SSTI Digest

In the midst of a national economic downturn, coupled with stagnant to little growth in wages for even college-educated individuals, state efforts to build a qualified workforce and attract industries in emerging fields that pay above-average wages are crucial to ensuring economic growth.
 
A recent report on income trends issued jointly by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute finds that one in five U.S. families has a lower income today than they did at the start of the decade. Analyzing state-by-state income trends over the past 20 years, the report also finds a long-standing trend of growing inequality between families in the wealthiest income bracket and those in the middle- to lower-income brackets. In fact, while incomes have declined by 2.5 percent among the bottom fifth of U.S. families since the late 1990s, the data indicates that incomes have increased by 9.1 percent among the top fifth.

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) recently announced Ben Franklin Technology Partners (BFTP) as the winner of the "Excellence in Technology-led Economic Development" award, as part of EDA's Excellence in Economic Development Awards 2008. BFTP, created in 1983, has regional offices in Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and State College.

Janet Harrah was named the director of a new center being started at Northern Kentucky University that is similar to Wichita State University's Center for Economic Development and Business Research, where Harrah will remain director until July 25.

Peter Hermann resigned as president of the North Carolina Technology Association.

Excitement for SSTI's 12th annual conference is growing. Sponsorship opportunities are available to help build awareness of your TBED program and build beneficial relationships with the nation's top state and regional TBED decision makers at this year's event. Last year’s conference included more than 350 representatives from 48 states and four countries.

Your organization can join with our current sponsors to take advantage of this powerful networking and outreach opportunity by contacting Noelle Sheets, SSTI director of membership services, at sheets [at] ssti [dot] org or 614.901.1690. Please contact SSTI as soon as possible to request the 2008 sponsorship benefit information, as all national sponsorship opportunities are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Encouraging Regional Innovation will be held Oct. 14-16 in Cleveland. More information is available at http://www.ssticonference.org/.

SSTI would like to thank our current 2008 Conference National Sponsors:

This Friday, May 16, is the final day to submit your TBED initiative for consideration in SSTI’s premier national competition that showcases best practices and out-of-the-box thinking across six categories focusing on several elements found in successful tech-based economies.
 
An SSTI Excellence in TBED Award distinguishes your initiative as a best practice worthy of emulation in the TBED community through your successful efforts to:

• Expand the Research Infrastructure;
• Commercialize Research;
• Build Entrepreneurial Capacity;
• Increase Access to Capital;
• Enhance the Science and Technology Workforce; and,
• Improve Competitiveness of Existing Industries.

More information on these opportunities and others is available at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.

With just about two weeks left to apply for the 2008 Excellence in TBED Awards, applications are already coming in, and while there is no prize for early birds, we’ll gladly accept your entry at any time. No need to worry though; there is no penalty for procrastinators, other than the risk of a too hastily prepared proposal.
 
New to this year’s application brochure is a one-page set of application guidelines that was developed from the suggestions submitted by judges on last year’s award committees. This resource serves as a useful tool when crafting your narrative. Be sure to check it out at http://www.ssti.org/awards.htm.
 
The deadline to apply is May 16, 2008.
 
To learn more about last year’s winners, please visit: http://www.ssti.org/Awards/07winners.htm

Excitement already is building for SSTI's 12th annual conference, Encouraging Regional Innovation, and we only published the "save the date" postcards last week! Past participants know SSTI's annual conference is the only event of the year to bring together so many thought leaders and practitioners from all aspects of TBED from every corner of the country and every type of organization, with such varied angles and perspectives on every issue. The Oct. 14-16 event at the Intercontinental Hotel in Cleveland promises to help professionally advance the tech-based economic development community through a series of fully interactive plenary sessions and discussion based breakouts. 

In a deal ironed out earlier this month by Gov. Ted Strickland and legislative leaders, the state will move forward with an economic stimulus plan that borrows far less than the governor’s original proposal while using existing state revenue such as tobacco settlement funds to supplement the plan – a move that has prompted legislative action to secure control of the tobacco funds.

Many state and regional TBED organizations see federal laboratories as an integral partner in their efforts to promote technology development and commercialization. At least 22 of the leading state TBED organizations across the country have established partnerships with at least one federal laboratory to address a broad range of goals, according to a recent SSTI survey. Advancing collaborative research, strengthening industry clusters, transferring technology to/from federal labs and companies, and assisting in education and outreach were the most commonly cited reasons for pursuing closer relationships with the nation's network of 700 federal labs and research centers.

The survey also found state TBED-federal lab collaboration crosses state boundaries more easily than some may expect: SSTI discovered one-third of all relationships state TBED organizations have with federal laboratories take place at laboratories outside of their state. In addition, more state and local TBED organizations are looking to form new partnerships or expanding existing arrangements based on the successes seen from their initial efforts.

John Austin is the newly appointed executive director of the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan.

Tom Cech announced he will return to the University of Colorado at Boulder next year to pursue laboratory research and teaching after eight years as president of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Sarah Djamshidi was selected as executive director of the Chesapeake Innovation Center.

John Hardin was named the acting executive director for the North Carolina Board of Science and Technology.

Wayne Hicks announced he is stepping down as the president and CEO of the Cincinnati Business Incubator to focus on other interests, including his work as executive director of the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation.

The secret is out – and it’s fairly simple. All you need is an outstanding TBED initiative with proven success that stands out among the crowd.
 
SSTI often receives news and updates on programs that are improving our nation’s competitiveness through science, technology and innovation. Now, we are calling upon the TBED community to share these success stories – and we’ll reward you for your efforts. All you have to do is put it in writing, and we promise it will be well worth your time. As an award winner, you will:

• Receive accolades and honors on SSTI's website and in the SSTI Weekly Digest;
• Bask in the glory of being a featured presenter during SSTI’s annual conference in Cleveland, Oct. 15-16, 2008; and,
• Take home an elegant vase embossed with your organization’s name – more a work of art than a trophy!

Send us your story by May 16!

On the heels of SSTI’s successful inaugural year awards program, recognizing exceptional achievements in approaches to improving state and regional economies through science, technology and innovation, we are pleased to invite applications for the 2008 awards cycle.
 
The purpose of the awards program is to showcase best practices across a broad spectrum of categories encompassing several elements that have been found in successful technology-based economies. The categories are:

• Expanding the Research Infrastructure;
• Commercializing Research;
• Building Entrepreneurial Capacity;
• Increasing Access to Capital;
• Enhancing the Science & Technology Workforce; and,
• Improving Competitiveness of Existing Industries.