SSTI Digest

Last week’s release by the National Science Foundation (NSF) of the results of the 2005 survey of academic R&D expenditures reveals the nation’s investment in research through its universities and colleges rose 5.8 percent in fiscal year 2005. Academic research expenditures for FY 2005 totaled $45.75 billion.   The results permit SSTI to prepare an updated version of its statistical glance at the five-year trends by state. As in past tables, the new rankings for the percent change in a state’s share of the total over the period 2001-2005 confirms it is extremely difficult for states to change their overall ranking on a year-by-year basis.   In fact, during the past five years, only a handful of states have shifted rankings by more than one position either up or down over the five years.   The only three states to show “dramatic” improvements of more than two spots are: Nebraska, which moved from 35th in 2001 and 2002 to 31st in 2005; Tennessee, which climbed steadily from 26th in 2001 to 20th in 2004 and 2005; and, Virginia, moving from 17th in 2001 to 14th in 2005. Of…

University administrators most commonly measure success for their technology transfer efforts by revenue generation. Public institutions, however, increasingly have state legislators, governors and local civic leaders expecting those licenses and spinoffs to occur within their political borders. Tech transfer does not always equate to regional economic development to the degree desired by policymakers.   The carrot and stick analogy plays well to the different approaches states are attempting to keep more of the technology commercialization at home. Ohio's new Technology Commercialization Incentive (TCI) Fund is one of the latest carrots - rewarding the best schools, whether public or private, with cash.   Two weeks ago, the Ohio Board of Regents selected three universities as the first-ever recipients for TCI awards, totalling $500,000. The annual reward is based on an index score, calculated with weighted measures of: 1. Each university’s research expenditures provided by in-state companies, normalized by the total statewide research contributions from in-state companies during the previous fiscal year. (…

At the 2007 SSTI annual conference, the Trent Lott National Center of Excellence for Economic Development & Entrepreneurship <http://www.trentlottcenter.com/> intends to make an award to the researcher or research team that has made the most significant impact on the field of technology-based economic development in the last five years. The chosen researcher will receive a significant honorarium and will present findings at the 2007 SSTI Annual Conference, Oct 18-19 in Baltimore. Judges will include active researchers who have significant practical experience in TBED. Judges will consider the quality of the research, the applicability and impact of the research findings on TBED policy and practice, and the ability of the selected researcher to present at the 2007 SSTI annual conference. Please enter nominations at http://www.trentlottcenter.org/researchaward.htm or e-mail nominations to ken.malone@usm.edu with the names of nominees; contact information of nominees, including e-mail, mailing address, and/or phone number; references to journal articles (preferred), conference presentations, websites or a very brief…

The 2008 SSTI Annual Conference could come to your city! Increase your national and international visibility by showcasing the success of your state and/or community’s tech-based economic development efforts to thousands of TBED professionals through SSTI's conference. This is your opportunity to shine in the spotlight. Some of the host benefits include:  Minimal or no travel expenses incurred for conference attendees from your state. This cost savings and convenience facilitates greater participation and attendance at the conference by your key state and local decision makers and practitioners in the region's tech-based economic development community. The result can be a better understanding and stronger commitment among legislators and civic leaders to building a tech-based economy, as well as reinvigorating your program staff and board with fresh ideas, perspectives and professional development tips from peers from around the country. Opportunity to host an Opening Reception, welcoming all SSTI conference attendees. 40 complimentary registrations for SSTI's 12th Annual Conference for distribution as…

SSTI’s Annual Conference provides the opportunity to place your organization at the center of the tech-based economic development community, reinforce your brand, and build relationships in 2007 and beyond. Each year, SSTI works to improve upon our annual conference, and one of the improvements in this year's conference is more personalized sponsorship opportunities — an array of strategic marketing opportunities to ensure greater exposure and added value to your partnership. No other event brings together the nation’s top players in the TBED community. SSTI Conference Partners have the chance to showcase their organization with the decisionmakers responsible for crafting and implementing local and state-level policies and programs that directly contribute to the nation's competitiveness. Take advantage of the conference’s powerful reputation to help your organization: Connect with the people who set the agenda for their organizations and control budgets. Access industry movers and shakers. Gain exposure to key decisionmakers. This is the nation’s premier TBED event, gathering more than 350 of the most…

SSTI is partnering with other organizations to sponsor two conferences that will be of interest to the TBED community: the Regional Workforce Education & Training Best Practices Conference put on by the ASME Center for Engineering Entrepreneurship & Innovation and the Internationalization of Regional Innovation organized by the European-based Technopolicy Network.   The ASME Center for Engineering Entrepreneurship & Innovation is holding the first in a series of Regional Workforce Education & Training Best Practices Conference for the science, engineering, and technology community. The purpose of the conference will be to highlight, educate, and provide awareness on workforce education and training best practices in the Economic Development Administration’s Philadelphia Region.   The conference will take place at the Philadelphia Marriott on May 18, 2007.   The conference will address linking the most innovative regional programs in place to support the educational and career pathways of high school students, university and college graduates, first-job holders, individuals…

