SSTI Digest

Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla recently issued three executive orders aimed at advancing the island's renewable energy industry. The orders will grant priority approvals to renewable energy projects and introduce two new councils that will coordinate energy initiatives. Gov. Garcia Padilla joins a growing list of governors who have used executive orders to quickly implement energy policies without going to the legislature. The National Governors Association (NGA)has published an issue brief on the use of executive orders in energy policy, along with an index of these orders since 2008.

Gov. Garcia Padilla's orders call for priority to be given to renewable energy projects under the condition that these projects conserve areas of high ecological and agricultural value. Projects also must have the infrastructure to connect to the island's Power Authority without increasing the cost of electricity to consumers.

For as little as $2,000, you can highlight your organization, support SSTI -- and receive a registration to this year's conference in Portland, OR, Sept. 15-17! The more support we receive the larger the impact of the conference. Over the last few years SSTI has been able to introduce automatic polling, discussion groups, dine-arounds and numerous other opportunities because of the generous support of our sponsors.

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 organization. Exposure and unrivaled networking opportunities are presented through SSTI's annual conference -- broadening the reach and deepening the impact of your marketing dollars. Contact Noelle Sheets at sheets@ssti.org for more information.

London's Mayor Boris Johnson has announced an initiative to transform Olympic Park into a creative and digital business hub for the city. According to an article from startups.uk, the proposed redevelopment promises to boost the United Kingdom's (UK) GDP by $450 million ($692.5 million US) and create more than 6,500 new jobs. In partnership with the London Legacy Development Corporation, the city will make major investments in the areas surrounding the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, including the construction of three feature buildings:

Threats to America's cybersecurity continue to make headlines, underscoring the growing importance of protecting our country's digital infrastructure. As national security experts continue to grapple with how to address the challenge, the federal government is stepping up to coordinate state cybersecurity efforts. In an effort to promote our country's economic security and boost innovation and competitiveness, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is working with states and the private sector to develop a framework for national cybersecurity standards. States are capitalizing on the increased coordination to build public-private partnerships that seed industry growth.

As Congress considers comprehensive immigration reform, policymakers are debating the effect of high-skilled immigration on the U.S. economy. Amidst the fervent discussion, the question has been raised of whether or not there is a shortage of domestic high-skilled workers, especially those in the field of science, technology, engineering and math; a question that now is being fiercely debated by two renowned policy groups. Researchers from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) recently made the claim that the U.S. has a sufficient supply of workers to fill the demand of STEM occupations. In response, researchers from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) published a point-for-point rebuttal to the EPI's report, joining a chorus of others in staunch opposition of the EPI's interpretation of the statistics.

The budget agreement reached by Texas lawmakers earlier this week includes $50 million in new funds to provide grants to technology companies for research and commercialization activities under the Emerging Technology Fund (ETF). A bill to address accountability and transparency of the fund was passed in the House, but later removed from the Senate calendar despite controversy surrounding the decision-making authority of the grants. Lawmakers also passed a measure to reinstate an R&D tax incentive that was repealed in 2006, and set aside funding to lure a space transport company to the state.

Last week, the Obama administration announced that it would commit $200 million to establish three new manufacturing innovation institutions in 2013 (see the May 8, 2013 issue of the digest). The announcement was followed by the release of a funding announcement for the first of those proposed institutes — the Department of Energy-administered Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute. The Department of Defense released requests for information on the two proposed institutes focused on digital manufacturing and design and lightweight and modern metals manufacturing.

A new program that builds upon the successes of North Dakota's Centers of Excellence and Research Excellence programs will fund up to half of the cost of R&D and commercialization projects conducted by the state's research universities. Under Research North Dakota (RND), the development and commercialization of new products will be achieved on a project-by-project basis and state funds will be matched with private-sector cash investment.

Around the country, practitioners have gotten creative in their efforts to solve problems seen as barriers to economic growth. In Arizona, BioAccel has developed an innovative approach to funding and serves as a promising model for organizations dedicated to technology driven economic development by working with universities, medical centers and entrepreneurs to translate late stage discovery research into commercial products. Similarly, NorTech, located in northeast Ohio, has developed a Regional Innovation Cluster Model that puts theory into practice to overcome challenges and accelerate successful clusters to create jobs and attract capital. The goal of SSTI's Most Promising award category is to highlight programs that have demonstrated an innovative approach in design or implementation to serve as models for other states and regions. If your organization has a great story to share, please consider applying for the 2013 Excellence in TBED awards and capture national recognition for your efforts. Applications are due June 11.

A recent report from Brookings suggests that, for a variety of reasons, the value of a traditional four-year degree is diminishing. At the same time, U.S. employers continue to reference a general lack of employable skills as a major obstacle to employment growth. Across the country, regions are using new, innovative approaches to develop their local workforce while also educating students to compete in a 21st century global economy.

Should Everyone Go To College? published by Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill of the Brookings Institution's Center on Children and Families, suggests there is a diminishing return-on-investment for bachelor's degrees. The skyrocketing cost of college tuition, combined with the rapid accumulation of national student debt and decreasing value of traditional educational skills in the modern workplace account for a widening degree of value in traditional degrees.

Earlier this month, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released their five-year plan for R&D activities that align with the agency's long-term goals within a rapidly changing society and environment. The plan, entitled Research and Development at NOAA: Environmental Understanding to Ensure America's Vital and Sustainable Future, calls for expanding socioeconomic and integrated ecosystems research and improving its internal and external technology development partnerships. NOAA offers guidance to stakeholders concerning the agency's specific research objectives and plans for effective R&D management practices. Click here for access to the plan...

A recent study by the Pew Research Center suggests that the United States continues to suffer from a digital divide in Internet usage, a gap in accessibility and digital literacy between rich and poor and urban and rural. While corporate investment in national broadband infrastructure has increased the quality of service for affluent urban populations over the past decade, the expansion of service to disadvantaged communities has been left to the public sector. Local communities across the country are using new, innovative approaches to address the issue.