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Statewide strategies are preparing for the new federal policy and funding landscape
As states strive to strengthen their science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship programs during an uncertain federal funding period, many are developing strategic plans that provide a roadmap for doing so. SSTI has recently seen examples of plans from West Virginia, Arizona, and California.
West Virginia
In its discussion to fortify the state’s research enterprise, West Virginia's Vision 2030 notes the likelihood of federal research dollars declining, leading to intense competition among states for the remaining dollars. This economic landscape means that West Virginia will be relying more heavily on state support for STEM research and education, funding that is essential for attracting external funding. Thus, Vision 2030 calls for "examining best practice financing models in other states and then raising funds to help West Virginia compete for industry and federal research dollars."
With confidence that they will be able to raise the funds, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission uses Vision 2030 to present goals and actions for strengthening STEM talent, including:
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increasing the number of students who attend college to pursue STEM subjects by continuing to provide STEM support for students and teachers,
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increasing research experiences, co-ops, and internships to retain STEM students and to improve job prospects, to be achieved through a statewide system for facilitating internship opportunities, and
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increasing the number of STEM certificates and degrees completed by leveraging programs and scholarships to prepare and retain college students.
West Virginia cited these goals and actions for advancing innovation and entrepreneurship:
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increasing the number of R&D-intensive and technology-based startups by funding entrepreneurial support organizations and encouraging venture capital investment;
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increasing the commercialization of university-developed technology by increasing industry-university collaborations, and
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increasing the number of SBIR/STTR awards by incentivizing academics to engage in technology commercialization and continuing state funding for SBIR/STTR grants.
West Virginia's plan was developed with input from a variety of stakeholders representing government, industry, academia, and venture development organizations. The West Virginia Science and Research Council is the administrative body that approves and oversees the plan; the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission selected RTI International and its partner, Keen Point Consulting, to help develop the plan.
Arizona
Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap's executive statement acknowledges the “shifting context” of the bioscience sector in Arizona, noting that “federal research budgets are unstable, early-stage capital is shifting heavily toward artificial intelligence, and public trust in science has weakened. Nonetheless, the executive summary says that bioscience discovery is entering “a new golden era ....”
Having established this positive outlook, the roadmap lays out five goals and 15 strategies—each with an accompanying set of actions. A selection of these goals is listed below.
Amplify the collaborative gene. This goal emphasizes the need for a culture of collaboration within the ecosystem. Strategies for doing so include engaging a new generation of bioscience leaders, enhancing the impact of the Arizona Bioindustry Association, connecting with more technology-intensive industries, and developing partnerships with other bioscience ecosystems.
Accelerate research into impact. This goal calls for stronger partnerships between research institutions, health systems, and industry; a new bioscience commercialization network; and new initiatives to tackle major diseases and public health priorities.
Elevate Arizona’s startup ecosystem. The roadmap notes that achieving this goal will require diversifying the investment base, scaling innovation and commercialization programs, and building a statewide bioscience incubator network.
Strengthen talent and career pathways. This goal requires aligning educational institutions and employers with labor needs, initiating effective workforce development programs, and establishing a bioscience concierge.
Arizona's roadmap is a commissioned long-term policy strategy researched and written by the Flinn Foundation.
California
In California, recent legislation (Assembly Bill 940) calls for the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to develop the state’s first statewide strategy for the quantum technology sector by July 1, 2026. The bill stipulates that the quantum technology subsector is to be prioritized above various other strategic subsectors that were identified in the California Jobs First State Economic Blueprint that Governor Newsom released in February 2025. The quantum strategy must include an industry overview that outlines the current state of the industry, explain why it is critical to California, and identify specific strategies to increase jobs and capital investments in that sector.
The bill directs GO-Biz to devise a quantum industry strategy by leveraging the state’s concentration of academic, scientific, and technological assets with its highly skilled workforce. It also requires the plan to include an industry strategy “prioritizing access to tax incentives, grants, loan programs, and workforce training programs to catalyze private sector investment in the respective sector.” And it stipulates that GO-Biz “shall develop the industry strategy for quantum technology with engagement from key stakeholders in the regions that have identified quantum technology as a priority.”