SSTI Digest

The State Science and Technology Institute 1998 Annual Conference, "Science & Technology Programs: Catalysts for Economic Growth," was a success with over 100 S&T professionals from 30 states and the District of Columbia attending. The conference, which was held in Columbus, Ohio on September 24 and 25, provided practitioners an opportunity to discuss best practices, trends and new developments in technology-based economic development programs. We would like to extend a special thank you to all who attended the conference and those who participated in the pre-conference workshop and tour. We look forward to another successful conference in 1999.

Just a reminder that early registration for SSTI's Second Annual Conference, Science and Technology Programs: Catalysts for Economic Growth, are due August 31. The conference will be held September 24 & 25 in Columbus, Ohio. Full details can be found on SSTI's home page at www.ssti.org or by calling SSTI at 614/421-SSTI (7784).

During the month of August, the SSTI Weekly Digest will be published every other week. The Digest will be published August 14 and August 28. It will resume weekly publication September 4.

The State Science and Technology Institute is sponsoring its second annual conference "Science and Technology Programs: Catalysts for Economic Growth" on September 23 and 24. The conference will explore best practices, trends, and new developments in technology-based economic development programs. The conference program includes the following sessions: The Evolution of a Successful S&T Program will address how two programs have adjusted through the last decade, as the science and technology base and political climate have changed dramatically. Introduction to State S&T Programs will present an overview of the types of science and technology programs offered by the states. Conducting an Industry Cluster Analysis will offer a toolkit that explains exactly what industry cluster analyses are and the steps required in conducting this type of analysis. The Role of State S&T Programs in SBIR will examine methods of leveraging the SBIR program to meet state economic development goals and the latest trends in state SBIR programs. Marketing Your…

Ross Youngs, president of Univenture, Inc. of Columbus, Ohio, has been named the National Small Business Person of the Year. Youngs was selected from a field of 53 Small Business Administration (SBA) small business winners representing the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam. The national entrepreneur award is a highlight of SBA's national Small Business Week celebration. Small Business Week, now in its 35th year, honors the contributions of the nation's small business owners. Winners are selected on their record of stability, growth in employment and sales, sound financial reports, innovation, and the company's response to adversity, and community service. Youngs founded Univenture ten years ago after developing a lighter, cheaper and more environmentally friendly product for displaying and storing compact discs. Today, Univenture is a $15 million dollar business that employs 119 people. The award for first runner-up went to Fleischer Manufacturing of Columbus, Nebraska. Fleischer Manufacturing developed and produces tillage equipment that allows farmers to…

The National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) is sponsoring a workshop entitled "Building University Engines for Academic Excellence, Technology Commercialization and Entrepreneurship." The workshop will he held on May 30, 1998 in Philadelphia, PA. The keynote speaker will be Michael Hooker, chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Among the programs featured are Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Northwestern University, University of Texas at Austin, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of Maryland. More information on the workshop is available on NBIA's website at www.nbia.org/ conf/conf.htm or by calling 740/593-4331.

Dr. Walter Plosila has joined Battelle Memorial Institute as Vice President, Public Technology Management. He served most recently as the executive director of the North Carolina Alliance for Competitive Technologies (NC ACTs).

The December 19, 1997 issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest reported an incorrect FY 1998 appropriation for the Advanced Technology Program (ATP). The correct amount is $192.5 million.

The State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI) recently released State Science and Technology Strategic Planning: Creating Economic Opportunity. This report is the first comprehensive study of state science and technology strategic planning processes. Prepared under a grant from the Economic Development Administration, Creating Economic Opportunity describes the key factors that contribute to the successful development and implementation of state science and technology strategic plans. The study found there were ten best practices for successful strategic plans: The planning process had a champion The process was structured to obtain a wide range of viewpoints The strategy articulated a vision for the state's future and was based on a thorough understanding of the state's industry and technology resources The strategy was designed to benefit all areas of the state, including distressed areas The strategy was built on existing delivery systems The strategy addressed the key elements needed to support technology-based development The strategy included…

The National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) has released a new report that confirms that business incubators are helping to build healthy, long lasting businesses, and they are doing it at minimal cost with a good return on investment to supporters. The report was conducted by the University of Michigan, NBIA, Ohio University and the Southern Technology Council under a grant from the U. S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration. It examines the impact of business incubators which house early stage companies and provide on-site management and a full array of business planning, marketing and financial services. The study indicates that: Incubator companies experience very healthy growth. The average firm's sales increase by more than 400 percent from the time they enter the incubator until they leave the program. Business incubation programs produce companies with a high survival rate. A reported 87 percent of the companies that fulfilled the program's requirements are still in business today. Business incubation programs create…

October 29, 1997 The American Society of Mechanical Engineers will sponsor Accessing Technology in Rhode Island.  The briefing will provide information on state and federal technology resources available to assist businesses. For more information contact Reese Meisinger at 202/785-3756 or meisingerr@asme.org October 29 - 30, 1997 The National Technology Transfer Center is hosting a training course entitled Technology Assessment in Ridgecrest, CA. For more information call 800-678-6882, or visit http://www.nttc.edu November 10-11, 1997 The Red Herring magazine is presenting a venture capital conference entitled Venture Market East in Cambridge, MA. For more information, contact Tom Geck at 415/659-2871 or visit www.herring.com/events November 11-12, 1997 The Mid-Atlantic Venture Association and the Greater Philadelphia Venture Group is hosting the 1997 Mid-Atlantic Venture Fair in Vienna, VA. For more information call 410/560-5855 or visit www.mava.org. November 12-15, 1997 The National Business Incubation Association is sponsoring its annual Fall…

The State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI) recently released an issue brief that examines the current efforts of states to write and implement science and technology strategic plans. The report is entitled An Overview of State Science & Technology Strategic Planning. The issue brief (1) presents an overview of states' science and technology strategic plans and the process by which they were developed; (2) examines the extent to which the plans explicitly address the needs of distressed areas; and, (3) describes science and technology strategic planning activities in Maryland, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Vermont. SSTI found that 13 states adopted statewide science and technology strategic plans between 1991 and 1995. During this same time, 29 states adopted overall economic development strategies, some of which addressed the science and technology base in the state or the needs of particular technology-based industries. Funding for the report was provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration. A final report outlining best…