In This Week's Issue
SSTI News and Analysis
NY Leaders Award $200M for Regional Job Creation
Strategies
On Thursday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's
administration announced the winners of a six-month competition to
secure funding for regional job creation projects. Over the summer,
ten regional economic councils were created by executive order to
develop plans that would improve local economies using grants, tax
breaks and other state resources. The councils then pitched their
plan to state government leaders (presentations and applications
are available online). The four winning councils will receive $40
million each to support their plans, with the other six councils splitting
the remaining $40 million. An additional $800 million in tax
incentives and existing grants will also be available to
support strategies in all ten regions.
Best plan awardees include:
- Western New York, which secured a total package of
$100.3 million (including both the $40 million for implementation
and additional support from the $800 million), to support the
Roswell Park Cancer Institute Genome Project, develop a new Center
of Innovation in Medicine, build an Urban Automotive Center of
Excellence in Buffalo and other projects;
- Central New York, with a total package of $103.7
million, to expand the Bio Tech Park at Kennedy Square, complete
the Central New York Biotechnology Research Center, create the New
York Energy Regional Innovation Cluster at the Syracuse Center of
Excellence, commercialize air surveillance technologies at the
C-Speed Advanced Technology Manufacturing Center and other
projects;
- North Country, with a total package of $103.2 million,
to rehabilitate the newton Falls Rail Project, expand the C-Speed
Advanced Technology Manufacturing Center in Pottsdam, modernize
medical facilities at the Trudeau Institute's
Saranac Lake research campus, provide broadband services in
underserved communities and other projects; and,
- Long Island, with a total package of $101.6 million, to support
the Smarter Electric Grid 3 project at Stony Brook University and
Brookhaven National Laboratory, enhance construction of a new
cancer drug testing facility, create and retain a high-tech
workforce through a new STEM Hub, support Hofstra University and
Stony Brook University's EngINE project and
other projects.
Read the announcement...
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State of Washington Commits $5M to New $25M Investment Fund
The state of Washington's Governor Chris
Gregoire announced the state will contribute $5 million to the W
Fund, a new $25 million investment fund
intended to spin more startups out of research labs at the
University of Washington, Washington State University and other
state research institutions. Administered by the Washington State
Department of Commerce, key growth sectors targeted by the W Fund
include biotech and clean tech. The fund intends to start
considering investments in early 2012. Read the
Governor's press
release...
The W Fund was first
developed in late 2010 as the tentatively named Husky Bridge
Investment Fund and was intended to focus strictly on
commercializing research at the University of Washington, according to an
article on xconomy.com. Its
vision was to help business students gain experience by vetting
company with the potential to gain real world experience by helping
faculty turn their research into startup companies. However, with
state funding, the W Fund will expand its focus from the
University of Washington to include the state's
other research institutions.
Wealthy individual investors and foundations contributed most of
the initial $20 million seeking a return on their
investment. However, the state will not take any equity stake in
the fund. Washington State's Commerce Director,
Rogers Weed said, "(the state) will be in
a position to get its money back from the W Fund
investors, plus interest, if the investments turn out
positive." Read the
article...
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Facing Mounting Fiscal Problems, EU Remains
Committed to Supporting S&T Efforts
The European Union has implemented 30 of the 40 Innovation Union commitments
according to State of the Innovation Union, a comprehensive progress
report on the Innovation Union, the European
Union's (EU) flagship initiative under the
Europe 2020 growth strategy for the decade. By the end of 2011, the
European Commission will have passed all six Innovation
Union legislative proposals. The report highlights several of
the new initiatives including the first Innovation Partnership in
Active and Healthy Aging; the European Institute of Innovation and
Technology; and the Smart Specialization Platform. However, the EU
still has more to achieve including strengthening efforts at a
national level to prioritize investments in research and innovation
and set aside dedicated budgets to public procurement of innovative
products and services.
Even though Europe faces the deepest crisis in decades, the
report makes a case for maintaining a strong commitment to research
and innovation. It contends that fiscal consolidation needs to be
"smart" (e.g., preserving and
reinforcing investments in education, R&D and innovation) in
order not to jeopardize future growth. It also points out that this
is imperative because China, India and Brazil are rapidly catching
up the EU with regards to innovation. Read the
report...
According to the report in 2012, the EU intends to remain
committed to Innovation Union efforts including unveiling the two
remaining Innovation Union initiatives scheduled for 2012
— the proposal for the European Research Area
Framework and the new innovation headline indicator. The European
Commission also will review the current approaches to innovation in
other EU policies and propose new strategies to mainstream
innovation into all EU policies. Read the press
release...
