SSTI Digest

The Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology is seeking applications for the director, Technology Innovation Program. 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. NIST is located in Gaithersburg, Montgomery County, MD. This is a great opportunity to have a tremendous impact on an agency's programs and enjoy the benefits of working outside the Washington beltway. The director of the Technology Innovation Program (TIP) serves 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. The Montana State University Research Park is seeking qualified candidates to become the…

As the cost of a college education continues to rise and good paying jobs are seemingly scarcer than ever before, many Americans are questioning the value of a college degree. A recent survey from the Pew Research Center found 57 percent of Americans believe the U.S. fails to provide good value for the money students and their families spend, and about four in ten college presidents say the system is headed in the wrong direction. At the same time, however, studies find the lifetime earnings of college graduates to be much higher than those of high school graduates. Further, students majoring in engineering, computers and mathematics can expect to make more money than any other undergraduate major. The Pew report, Is College Worth It? is based on findings from two surveys conducted this spring — one with the general public and the other an online survey among college presidents. Among survey respondents who graduated from a four-year college, 74 percent said their college education was useful in helping them grow intellectually, but only 55 percent said it was very useful in helping them prepare for a job or career. Additionally, a record number of students are…

Maine Gov. Paul LePage has nominated George Gervais, the acting commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development as commissioner. His nomination must be reviewed by the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development and confirmed by the Senate. Ned Staebler, former vice president of entrepreneurial services of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, has taken the position of vice president of economic development at Wayne State. Ann Arbor Spark announced the hiring of several new executives as well as the promotion for former interim CEO Skip Simms. The Spark hires are Brittany Affolter-Caine, director of talent; Lukas Bonner, vice president of business development; and Donna Doleman, vice president of marketing, communications and talent. Simms was promoted to senior vice president from vice president. He will continue his role as the nonprofit's head of entrepreneurial business development. Terry Osborn, director of commercialization with the Kansas Bioscience Authority Heartland Bioventures program, announced that he has accepted a position as CEO of KCAS, LLC. Missoula Economic…

The fifth installment of SSTI's Tech Talkin' Govs series includes excerpts from speeches delivered in Maryland, Montana, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah. The first four installments are available in the Jan. 5, Jan. 12, Jan. 19 and Jan. 26 issues of the Digest. MarylandGov. Martin O'Malley, State of the State Address, Feb. 3, 2011"To create more jobs, we must leverage the power of our diversity... we must leverage the power of our geography... And we must harness the potential of Maryland's Innovation Economy: bio-tech, green-tech, clean-tech, cyber security, information technology, aerospace, global trade, and next generation manufacturing. ... "... Through InvestMaryland, you and I have the opportunity to unlock $100 million in venture capital. Why does this matter? Because seed and early stage money have all but dried up in the national recession. Passing this legislation can be the difference between running ahead or running in place. ... "... I need your support for the Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act, not only to create more renewable energy in Maryland, not only to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Maryland,…

Subra Suresh, dean of engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has been nominated by President Barack Obama to be the next director of the National Science Foundation. Eric Cromwell, president and CEO, and Dan Schmisseur, vice president of operations and strategy, have resigned from the Tennessee Technology Development Corporation. Rick Duke, a principal research associate with the Enterprise Innovation/Economic Development Institute at Georgia Institute of Technology has been selected as the new director of the Trent Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship at The University of Southern Mississippi. The Montana Clean Technology Alliance is being formed to foster a community of interest to support companies that want to grow Clean Technology jobs in Montana.

The Montana Department of Commerce has announced that it will provide $2.5 million in grants to support bio-medical research. Montana-based, private nonprofit research institutions are eligible to apply for the funding, which may be used to expand, renovate and purchase equipment for biomedical research. The grants also may be used to expand infrastructure that will enhance scientific collaborations within the Montana University System. The program is part of a longer-term effort in Montana to improve its research infrastructure and promote the state as a recognized center for bio-medical research. Funding for the grant program was set aside by the Montana legislature earlier this year through the state's biennial appropriations. Similar awards have been offered in the past through the Department of Commerce, but the $2.5 million now available is a significant increase for the program. In 2007, the entire $2 million that was available was awarded to the McLaughlin Research Institute to expand its facility and research team, and to provide new educational opportunities for high school and college students. The program requires applicants to obtain matching funds…

