SSTI SPONSORS SECOND ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The State Science and Technology Institute is sponsoring its second annual conference "Science and Technology Programs: Catalysts for Economic Growth" on September 23 and 24.

The conference will explore best practices, trends, and new developments in technology-based economic development programs.

The conference program includes the following sessions:

• The Evolution of a Successful S&T Program will address how two programs have adjusted through the last decade, as the science and technology base and political climate have changed dramatically.
• Introduction to State S&T Programs will present an overview of the types of science and technology programs offered by the states.
• Conducting an Industry Cluster Analysis will offer a toolkit that explains exactly what industry cluster analyses are and the steps required in conducting this type of analysis.
• The Role of State S&T Programs in SBIR will examine methods of leveraging the SBIR program to meet state economic development goals and the latest trends in state SBIR programs.
• Marketing Your S&T Program will look at creative methods of strategically marketing S&T initiatives to a variety of audiences, including industry and legislators.
• Economic Development in the University will discuss lessons learned in bringing the economic development community and their academic counterparts together to spark economic growth.
• Commercialization Programs: The Practitioners' Perspective will look at options, challenges and achievements of various types of commercialization programs from the perspective of the practitioner.
• Trends in S&T Programs will examine the latest developments in state programs, the implications for program managers and policymakers, and where those trends may lead.
• New S&T Alliances will examine the role of industry councils and trade associations, ways in which state programs can work with them, and the implications for technology-based economic development programs.
• An optional pre-conference, half-day workshop, "Performance Measurement: Measuring for Success," will examine performance measurement concepts and their application to technology-based economic development programs.

"Science and Technology Programs: Catalysts for Economic Growth" will be held in Columbus, Ohio at the Adam's Mark Columbus. For more information, contact SSTI at 614/421-SSTI (7784) or visit SSTI homepage at http://www.ssti.org