In This Week's Issue
SSTI News and Analysis
PA Team Awarded Funds to Establish DOE's
Third Energy Innovation Hub
A research consortium led by Pennsylvania State University will
receive up to $122 million over the next five years to develop an
Energy Innovation Hub focused on developing technologies for making
buildings more energy efficient. The team will pursue a research,
development and demonstration program targeting technologies for
single buildings and district-wide systems, according to a news
release. This is the third innovation hub announced by DOE this
year to receive FY10 funding. A team led by Oak Ridge National
Laboratory received funding to establish a hub on modeling and
simulation for nuclear reactors and the California Institute of
Technology was awarded funds to establish a method to produce fuels
from sunlight. DOE's hubs are multidisciplinary,
highly collaborative teams of scientists and engineers working over
a long period of time to achieve a specific high-priority goal. The
program is funded at up to $22 million this fiscal year with
another $25 million per year expected over the next four years.
Read the release: http://www.energy.gov/news/9380.htm.
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Space Coast Task Force Recommends Competitive Grant Program
for Transition Plan
Nearly 90 percent of government funds available for transition
assistance in the Space Coast region would be used for a fast-track
competitive grant process through the Economic Development
Administration (EDA), according to recommendations from a task
force convened by President Barack Obama. Under the plan, $35
million in grants would be awarded to the most promising job
creation and economic development programs aimed at creating a
strong economic base in the region as the Space Shuttle program
winds down. Another $5 million would fund a Commercial Spaceflight
Technical Center supporting commercial space launch and reentry
activities, according to the report.
To help transform the Space Coast economy and prepare its future
workforce, the task force, co-chaired by U.S. Commerce Secretary
Gary Locke and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, developed action
items that fall under four key areas: sustaining regional
investments already underway; spurring immediate opportunity;
investing in smart economic growth initiatives through a new
competitive fund; and, building lasting infrastructure for success.
The group was charged with developing a plan for how to best invest
$40 million in FY11 transition assistance for new and immediate
investments in the region.
Central to the plan is the creation of a fast-track competitive
grant process to quickly identify and fund promising job creation
and economic development initiatives aligned with regional cluster
and competitive analysis. EDA would launch the competition on Sept.
1 with finalists announced this fall. Several initiatives may stem
from ideas proposed over the past three months by regional
stakeholders, including elected officials, economic development
organizations, and universities, according to the report.
Other action items include retraining for displaced workers,
investing $600,000 of the EDA and Small Business Administration
budget to support small business and industry, facilitating a
technology export exposition to increase access to international
markets for small- and medium-sized businesses, and engaging a
public-private partnership to work with the federal government,
private sources of capital, and corporations to catalyze new
business creation along the Space Coast over the long term.
The report includes a number of emerging development principles
seen as critical to sustaining an entrepreneurial system that
supports nascent industries and generates job creation in the long
term. These principles include promotion of regional innovation
clusters, emphasis on technology-based economic development,
promotion of open innovation networks, improved access to capital,
investment in cutting-edge regional infrastructure, and development
of partnerships between federal, state, and local government.
Read the report:
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/475699main_Space_Industry_Report_to_the_President.pdf.
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HHS Review Calls for Support of Early Stage Research,
Manufacturing Centers
Establishing manufacturing centers to provide resources for
small biotech companies to bring products to market and creating
teams at the National Institutes of Health to identify promising
research are among a list of recommendations resulting from a
comprehensive review of the federal government's
system to produce medical countermeasures against bioterrorism
threats. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen
Sebelius released last week findings from the report, which
identified five key areas for improvement focused on speeding up
early stage research to produce vaccines and other countermeasures.
The report finds that the U.S. needs to more quickly develop
manufacturing processes that can be used for multiple medications
or vaccines and better nurture discoveries in their earliest
stages. As a result of these findings, HHS expects to release a
draft solicitation for one or more Centers of Innovation for
Advanced Development and Manufacturing in the coming weeks and
create new NIH research teams. HHS also will explore ways to help
small companies attract investors. Read the press
release or the
full report.
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Regional Clustering and Innovation Strengthens Exports Report Finds
"Strong Manufacturing and patent producing
metropolitan areas generate the highest shares of exports from
their output," according to a recent Brookings report.
Researchers at the Brookings Institute found that the top
exporting U.S. metros also were significantly more innovative. In
this study, innovation was defined by the rate of patent
production. Metros with regional
clusters also were more likely to export than those without strong
regional clusters. The report recommends that U.S. metros
should develop metropolitan export initiatives that focus on
innovation to increase their export capabilities and modernize
their economic development strategy from 20th century thinking to
21st century action on export oriented economic growth.
Metros with strong manufacturing bases tend to have a larger
share of their Gross Metro Product (GMP) tied to export. The
Midwestern metros were among the most export oriented of the top
100 metros. The Southern and Western metros followed and were
similar in terms of exports as a share of GMP. Not a single
Northeastern city made the top 20 metros when measuring exports by
share of GMP.
