SSTI Digest

"By setting this up as a grant, we hope to help companies make that leap of faith with their R&D efforts." - Will Indest Click here to listen to SSTI's Interview with Will Indest of TechColumbus SSTI has an effective new learning tool for TBED policymakers and practitioners seeking guidance in approaches to building and sustaining tech-based economies. Through exclusive interviews with Excellence in TBED Award recipients, find out first-hand how these award-winning initiatives successfully responded to a critical need by applying innovative approaches to generate substantial economic gains for their region. 2009 Winner for the Building Entrepreneurial Capacity category TechColumbus' TechStart program supports and develops viable entrepreneurial companies from their earliest phase through their launch as significant economic contributors. The TechStart team in collaboration with its partners has invested $11.5 million directly in technology startups, resulting in the creation of 912 jobs having an average annual salary of more than $62,000. The team serves startups located in its business incubator and…

SSTI, a growing nonprofit organization serving the nation's tech-based economic development (TBED) community, seeks an entry-level policy analyst to research and prepare reports, articles and papers on TBED and assist with SSTI events. Excellent research abilities, strong writing and verbal skills and solid understanding of government are required. Candidates must have the ability to work independently or as part of a committed team and be dedicated to creating a quality product. Those with a public policy interest in regional, state and national approaches to encouraging economic growth through science, technology and innovation will have an edge. Web and social media development skills are a plus. Graduate degree in a related field and/or relevant work experience preferred. Position located in Westerville, OH, a suburb of Columbus. Send cover letter and resume: SSTI, Human Resources; 5015 Pine Creek Dr., Westerville, OH 43081 or via e-mail to sstihr@ssti.org. For more information on SSTI, visit http://www.ssti.org

2010 could be your organization's year to capture national recognition for excellence in technology-based economic development. SSTI will solicit nominations for the 2010 Excellence in TBED Awards beginning April 6 with an open call for applications. Awards are presented to organizations demonstrating successful local, state and regional efforts across six categories. For more information and a list of previous winners, please visit: http://www.ssti.org/Awards/index.shtml

Each year, SSTI recognizes initiatives that greatly impact state and regional economies through a national competition showcasing effective and innovative approaches to building tech-based economies. The Excellence in TBED Awards are presented to organizations demonstrating successful local, state and regional efforts across six categories: 2010 Timeline Call for Applications April 6 Deadline for Applications June 1 Winners Recognized September 15-16 Expanding the Research Infrastructure Commercializing Research Building Entrepreneurial Capacity Increasing Access to Capital Enhancing the Science & Technology Workforce Improving Competitiveness of Existing Industries Why Apply? As a recipient of the Excellence in TBED Award, your initiative represents a standard of excellence that has been recognized by your peers through a competitive selection process. External validation through an Excellence in TBED Award certifies the superior quality of your initiative, lending independent credentials to your program as your stakeholders consider future investments. The Excellence in TBED Award identifies your…

Capturing national attention for initiating successful programs to sustain the nation’s position as a global leader for innovation and competitiveness, six organizations were named recipients of SSTI’s 2009 Excellence in TBED Award. The third annual awards follow a nationwide competition recognizing outstanding achievements in tech-based economic development (TBED) emphasizing impact, strategic value and replicability. “The impressive stories behind each of these six initiatives illustrate how strategic TBED investments work to promote regional growth through science and innovation,” said Dan Berglund, SSTI President and CEO. “These organizations serve as best practice models in the field for their demonstrated leadership and meaningful impact to state and regional economies.” Recipients were honored Thursday Oct. 22, 2009 during a ceremony at SSTI’s 13th Annual Conference in Overland Park, KS, attended by top economic development professionals from across the nation. The following initiatives were selected to receive the Excellence in TBED Award for 2009: James & Esther King Biomedical Research Program…

SSTI has an effective new learning tool for TBED policymakers and practitioners seeking guidance in approaches to building and sustaining tech-based economies. Through exclusive interviews with Excellence in TBED Award recipients, find out first-hand how these award winning initiatives successfully responded to a critical need by applying innovative approaches to generate substantial economic gains for their region. You can now subscribe to the SSTI Excellence in TBED Awards podcast in iTunes, your RSS reader or any podcast client. To subscribe in iTunes: Copy this link: http://www.ssti.org/Awards/feed.xml Open iTunes and select "Advanced" from the top menu". Choose "Subscribe to podcast" and paste in the above URL.   For other podcast clients or RSS readers, use the above link and consult your application's instructions. Recent interviews include: Peggy Shults of the James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program – 2009 Winner of the Expanding the Research Infrastructure Category Wayne Sumple and Bob Torrani of the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) – 2008 Winner of the Improving…

