SSTI Digest

Harvard University President Lawrence Summers announced his resignation this afternoon. Former Harvard president Derek Bok is to serve as interim president for the university.

The challenge for industry, academic leaders and policymakers in Massachusetts over the next few years is to translate the competitive strengths of the state's economy into new companies and new jobs, the ninth annual Index of the Massachusetts Innovation Economy indicates. While many competitor states and countries have been working through public-private collaborations to develop long-term strategic plans for future investments, Massachusetts has not had a recent collaborative effort, the report notes. Now is the time, it argues for industry and academic leaders to join with policymakers in identifying, planning and investing in the state's competitive assets for the Commonwealth's future economic vitality. Findings of the 2005 index include: Life sciences research has expanded rapidly in recent years, leading to a substantial infusion of research funds into academic health centers. However, the state's leadership position in life sciences faces increasing competition from other leading technology states. While there has been a steady increase in the number of new…

Former Massachusetts State Senator Peter Larkin is the senior vice president and chief operating officer for the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council.

As expected, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney rejected last week Senate Bill 2039, the bill supporting stem cell research. Exercising a power not enjoyed by all governors, Gov. Romney sent the measure back to the legislature with four amendments for consideration, rather than vetoing the measure. According to a May 12, 2005 article in the Boston Globe, one amendment would prohibit somatic cell nuclear transfer, or therapeutic cloning, while the other three ask the legislature to reconsider the bill's position on when life begins, to clarify monetary compensation for women who donate eggs for research, and to define the circumstances appropriate for researchers to create human life. Gov. Romney also sent a letter to lawmakers stating the bill would change the definition of an unborn child that dates back to 1974, the article states. The legislature, however, does not seem likely to adopt the governor's amendments as the bill was…

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney promoted Renee Fry to serve as director of the Department of Business and Technology, the state agency tasked with retaining and attracting jobs and steering economic policy throughout the Commonwealth.

Sometimes a little money is all that may be required to discover that an innovation in the lab is worth millions in the marketplace. At least that's the goal of a small grant program launched this afternoon by the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center (MTTC). The MTTC Tech Commercialization Awards will provide $5,000 mini-grants for technology assessments and investigations by academic and industrial researchers within the Commonwealth. All researchers and technology licensing offices at Massachusetts research institutions are eligible for the awards, which strive to enable researchers to move technology closer to commercial markets. Five awards of up to $5,000 each will be granted to determine the potential commercial application of innovative technology, including identifying target markets and business development contacts. An additional five grants of up to $25,000 will be made for technology development projects, including prototype building, proof-of-concept demonstrations and project development. Created in 2004 and housed in the Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property Office at the…

Jeff Brancato has been named Associate Vice President for Economic Development of University of Massachusetts.

Massachusetts' innovation indicators may be strong, but the conversion of innovation into new high tech jobs is lagging and the state’s median household income continues to dip, according to the latest Index of the Massachusetts Innovation Economy. The 8th annual index, released last month by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC), tracks nine industry clusters and 17 economic indicators that benchmark the state’s strengths and weaknesses against six other states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey and New York. Positive signs for innovation in Massachusetts include: Through 2002, federally-supported research and development in Massachusetts totaled $4.6 billion -- up 10 percent from 1999 and second only to California. The number of patents awarded to Massachusetts inventors grew 8.3 percent in 2003, the highest among the benchmark states, and was higher than the 1.1 percent growth across the U.S., overall. Massachusetts' market share of venture capital invested in new U.S. firms has increased from approximately 11 percent to 14 percent during…

Chief Executive Officer Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology The Oklahoma Science & Technology Research and Development (OSTRaD) Board is accepting applications for the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology and the Oklahoma Institute of Technology. The CEO also serves as the Executive Director of the OSTRaD Board. Candidates are sought who have an education in an appropriate field and substantial managerial experience in developing and managing research and technology development programs. Preference will be given to candidates who have an earned degree, preferably doctorate, in a field of science or engineering. Applications are due by Feb. 28, 2005. Associate Vice President for Economic Development University of Massachusetts (UMASS) System The President’s Office of the five-campus UMASS system is seeking a dynamic and entrepreneurial professional to help promote collaboration among the five campuses, private universities and industry. The focus of…

Former Massachusetts House Majority Leader Salvatore DiMasi has replaced Thomas Finneran as Speaker of the House. Finneran recently resigned to run the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council.

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney appointed Ranch Kimball to serve as his new economic development secretary.

Although Massachusetts' universities may be at the fore of nanotechnology research and development (R&D), they must continue to win on research for the state to stay competitive for federal funds, suggests a recent report by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) and the Nano Science and Technology Institute (NSTI). Massachusetts is experiencing a surge in nanoscale technologies, according to Nanotechnology In Massachusetts. As of February 2004, close to 100 companies in the state are using or developing the technologies, half of which are within the healthcare and electronics industries. Massachusetts' venture capital community also has invested in companies using or developing nanotech. In 2003, these firms attracted more than $120 million in funding, second only to California's $480 million. For Massachusetts to remain competitive in nanotech R&D domestically and abroad, the report argues, the state's universities must continue producing the innovations that have made the state a leader. Nine Massachusetts universities are said to be involved in nanotech R&D,…