The EU also unveiled new insights into the proposed Horizon 2020
program,
an €80 billion (approximately $107 billion)
research commercialization program. Starting in 2014, Horizon 2020
would bring all of the EU's research and
innovation funding programs under a single umbrella. The proposals
includes three key objectives:
- Approximately €24.6 billion ($32.9 billion)
will be committed to fund fundamental research (a 77 percent budget
increase);
- Approximately €17.9 billion ($24.0 billion)
will target key technologies and provide assistance for small
businesses needing access to capital; and,
- Approximately €31.7 billion ($42.4 billion)
to support research that will lead to scientific breakthroughs in
innovative products and services that address areas of
"popular concern" (e.g., health, food
security, sustainable agriculture, transport and energy).
The proposed plan also intends to simplify reimbursement
procedures for EU-funded research projects, reduce the paperwork
involved in preparing a research proposals, abolish unnecessary
checks and audits, and shorten the time between acceptance of a
research proposals and receipt of the grant. A finalized plan will
be announced sometime before the end of 2013. Read the press
release...
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U.S. Manufacturing Policies are in Disarray According to
Report
U.S. policy prescriptions for manufacturing are in
disarray according to Make: an American
Manufacturing Movement, a new report from
the Council on Competitiveness. Policymakers, the
report's authors contend, are bombarded with
widely available reports and analysis that support one of three
conflicting views (it is on steep decline, doing reasonably well or
it is poised for growth) on the health and importance of U.S.
manufacturing.
"In reality, elements of all three
perspectives are likely true," according to the authors.
U.S. manufacturing remains the world's top
producer and an important part of the U.S. economy
— employing more than 11 million and
contributing more than $1.7 trillion to the economy. However,
emerging economies are increasingly becoming a threat to U.S.
competitiveness. Going forward, the U.S has the potential to
capitalize on emerging marketplaces, but to achieve this the U.S.
must find solutions to the challenges it faces.
The report provides five
"solutions" to maintain the nation's status as
the world's top producer, resolve its
manufacturing challenges and capitalize on growing international
demand:
- Enact fiscal reform, transform tax laws, regulations and other
structural costs to spur investment, ramp up production, capitalize
growth companies and create skilled jobs;
- Create fair and open global markets for U.S. goods and services
to reduce the trade deficit and increase exports as a percentage of
gross domestic product;
- Prepare the next generation of innovators, researchers and
highly-skilled workers;
- Create national advanced manufacturing networks and
partnerships, prioritize R&D investments and deploy new tools,
technologies and facilities; and,
- Develop and deploy smart, sustainable and resilient energy,
transportation, production and cyber infrastructures.
Each solution provides specific policy recommendations that
policymakers should adopt. Read the
report...
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Indian Government Developing Billion Dollar Innovation
Fund
After its first year of work, India's
National Innovation Council has released a report on development of a long-term innovation roadmap. The keystone of this
strategy is a Rs 5000 crores ($968,615,000 U.S.) India Inclusive
Innovation Fund to support small businesses, paired with an Industry
Innovation Cluster Initiative. The report provides background on
other Indian initiatives, such as the pilot University Innovation
Cluster at the University of Delhi, the
country's twenty Design Innovation Centres and
the new State Innovation Councils. Read the report...
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Useful Stats
Doctorates Awarded by Broad Field of Study and by State,
2010
The number of U.S. doctorate recipients fell by three percent in
2010, the first decline since 2002, according to new data from the
National Science Foundation (NSF). Science and engineering
(S&E) doctorates declined by one percent, with the largest
decrease in agricultural sciences (15.7 percent). Computer sciences
posted the largest increase at 3.5 percent. Despite the slight
decrease after seven years of growth, S&E doctorate awards
remained 27.6 percent higher than in 2000. Read
NSF's Infobrief and view the tables...
SSTI has prepared a table of 2010 doctorate recipients by state
and by broad field of study. The table also
includes number of doctorate recipients per 100,000 state
residents. View the table...
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Staff Picks
Senate Approves SBIR Changes
Under the revised rules in the reauthorization, three agencies could spend up to 25 percent on venture capital controlled companies.
Read more...
European Recession Could Hurt State Economies
A Stateline infograph demonstrate how the looming European crisis could impact exports in each state.
Read more...
NJ Gov Releases Energy Master Plan
The new plan accelerates the implementation of the state's renewable portfolio standard and focuses on solar power.
Read more...
GAO Report Details SSBCI Use
A General Accountability Office report calls for improved metrics for the State Small Business Credit Initiative and includes a state-by-state survey of how the funds are being put to use.
Read more...
State Student Science Assesments Set Low Standards
Only four states set the bar for science proficiency near or above the level set by the National Assessment of Education Progress scale.
Read more...
New Geography: Which States Are Growing More Competitive?
North Dakota, Texas and Alaska lead the list of states that created more jobs than expected in 2011.
Read more...
White House Releases Cybersecurity R&D Plan
Plan sets federal research and funding priorities for cybersecurity, including heath IT and smart grid-related research.
Read more...
Entrepreneurship 101 Lecture Series Available Online
MaRS, Toronto's high-tech startup district, is offering a free weekly lecture series on topics related to entrepreneurship.
Read the schedule...
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