Chris Atkinson is the new director of West Virginia University's Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines, and Emissions (CAFEE). Patrick Scheuermann will take over as director of NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, replacing Gene Goldman. Goldman, who has served at Stennis since November 2008, will assume the position of deputy director at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. Woodrow Whitlow, director of NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, has been named associate administrator for Mission Support at NASA headquarters. Ray Lugo, the deputy director at Glenn, has been named acting director.

Recognizing Ohio's metropolitan regions as key to the state's future prosperity, a new report outlines 39 policy recommendations aimed at growing Ohio's economy and transforming old strengths, such as manufacturing, into new products and opportunities aligned with federal goals. The report foresees Ohio as an export-oriented, lower carbon, innovation-led economy capable of building on assets of its metropolitan regions such as innovation, human capital, infrastructure, and quality places. Recommendations include preserving Third Frontier funding, expanding the state's advanced manufacturing network, securing an Energy Innovation Hub, and using federal Sustainable Communities funds to support smaller Ohio cities. Read the full report: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/reports/2010/0222_ohio_prosperity/ohio_report.pdf

Karina Edmonds will join the Department of Energy as its new technology transfer coordinator starting in April. This is the first time that the Department has appointed a full-time person to fill this role. Cathy McGonigle has been named executive vice president of the Flinn Foundation. Previously, she held management positions for the city of Chandler, Arizona Department of Revenue and Arizona Department of Administration. John Slanina, policy analyst, SSTI has accepted a position as the senior analyst of Revere Data, located in the Youngstown Business Incubator. We wish John well in his new position.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is seeking qualified applicants for the director of the Technology Innovation Program (TIP). The director will serve as the executive responsible for managing and leading this critical program for NIST. The TIP was established as part of the America COMPETES Act (P.L. 110-69) to assist United States businesses and institutions of higher education or other organizations, such as national laboratories and nonprofit research institutions, to support, promote, and accelerate innovation in the United States through high-risk, high-reward research in areas of critical national need. This position is perfect for you if you are ready for a challenge and are committed to making significant improvements in the operations of one of the world's premier research and science organizations. The University of Dayton Research Institute is seeking an Aerospace Hub of Innovation director who is a motivated person with strong communications skills and development experience. The state of Ohio has recently designated Dayton the first Ohio Hub of Innovation and Opportunity in recognition of the area's strong economic development efforts…

The third installment of SSTI’s Tech Talkin’ Govs’ series includes excerpts from speeches delivered in Delaware, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah and Wisconsin. The first and second installments are available in the Jan 13 Digest and Jan. 20 Digest, respectively. Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, State of the State Address, Jan. 21, 2010 “We have a proud legacy of technology innovation that we will build on. Together, we will create a Delaware where entrepreneurs and inventors imagine the new products and services that make life better, more productive and more enjoyable for millions, and workers make good livings delivering these wonders to the world. “That is why I am supporting in this year’s bond bill plans to provide a center for high-tech laboratories, health sciences, alternative energy research and development, and other emerging industries at the old Chrysler site.” Maine Gov. John Baldacci, State of the State Address, Jan. 21, 2010 “… In the coming weeks, I will submit legislation to continue our aggressive pursuit of offshore…

The Ohio Business Roundtable's independent assessment of the outcomes and impacts from the first $473 million invested from Ohio's Third Frontier (OTF) Program since its creation in 2003 shows the program providing an annualized return of 22 percent - and climbing. Presented to the Ohio Department of Development Dec. 8, the report reveals product sales of OTF-funded projects already equal $440 million alone, nearly matching the state's investment. An additional $3.2 billion of follow-on funding has been secured for OTF projects as well. The rapid rate of return on the program's initial investments - even with the recession - suggest tax receipts from derived activities will surpass the state's investments as early as 2014. A renewal of the bonds supporting the program is likely to go before Ohio voters in May. Read the full presentation....