Innovation, as measured by rate of patent production, was the
second most important indicator of export success among U.S. metros
in this study. The report indicates that innovation might be
significant because "firms that are more
innovative are more likely to export internationally and exporting
activity reinforces innovation through
competition." The report also shows that
many high exporting metros with "high
innovation" have strong regional clusters based around
technology development. According to research,
innovation has a strong relationship with the growth in U.S.
exports.
The report also discusses the importance of regional clusters to
exporting. In numerous studies, export oriented industries produce
more patents when clustered. An industry cluster fueled many of the
top exporting metros. In many cases, cluster driven metros also had
higher levels of exporting than similar cities from the same
geographical region. These clusters ranged from the standard
manufacturing clusters to several technology-based clusters.
Metropolitan specific characteristics (e.g., innovation and
regional clusters) drive the differences between U.S. metros,
according to the report. The report advises that U.S. metros should
develop their own metropolitan export initiatives focused on
innovation and development of regional clusters. These initiatives
would focus on export promotion, innovation, freight, and data
collection policies. The first step in this process would be the
identification and strengthening of industry clusters. Second, U.S.
metros should effectively leverage federal and state services and
assets to implement the plan. Metros also should not duplicate any
services provide by federal or state agencies.
Read the report...
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Around the World: Australia and Ireland Invest in Innovation
As the world's economies rebound, governments are investing heavily in innovation and research infrastructure. Australia and Ireland, for example, will fund significant investment in national innovation strategies. Australia will commit $1.1 billion to develop national clusters in targeted sectors, and Ireland will attempt to become the "innovation hub" of Europe.
Australia
Under the Super Science Initiative,
Australia's government will provide
approximately $1.1 billion for three targeted research areas:
- Space and astronomy
- Marine and climate science
- Future industries (e.g., nanotech and biotech).
These investments will fund collaborative agreements between
universities, government agencies, independent research institutes
and business. Of the $1.1 billion, $901 million will be invested
into research infrastructure. The Super Science Imitative also will
fund 100 "Super Science Fellowships"
across the three targeted research areas. Infrastructure projects
were identified in the Strategic Roadmap for Australian Research
Infrastructure in September 2008.
Read more about the
Super Science Initiative.
Australia's
coalition government also approved an additional $255 million in
new funding for science and innovation research. Among the
initiatives funded, the newly formed International Science
Initiative will receive $21 million. Read
more at: http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2010/08/19/2987838.htm
Ireland
In hopes of becoming the "innovation
hub" of Europe, Ireland launched a
€500 million (~ $632.25 million) innovation fund.
The fund is a key pillar of the government's
Smart Economy Framework that was published in 2008. However,
the fund was delayed due to the recession. Starting in September,
Ireland will invest €250 million (~$316.12
million) over the next five years. TAOISEACH Brian Cowen,
Ireland's head of government, indicated the
remaining €250 million (~$316.12 million) would
come from private sector investments. The innovation fund will
attempt to address the lack of venture capital that has
limited Ireland's ability to innovate, according
to Cowen. Cowen believes that the fund will help Ireland to
replicate the venture culture of US. Read more at:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2010/0712/1224274518421.html
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New Invention Disclosures at Canadian
Universities Grew 20 Percent in 2008
Canadian universities and affiliated hospitals
disclosed and reported 1,613 new inventions in 2008, a 20 percent
increase over the previous year, according to a new report from
Statistics Canada. These same institutions reported that 19 new
spin-off companies were created using university intellectual
property in 2008, bringing the total number of spin-off companies
to 1,242 since 1999. The reported value of research undertaken at
Canadian universities and hospitals reached an estimated $2 billion
in 2008, a 55 percent increase over 2007. Read the report ...
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Useful Stats
U.S. Science and Engineering
Graduate Enrollment, 2001-07
U.S. graduate enrollment in science and
engineering (S&E) increased by 3.3 percent in 2007 over
comparable data from the previous year, according to the latest
data from the National Science Foundation (NSF). This marks the
largest increase since 2002 and follows several years of stagnant
enrollment numbers. Female enrollment grew by 3.4 percent, slightly
more than the 3.2 percent growth for men. Growth in Asian, Black,
Hispanic, American Indian and
"other"/multiracial enrollment
outpaced growth among whites.
Between 2006 and 2007, the largest relative
increases in enrollments took place in social science graduate
programs. Sociology, other social sciences, and the history and
philosophy of science had the largest increases. Among the natural
sciences, psychology, biology, mathematics and computer sciences
posted significant growth. In engineering, civil,
"other" and biomedical engineering
outpaced the other fields.
S&E graduate enrollment by temporary visa
holders reached its highest level since 2003 and first-time,
full-time enrollment by foreign students hit its highest level
since 2001. First time foreign enrollments grew by 8 percent in
2007. Temporary visa holders represented 29.7 percent of all
S&E grad students. While females still represent only half of
all foreign S&E students, the growth in female enrollment
continues to outpace their male counterparts. While male enrollment
grew by 4.4 percent, female enrollment grew by 5 percent.