The Montana Legislature adjourned last week after passing an $8 billion biennial budget for FY10 and FY11. The state Department of Commerce was allocated $74.9 million over the biennium, $1.7 million more than the governor's request. Newly funded initiatives within the department include $3.7 million over the biennium for workforce training grants through the New Worker Training program, $1.6 million for tribal economic development projects, $2 million for high-performance computing and $2.5 million in FY10 for biomedical research grants. No funding was provided for the Montana Fund-of-Funds, which was created under the 2005 Montana Equity Capital Act but has yet to be funded. Because fewer than 100 legislators voted in favor of the appropriations bill, Governor Schweitzer retains line item authority for the budget. One of the more contentious issues during the budget negotiations concerned tuition hikes and funding for Montana universities and community colleges. Gov. Brian Schweitzer favors a freeze on tuition rates at state schools, but university leaders have argued that state funding has proved insufficient. The FY10-11 budget reduces funding for the state…

Despite projected deficits in several Western and Great Plains states, governors in Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming recently unveiled budget proposals for the upcoming fiscal year, providing level or increased funds for research priorities and workforce training central to each state's economic vitality. The following is an overview of the budget recommendations outlined by the respective governors. Montana Last month, Gov. Brian Schweitzer unveiled a two-year budget that provides several one-time appropriations for workforce training to ensure the state remains competitive in the global economy and sets aside $250 million in reserves. The fiscal year 2010-11 budget proposal includes $73.2 million over the biennium for the Department of Commerce. Included in the governor's request is $100,000 each fiscal year to seed the Montana Fund of Funds, which was created in 2005 under the Montana Equity Capital Act but never funded (see the Dec. 19, 2007 issue of the Digest). New proposals within the Department of Commerce include $8 million over the biennium to provide workforce training grants under the New Worker Training program and $1.6 million over…

Gov. Jim Douglas plans to merge the Vermont Departments of Economic Development and Housing and Community Affairs. Douglas's deputy chief of staff Betsy Bishop was appointed commissioner of the Department of Economic Development. She replaces Mike Quinn, who stepped down after serving six years in the position. Linda Brander resigns as program manager of the Montana Technology Innovation Partnership Program to begin a new job as the Restoration Coordinator at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. John Collar has been named Executive Director of the Colorado BioScience Association. The Tech Council of Maryland has announced that chief executive office Julie Conns is resigning her post. Matt Dugener resigned from the LEAP (Lansing Economic Area Partnership). Denyse Ferguson, Executive Vice President, has agreed to serve as the interim president. Governor Brad Henry of Oklahoma has been elected chairman of the Southern Growth Policies Board. Saul Kaplan resigned as the executive director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation. Kelsey Kohler has left her position as executive director of the…

A long-delayed equity capital program in Montana is on its way to becoming a reality. Montana, which received no venture capital investment in 2006 according to the PricewaterhouseCoopers Moneytree survey, has struggled to attract the interest of venture capital firms. The Montana Equity Capital Investment Act, sponsored by State Sen. Jeff Mangan and signed by Gov. Brian Schweitzer in 2005, was intended to make the state more attractive to outside investors, but never seemed to get off the ground.   As reported in the April 18, 2005 issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest, Senate Bill 133 called for the creation of a $60 million Montana Equity Fund to attract out-of-state investment and increase in-state venture activity. A governor-appointed board was to contract with an outside investor group to capitalize and manage the Equity Fund and a subfund targeted toward investments in strategic industries. The $60 million would be issued in tax credits to investors to offset any shortfalls in scheduled returns on their investments.   The Fund, however, was not created right away. In the subsequent two years, concerns about the law's…

The Montana SBIR Outreach Program is changing its name to the Montana Technology Innovation Partnership.

Venture capital investments in Montana may have become a little more attractive last Friday as the Montana House of Representatives passed the Montana Equity Capital Investment Act, moving the legislation to Gov. Brian Schweitzer for his consideration and expected signature. To maximize the rate of return for investors, Senate Bill 133 calls for the creation of a $60 million Montana Equity Fund, which will be used as a provisional financial safety net for investors and distributed as tax credits should investments go badly. Adopting what is commonly referred to as the Oklahoma model, the act also establishes the Montana Capital Investment Board to oversee the fund's activities. The goal of S.B. 133 is to attract local and out-of-state venture investment funds by providing a guaranteed monetary return to investors through tax incentives. The program is expected to mobilize capital in the state, creating a permanent source of funds that will be available for academic, technological and innovative start-up companies as well as expanding businesses. More information on the Montana Equity…