, Intro to TBED from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. is the perfect setting for you or new members of your staff or board to discover what your peers and their organizations are doing to build tech-based economies. The day will be led by two of the top names in our field: Dan Berglund, President & CEO of SSTI; and Marsha Schachtel, Senior Fellow at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies.

Our other pre-conference session is a free, half-day afternoon workshop: NIST's Industrial Technology Programs: Tapping the Technology Innovation Program (TIP) and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). SSTI is co-hosting the gathering, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. along with officials from NIST to highlight how to engage with TIP and MEP, two of the most market-driven programs operated by the federal government.

The meeting will give you a chance to learn about:

More information on the pre-conference sessions, including details on the required registration process, is available at http://www.ssticonference.org/.

Whether you are driving in for the day, or using the pre-conference workshops to springboard into the rest of SSTI’s 13th Annual Conference, these workshops will provide an abundance of knowledge for an excellent price.

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Engaging Peers and Being a Part of the TBED Community
One of the best takeaways from the SSTI Annual Conference is the personal contacts one can make over the course of the event. Whether it’s chatting with a peer who has led successful economic development initiatives, breaking bread with fund managers at our scheduled Dine-A-Rounds, exchanging contact information with our conference speakers, or playing tennis with a myriad of people in the Wii Room, the upcoming conference will provide plenty of opportunities to make friends and meet other leaders who share your background and hopes for the future.

The SSTI Annual Conference is the tech-based economic development community’s premier event of the year because it brings together hundreds of the practitioners interested in tech-based economic development in one location.

Practitioners just like you.

Time and time again, attendees tell us the relationships they start and build at the SSTI Annual Conference are unique and extremely valuable. We design our event to maximize the opportunities for professional camaraderie and to reconnect with peers you have met in the past. Because of this, for our participants the SSTI conference is more than just knowledge – it’s the opportunity to engage a community.

The conference provides the platform for you to share your ideas, gain insight from others, and even learn what steps to avoid in both your professional development and the advancement of your development initiatives.

Be a part of the TBED community! More information on the social aspects and networking opportunities of SSTI’s 13th Annual Conference is available at http://www.ssticonference.org/.

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TBED Works: Stories of Success Celebrated During SSTI Conference
Developing and implementing a successful TBED initiative that generates substantial economic gain for a state or region is no easy feat. SSTI’s third annual Excellence in TBED awards recognize outstanding achievements in tech-based economic development from innovative programs across the nation, emphasizing impact, strategic value and replicability.

The anticipation has been building for months. Join us in celebration on Thursday, Oct. 22 at lunch for the highly-anticipated unveiling of 2009 Excellence in TBED award recipients when a select group of organizations will join the small ranks of those chosen from across the nation as a best practice in the field of tech-based economic development.

Stories that illustrate how TBED succeeds in improving our nation’s competitiveness are presented during two dedicated breakout sessions following SSTI’s awards ceremony. Conference participants are provided the opportunity to explore the award-winning programs in depth directly with program administrators on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. and Friday at 9:00 a.m.

2007 & 2008 Excellence in TBED Award Winners

Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholars® Program (2007)
Expanding the Research Infrastructure

Maryland Technology Transfer Fund (2008)
Georgia Research Alliance VentureLab (2007)
Commercializing Research

SCLaunch (2008)
Technology 2020 (2007)
Building Entrepreneurial Capacity

Innovation Works Seed Fund (2008)
Connecticut Innovations Eli Whitney Fund (2007)
Increasing Access to Capital

Virginia Council on Advanced Technology Skills (2007)
Enhancing the Science & Technology Workforce

Connecticut’s Center for Advanced Technology Manufacturing Supply Chain Integration (2008)
The Maryland Industrial Partnerships Program (2007)
Improving Competitiveness of Existing Industries

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What to Expect at an SSTI Annual Conference
SSTI’s Annual Conference offers a rich and rewarding slate of professional development opportunities for seasoned conference veterans and first-timers alike. Each year, SSTI helps connect TBED professionals to the ideas and perspectives making a difference in the regional innovation. The conference also provides a vibrant atmosphere where attendees can connect to the leading thinkers and practitioners in the field. You can expect:

Attendees will be able to participate in a number of activities and events that will allow them to network and have fun in a more casual environment. This year’s activities include something for everyone, such as:

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Hometown Amenities Await You in the Sunflower State
Warm hospitality, legendary jazz, and some of the best barbeque in the nation. Welcome to Overland Park and Kansas City!

This year’s conference, hosted by the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation, is being held in Overland Park, KS, located in the southwest section of the Kansas City area, just minutes from downtown Kansas City. Visitors can enjoy hundreds of urban attractions, while staying in an attractive, vibrant and safe suburban setting. Kansas City is a dynamic, metropolitan area backed by a vibrant arts scene, world-class attractions and an eclectic mix of shops. Take time to discover a blend of new and traditional favorites during your visit: http://www.ssticonference.org/kansas.html.

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Partnerships: The Key to Success
SSTI’s 13th Annual Conference is made possible by the support of our host sponsor, the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (KTEC), and the generous support of our national conference sponsors. SSTI extends its appreciation and thanks to the following exemplary organizations serving as our national sponsors:

Descriptions of all sponsors, including links to their individual websites for more information, are available at http://www.ssticonference.org/sponsors.html.

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SSTI Job Corner
Missouri Small Business Technology Development Center invites applications for an associate state specialist (counselor). This position serves as a statewide specialist to provide leadership, expertise, and training to University faculty and staff, and private sector clients with SBIR/STTR. A master’s degree in engineering, business, science, or a related area with appropriate coursework and five or more year’s relevant experience are required.

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Westerville, OH 43081
(614) 901-1690

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