SSTI Digest

While New Mexico continues to lead the country in R&D intensity, California remains at the top in R&D expenditures, according to new National Science Foundation (NSF) data from 2009 and 2010. The new report provides updated, detailed statistical tables on current and historical patterns (1953 to 2010) of U.S. research and development (R&D) expenditures by performing sector, source of funds, character of work and state. NSF's National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) released the data to provide a statistical supplement to their January 2013 InfoBrief on the National Patterns findings for 2010–11. The report provides updated, yearly data from 1953 to 2010 due to new NSF methodologies for obtaining and compiling R&D statistics and includes 2011 estimated data.

With more than 200 mentoring-intensive accelerators launching, convening, or closing down sometime in the past two years, it has become clear that announcing an accelerator's creation and sustaining one for multiple years are proving to be two very different matters. So it was a welcome change during a recent RIAN webinar to step away from the swagger-filled hyperbole of the bubble-watching blogosphere to hear well-grounded perspective and sage advice from two experts involved in the day-to-day operations of long-running and nationally recognized accelerators.

Is the accelerator model overplayed at this point as a regional economic development tool?

Chris Coburn, the founding executive director of Cleveland Clinic Innovations, is leaving at the end of May to join Boston-based Partners Healthcare, the largest healthcare system in Massachusetts.

Mary Jo White has been confirmed by the Senate as the new head of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Marcel Valois has been nominated for executive director of the Rhode Island Economic Develop Corporation by Gov. Lincoln Chafee.

Erik Mitisek has been named the CEO of the Colorado Technology Association, effective April 29.

Richard Sutton has been named executive director of the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.

As the 2013 legislative session draws to a close for several states, lawmakers approved measures to create new opportunities for economic growth or expand investments in programs demonstrating positive outcomes. Lawmakers in Georgia increased funding for established university-based research initiatives and set up a state-run venture capital fund to invest in innovative companies. In Virginia, a new cybersecurity accelerator will help propel technology and companies in an emerging sector.

Georgia
During this year's legislative session, lawmakers boosted funding for university-based research initiatives, set up a venture capital fund to invest in startups, and passed a bill enabling more students to gain eligibility for scholarships at technical colleges.

Each year, SSTI provides Digest readers with a comprehensive review of technology-based economic development spending in the the president's federal budget request. The year's edition includes proposed FY14 spending on R&D, STEM education, manufacturing, broadband, small business support, technology transfer, entrepreneurship, innovation workforce initiatives and more.

The full report is available for download in pdf format (626 kb).

President Obama's FY14 budget request would offer increased funding for many programs of note to the technology-based economic development community. Manufacturing-related initiatives, in particular, have been prioritized by the administration, with increased funding for existing programs and the launch of several new manufacturing initiatives in several agencies. The budget also would provide increased funding for clean energy research and implementation, and a major reorganization of the federal government's science, technology, engineering and mathematics education programs.

Last week the Obama administration launched a new Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative housed within the Department of Energy. The initiative will use public-private partnerships to drive an open-source, "smart" manufacturing network that will help U.S. clean energy manufacturing firms reduce costs, increase competitiveness, and boost productivity.

With a continued push toward regionalism to better support the state's high-tech platform, lawmakers approved in the FY14 budget startup funding for a new statewide incubator program that provides grants for the incubators and tax incentives for client companies. The initiative is part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's planned expansion for the state's 10 regional councils. Other innovation-focused initiatives approved in the recently enacted budget include a $50 million innovation venture capital fund, a third round of funding for the SUNY 2020 program, and $55 million to launch the CUNY 2020 challenge.

The budget signed into law this week includes $1.25 million in initial funding to launch the Innovation Hot Spots program that will create or designate 10 high-tech innovation incubators at locations affiliated with higher education institutes. Created with broad industry support, the new program is a combination of Gov. Cuomo's "hot spots" proposal (see the Jan. 9, 2013 issue of the Digest) and legislation introduced by Sen. Martin Golden (R, C, I-Brooklyn).

Let's face it, chances are your achievements, as wonderful as they are, likely will go unrecognized unless you start telling people about the good work you are doing. SSTI wants to hear how your organization is succeeding in growing tech-based economies and we'll share your outstanding work with the entire country. Learn more about how to submit an application for the 2013 Excellence in TBED awards today. Download the brochure at: www.sstiawards.org and check out the latest adventures of The Traveling Vase.

Gov. Inslee of Washington released his budget request for the 2013-2015 biennium in his Working Washington plan. Among the priorities are STEM educational investments and clean energy research and development. Overall, the Governor's proposed budget totals more than $34.4 billion, and would result in nearly $532 million in reserves, without proposing new taxes.

Working Washington will attempt to improve the business climate of the state through enhanced funding for STEM education, secondary education aerospace training, and tax relief for new businesses in high-growth sectors.

Specifically, the budget calls for the elimination of tax breaks deemed inefficient, as well as reducing the value of the special tax rates on business and occupation by 25 percent, except for the aerospace and radioactive waste cleanup sectors.

This week, President Obama unveiled a new, long-term initiative to further understanding of the human brain. The Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, the latest in a series of federal Grand Challenges, would attempt to reproduce the scientific and economic gains of the Human Genome Project. In FY14, the administration plans to invest $100 million in the initiative, with key operations within the Defense Advanced Projects Agency (DARPA), the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. Read more about the initiative...

Ahead of the president' FY 2014 budget proposal release date (April 10, 2013) and amid federal sequestration, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released two reports that contend duplication, fragmentation and a lack of cooperation between federal agencies may plague federal support for wind energy deployment and entrepreneurial assistance. To address these issues, the GAO reports recommend enhanced collaboration between agencies and consolidation of funding programs. Looming budget cuts and political support could place these reports in the midst of political and public dialogue on government duplication and potentially be used as evidence of federal wasteful spending.

Mark Lytle has been named the University System of Georgia's new vice chancellor for economic development.

Frederick Cartwright has been appointed the executive director of the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research.

Jeffrey Margolis recently joined the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition as managing director.

F. King Alexander has been appointed as president of the Louisiana State University System and Chancellor of LSU A&M.

A new Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness started operation April 1 within the Washington state Department of Commerce. The new office has merged the business services division and energy office into one entity.