SSTI Digest

State, regional and university technology-based economic development (TBED) is at a crossroads. Many initiatives are celebrating major chronologic milestones at the same time new TBED elements – such as incubators, grant programs, research parks, and equity funds – are popping up almost daily in more and more communities and universities.   Still a rapidly growing field, TBED practitioners and stakeholders are asking, “Where do we go from here?” The economy is changing ­ so are the challenges facing scientists, technologists, innovators and entrepreneurs. To stay ahead, every element of a regional innovation support system must become smarter and more efficient.   But how? We will have answers at SSTI’s 12th Annual Conference this fall. Our most complete conference yet, the premiere professional development experience for the community of organizations promoting innovation and entrepreneurship keeps getting better! Just look: Four future-looking special sessions focused on the key TBED partners: industry, universities, service providers and government. We’ll use instant polling and discussion with…

Each year, SSTI members assemble timely, relevant session topics offering practical information with lessons that can be directly applied to issues currently facing the TBED community. Rest assured that when you return from the conference, you will be equipped with fresh ideas to tackle your organization’s most pressing needs. SSTI uses a two-stage survey process during the summer months to develop the conference agenda, rather than having the agenda set by invitation or call for papers many months in advance. Given the breadth and diversity of interests and perspectives among SSTI’s membership, the slate of sessions is assured to offer more than one topic of interest for nearly every component of the TBED community.    Back by popular demand this year, SSTI is offering two full- and two half-day pre-conference sessions. This is your opportunity to learn what is working across the country to transform regional economies through science, technology and innovation. A separate registration fee is required to attend the pre-conference sessions.   New to this year’s conference agenda are four highly interactive plenary and…

Keeping with the underlying theme of "Where Does TBED Go from Here?" for SSTI's 12th Annual Conference, David Wilhelm, founder and President of Woodland Venture Management, will provide the keynote address on the topic of making successful VC investments anywhere. Woodland Venture Management is a company dedicated to the proposition that entrepreneurial vision and managerial talent may be found anywhere, including the hills of central Appalachia and the prairies of the Midwest. To this end, Mr. Wilhelm launched Adena Ventures and Hopewell Ventures, with a combined $140 million under management, bringing investment capital to high-growth companies situated in these underserved regions of the country. Today, these VC funds have invested millions of dollars in companies located in communities such as Marquette, Mich.; Nelsonville, Ohio; Charleston, W.Va.; and Lansing, Ill., creating hundreds of jobs for the people who live there and the prospect of strong returns for the investors that backed the basic Woodland premise: The flip side of a capital gap is a market opportunity!   Earlier in his career, Mr. Wilhelm led a number of enterprises that…

SSTI will be holding its first poster session dedicated entirely to celebrating why states, regions, universities and related organizations engage in TBED. Our goal is to have the best achievements in the field on display as posters at the conference. Each poster will profile a real success story providing hard evidence of how TBED investments are sustaining the nation’s position as a global leader for innovation and competitiveness – one local or regional project at a time. Poster session information can be found at: http://www.ssticonference.org/Conf08/posters.htm   Join us for the Presentation of the 2008 Excellence in TBED Awards, Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 1:10 p.m. in The Founder’s Ballroom. The second annual awards ceremony promises an exhilarating showcase of best practices across six categories. The celebration continues post ceremony with dedicated breakout sessions during the conference when six innovative organizations will reveal their secrets to success in presentations sure to inspire. For more information on the Excellence in TBED Awards, visit: http://www.ssti.org/Awards/overview.htm

Most Digest readers know access to equity capital serves a critical role in encouraging regional innovation. But the stats on venture capital (VC) deals demonstrates all too well that money isn't flowing freely everywhere. The economy also is presenting challenges for equity deals, making exits more scarce. How can underserved areas attract early-, seed and late-stage capital? Keeping with the underlying theme of "Where Does TBED Go from Here?" for SSTI's 12th annual conference, we are quite excited to announce David Wilhelm, founder and President of Woodland Venture Management, will provide the keynote address on the topic of making successful VC investments anywhere. Woodland Venture Management is a company dedicated to the proposition that entrepreneurial vision and managerial talent may be found anywhere, including the hills of central Appalachia and the prairies of the Midwest. To this end, Mr. Wilhelm launched Adena Ventures and Hopewell Ventures, with a combined $140 million under management, bringing investment capital to high-growth companies situated in these underserved regions of the country. Today, these VC funds have invested millions of…

Entrepreneurship education courses continue to appear across the country. A large-scale commitment was announced recently, as eight Arkansas two-year colleges will offer degrees and certificates in entrepreneurship this fall. The broad availability is expected to help create a culture of entrepreneurship that extends from regions capitalizing in the emerging fields of bioscience and nanotechnology research to the rural pockets of the state in need of high-paying jobs.   Last month, the curriculum was approved by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board, prompting eight of the state’s 22 community and technical colleges to join a consortium with two additional schools seeking approval in October to begin implementing the curriculum. The degree option is for an Applied Associates Degree in Business Management or a stand-alone certificate in Entrepreneurship.   While some areas of the state are home to large Fortune 500 companies, including Wal-Mart in Bentonville and Tyson Foods in Springdale, other regions are unlikely to attract big corporations that provide jobs, said Donna Wood, associate vice president of global business…