SSTI serves as the TBED community’s go-to resource and strategic partner when dealing with TBED issues. SSTI’s unique ability to address the information needs of its members comes from the fact that SSTI’s staff and board have been “in the trenches” of technology-based economic development. SSTI’s president, vice president and board members, including former Governors John Engler of Michigan and Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts, have more than two decades’ of direct policy development and service delivery experience. "SSTI is my security blanket, assuring me that I am never more than a few clicks or a phone call from the latest news, information, and data in technology-based economic development issues," said Angie Godwin, president of the Area Development Partnership. "SSTI has earned its place as THE 'top of mind' clearinghouse for TBED professionals." As a service to the S&T community, SSTI maintains a listing of science and technology (S&T) resources and adds links as they become available. SSTI's resources for S&T are arranged by eight groups: TBED-, Academic- and Government -related associations, Congress…

Coming a little late in the year to be included among our Tech Talkin’ Govs series (see Digest issues for Jan. 8, 15 and 29 and Feb. 19), Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland delivered his first State of the State Address on Mar. 14. Below are excerpts from his address calling for a $1 billion investment in alternative and renewable energy technologies over four years.   “Ohio has everything it takes to become a center of advanced energy technology. ... Next-generation energies biofuels, fuel cells, clean coal, and renewable sources such as wind offer us the opportunity to create jobs, support our farmers, reduce our dependence on foreign oil producers, and be responsible stewards of our environment.   “That's why my administration will coordinate an almost $1 billion investment in energy programs, to ensure energy will be an economic development leader in Ohio.   “Over the next four years we will target $250 million per year in tax exempt bond cap allocation to leverage billions of additional investment dollars in energy projects. We will broaden our Third Frontier investment. We will develop energy projects…

The following recently became SSTI affiliates or supporters: Battelle Council for Entrepreneurial Development Lehigh University, Office of State Relations SpaceTEC University of Mississippi, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs Together, we’re growing a strong and vibrant tech-based economic development community. SSTI draws its membership from national, state, local, and regional science and technology programs supporting technology-based economic development, and universities. Represented are: State science and technology programs; Local and regional tech-based economic development programs; Universities and research parks; Trade associations and tech councils; Incubators, national laboratories and manufacturing extension centers; Consultants, law, venture capital, and other business service firms; and, And other tech-based economic development groups providing services to companies. SSTI greatly appreciates the support provided by its sponsors, affiliates and supporters. SSTI works closely with its membership in designing its conferences, research projects and other activities. …

Membership in SSTI allows access to the most extensive network of current and past practitioners, academics and policymakers who are attempting to speed commercialization and encourage innovation. Joining SSTI places your organization with today’s TBED leaders. SSTI connects you to active members in 46 states, Puerto Rico and Canada, enabling you to share experiences and best practices with your peers from across the continent. Additionally, members receive a discount to SSTI's annual conference – a great opportunity to discover the latest thinking from leaders in the TBED field. One of this week's Digest articles, "Fed Considers Connection to Universities, Economic Growth," draws on the comments of Sean Safford, a speaker at the 2006 conference, and Don Smith, an active SSTI member and previous conference speaker. The premier professional development event of the year, SSTI’s annual conference provides the opportunity to meet more than 300 of the nation’s greatest thinkers and practitioners for building tech-based economies. SSTI's 2007 conference will be held on October 18-19…

This week's issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest exposes just the tip of the iceberg of information available on entrepreneurship. That's where the TBED Resource Center comes in handy. The TBED Resource Center, developed by SSTI in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Commerce's Office of Technology Policy, is an interactive website providing a wealth of information for practitioners, policymakers, university faculty, and researchers alike. With links to more than 4,500 reports, the website features information in a variety of TBED-critical topics in the U.S. and abroad. More than 290 reports can be found on the TBED Resource Center when the topic entrepreneurship is selected.   SSTI staff selections include: Exploiting Entrepreneurial Opportunities: The Impact of Entrepreneurship on Growth by Pamela Mueller Entrepreneurship Capital: A Regional, Organizational, Team, and Individual Phenomenon by David Audretsch and Erik Monsen What Determines Entrepreneurial Clusters? by Luigi Guiso and Fabiano Schivardi

It is the nation’s first Entrepreneurship Week, with many events, workshops and contests taking place across the country to encourage more people to consider becoming entrepreneurs. A complete list of activities is available at www.entrepreneurshipweekusa.com. With this issue, SSTI honors America’s tech entrepreneurs – and the state and local TBED efforts designed to ensure more of these firms succeed!