View the NSF data on 2007 S&E graduate
enrollment:
http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf10307/. Read the NSF InfoBrief
regarding the 2007 data:
http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf09314/.
SSTI has prepared a table showing U.S. S&E
graduate enrollment numbers by state from 2001 to 2007. Due to a
change in methodology, the 2007 increase appears larger than it
actually was. For comparable 2007 data, see the NSF
tables, however, only aggregated, national data is available.
The change in reporting makes any analysis of growth and trends by
state unreliable, but the data offers some insight into the current
state of S&E programs across the country.
California led the country in S&E graduate
enrollment with 68,039 students in 2007. Enrollment in the state
was driven by the California university system, which had a
combined total of more than 18,000 S&E science grad students
and more than 6,000 engineering students. The presence of the
country's second and third largest engineering
programs at Stanford University and the University of Southern
California also contributed.
Other leading states include, in order, New
York, Texas, Illinois and Massachusetts. Together the
top five states represent 39 percent of all U.S. S&E graduate
enrollment. Though Minnesota ranked twelfth overall, it was home to
the individual reporting institution with the largest number of
science graduate students, the University of Minnesota (all
campuses). The university had 4,282 students in its graduate
science programs.
For the U.S. overall, 25.5 percent of S&E
students were enrolled in engineering programs. Georgia and South
Carolina had the nation's highest percentage of
engineering students as a share of all S&E students, with 38.6
percent and 37.5 percent respectively. In Georgia engineering
enrollment was boosted by the various campuses of Georgia Tech,
which had the highest number of engineering students of any U.S.
university with 4,416 and the highest number of S&E students
overall with 6,403. Hawaii and Puerto Rico had the highest share of
graduate students in the sciences, both with 11.4 percent.
View the table at:
http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/082510t.htm.
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TBED People and Job Opportunities
TBED People
Ray Gilley resigned as chief executive of the Metro Orlando Economic Development
Commission after nine years on the job. Gilley was responsible
for helping lure the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute to
Central Florida.
Peter Ginsberg joined the North Carolina Biotechnology Center
as vice president of Business & Technology Development.
Leslie Smith was hired as the first general manager of
TechTown,
Detroit's research and technology park. A
Detroit native, Smith previously served as director of business
acceleration for the Michigan Economic Development
Corp.
Deputy Director Jonathan Taylor will fill the position of
director of the
Texas Emerging Technology Fund following the resignation of
Alan Kirchhoff earlier this month.
Robert Twilley, associate vice chancellor for Research
and Economic Development at Louisiana State University, has been
named vice president for Research at the University of Louisiana (UL) at
Lafayette. Twilley will oversee the office of research and many
of UL Lafayette's research centers and economic
development enterprises.
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Staff Picks
CIRM Ups Its Spending on Stem Cell Research
In a week that saw federal funding of embryonic stem cell
research thrown into question because of a federal
judge's ruling, the California Institute of
Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) announced it will fund up to $243
million to help move therapies into clinical trials. Up to 12
"disease teams" of researchers from
companies and academia could receive as much as $20 million each.
The San Francisco Examiner
says it is part of a strategy to demonstrate results before
asking for additional funding.
White House Report on Stimulus Funding in Innovation
The White House issued a
report this week that looks at investments being made from
stimulus funding in four areas of innovation: transportation,
renewable energy, medical research, and platforms for private
sector innovation through broadband, Smart Grid and health
information technology.
Michigan Pushes for Biggest Ever Business Competition
Organizers of the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition are
hoping to make the contest with more than $1 million in cash awards
for entrepreneurs who promise to locate and grow in Michigan the
biggest business-plan competition of its kind, according to the
Detroit Free Press
article.
Ruralsourcing, Onshoring Garner Some Attention
As the national unemployment rate hovers near 10%, some
companies are starting to eye job-hungry areas of the country as
prime candidates for the kind of outsourced work that once would
have gone overseas. A new crop of outsourcing startups are popping
up with development centers in places like Joplin, MO, and Eveleth,
MN, CNNMoney.com
reports.
India Tries Using Cash Bonuses to Slow Birthrates
>Demographics play a huge role in a country's
economic growth. India is disproportionately young with roughly
half the population younger than 25. This
"demographic dividend" is one reason
some economists predict that India could surpass China in economic
growth rates within five years. This New York Times
article indicates India is trying to manage that growth.
Death Knell for Some Clean Tech Companies
Technology Review reports
the U.S. Senate's failure to pass a comprehensive climate and
energy bill this summer could spell doom for startups founded to
help reduce carbon-dioxide emissions. Others will limp on, limited
to markets much smaller than they originally expected to
target.
NPR's Look at University of Utah
The University of Utah's work at creating new
startups from academic research got national exposure with this
Morning Edition story.
NPR looks at how the university has earned its national reputation
for company spin-offs.
17 States Share $20M for Cyber Connectivity Enhancement
The National Science Foundation awarded educational institutions in 17 states just over $1 million each in ARRA funds to enhance broadband access for academic research. Awards are expected to broaden participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics research and education activities.
Read more ...
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