Four leading members of the technology-based economic development community were elected to the State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI) board of trustees today, each bringing fresh perspective and unique insight on issues affecting SSTI’s nationwide network of policymakers and practitioners working to improve state and regional economies through science, technology and innovation.   The four will join SSTI’s existing nine trustees in providing strategic guidance and oversight for the organization’s 39 state sponsors and 148 affiliates and supporters. Representing government, higher education and industry sectors, the new appointees are: Rebecca Bagley, deputy secretary for the Technology Investment Office of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, which serves as a catalyst for growth and competitiveness for Pennsylvania companies and universities; Ernest “Ernie” Dianastasis, managing director of CAI’s Delaware Valley Operation, a global information technology consulting, integrating and outsourcing services organization and chairman of First State Innovation, a nonprofit initiative to…

The full-color, full-conference brochure will hit the streets next week but we wanted to give Digest readers the first peek at what promises to be a very special event for the technology-based economic development (TBED) community. SSTI’s 12th Annual Conference will be held Oct. 14-16, 2008, at the Intercontinental Hotel Cleveland. As you scan the conference schedule on the website, you’ll discover we’re putting together our most complete and complex conference yet. Everything at the event is designed to help state, regional and university-based TBED initiatives answer two central questions arising repeatedly across the country – questions needing answers for the field and for the entire national innovation system: How do we make the most significant difference or impact for our regional economy? Where do we go from here? This is the TBED community’s not-to-miss event of the year, as once again, more than 300 top TBED practitioners are expected to attend from across the entire U.S. We closed registration early last year because we ran out of space – don’t let it happen to you in Cleveland! Register your TBED…

Being associated with the premiere professional development event of the year for the nation's technology-based economic development community can yield tremendous returns for your company, organization or program. Exposure and unrivaled networking opportunities are presented through SSTI's annual conference -- broadening the reach and deepening the impact of your marketing dollars. Last year’s sold-out conference included more than 350 representatives from 48 states and four countries. Sponsorship opportunities exist to let professional attendees know that your organization is actively involved in innovation and tech-based economic development. Starting for as little as $2,000, you can highlight your organization -- and a conference registration is included! Your organization can take advantage of the powerful reputation of SSTI’s annual conference and connect with the leading thinkers and decision makers in the field. Only one exhibiting opportunity remains, and a limited number of additional recognized sponsorship categories is available, including recognition on the conference proceedings CD-ROM, morning yoga and fitness runs, Falcon…

Last week, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland signed an executive order that immediately allows all U.S. veterans eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill, their spouses, and their dependents to enroll at in-state tuition rates at Ohio’s public colleges and universities. Titled the Ohio GI Promise, the policy effectively allows all U.S. veterans to attend college for free in Ohio, once the new federal GI bill goes into effect on Aug. 1, 2009. Ohio law gives the Chancellor of the state’s system of higher education the ability to determine which students can be deemed residents of Ohio. As outlined in Gov. Strickland’s executive order, all veterans along with their spouses and children who decide to live in Ohio to attend the state’s public colleges and universities will effectively be considered Ohio residents eligible for the reduced tuition rates. Other components of the executive order include: Establish a council to market and monitor the educational opportunities for veterans at Ohio colleges and universities; Hold a university system-wide conference in the fall of 2008 to advance policies to assist veterans and share best practices; Expand the Ohio…

Steve Bazinet has been hired as executive director of the Maine Center for Enterprise Development. Rahindra Bose is Ohio University's new vice president for research and creative activity and dean of the graduate college. David Fouts was selected as the next president and chief executive of MAGNET, the Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network. Fouts replaces Fatima Weathers, who served for a year as acting president. Denichiro Otsuga was named the first director of technology transfer at South Dakota State University. Harris Pastides was selected to replace Andrew Sorensen as University of South Carolina system president. Sorenson retired after six years at the helm. Linden Rhoads was appointed as vice provost of the University of Washington's TechTransfer unit. Rhoads starts her new position Aug. 14. Hunter Roberts, South Dakota's interim state energy director, was appointed to the post of energy policy director. Brent Tolman is the new executive director of the Workforce Development Alliance in Idaho. Sterling Wharton was hired as program director for Georgia's Centers of Innovation program.

Summer camps focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields are typically designed to spark youth interest and introduce students to career options in these critical areas. However, a vital component of these programs is exposure to scientific challenges that many classroom settings cannot provide. Recognizing this exposure as beneficial to both teachers and students, several programs are targeting educators with the goal of enhancing instructional methods in the classroom in order to increase student achievement in the STEM fields. The following are examples of professional development programs for science teachers from across the country offered over the summer months.   Kansas Middle school science teachers in Kansas are moving out of the classrooms and into University of Kansas (KU) laboratories this summer to participate in university-level research with the goal of enhancing their content backgrounds and ability to apply research-based instruction. The Middle School Science Academy Research Experiences program is a three-year, multi-phase initiative funded by the Kansas Board of Regents that targets two school districts…