SSTI Digest

The Modernization Forum, a national association for the manufacturing extension community, seeks a project manager to join its team of professionals who work with the manufacturing extension community nationwide. The project manager's responsibilities will include report research and writing, analysis of trends relevant to manufacturing extension, project management, direct interaction with member organizations across the country, and significant contributions to seminars and the annual national conference. The complete job description can be found on SSTI's home page at http://www.ssti.org. For more information, contact Carol Lessure, Research Director for The Modernization Forum, at 313/271-2790 ext. 7, or by e-mail at clessure@modforum.org

SSTI is pleased to be able to provide reports issued by the Carnegie Commission on Science, Technology, and Government. The Commission was created in 1988 by the Carnegie Corporation of New York to help government institutions respond to the unprecedented advances in science and technology transforming the world. This premier science and technology organization published a series of reports that are highly diverse, intellectually rich, and practical in application. The main themes, ranging from Congress' role in science and technology policy to environmental research and development, address issues critical to all science and technology practitioners and policy makers. Due to the support of the Carnegie Corporation, SSTI is able to provide 20 of the Commission's reports. Descriptions of these reports along with an order form can be viewed on SSTI's website. Or, to have the SSTI Publications Catalog mailed to you, please contact the Institute at 614/421-SSTI (7784). The Carnegie reports are free; however, shipping charges may apply.

The State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI) recently released an issue brief that examines specific tax incentives offered by the states to encourage research and development (R&D) activity. The report, State Research and Development Tax Incentives, identifies tax incentives for R&D offered in 1996 by individual states and describes their major attributes. It also considers the use and cost of the incentives. SSTI found that thirty-five states offered some type of incentive for research and development activity in 1996. Many of the states offered an income tax credit modeled after the federal research and experimentation tax credit guidelines. Other types of incentives included sales and use tax credits and property tax credits. SSTI also found that the relative impact of these incentives is uncertain. Sixteen states were able to address questions regarding the impact of the tax incentive in terms of the number of companies that received the incentive and the resulting tax expenditures. The limited amount of data available on the number of companies that use the incentive…

Deborah Cummings has joined the staff of the State Science and Technology Institute as a Policy Analyst. Ms. Cummings prior work experience includes positions with the National Business Incubation Association and Ohio's Thomas Edison Program as the Edison Technology Incubator Coordinator. She can be reached at 614/421-SSTI (7784) or via e-mail at cummings@ssti.org.

In a continuing effort to improve the services the State Science and Technology Institute provides to its users, SSTI has made changes to its World Wide Web home page and the SSTI Weekly Digest.   The home page has moved to a new site (http://www.ssti.org) and expanded its offerings. In addition to continuing to provide access to state profiles, archived FYI messages, links to SSTI sponsors and other organizations, and technical assistance provided by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the home page will now offer: The current and archived issues of the SSTI Weekly Digest A calendar of events Job postings Brief biographies of SSTI Board members In the coming weeks, watch for these additional changes on the home page: A search function that will permit easier access to the state profiles and past issues of the Digest Expanded links to government and other policy resources Meanwhile, a survey of Digest readers indicates a high level of satisfaction with the content, length, and frequency of the newsletter. Eighty percent of the respondents indicated that they had followed up on information that they had learned about…

Ohio's Edison Technology Centers generated a direct economic impact for Ohio of more than $730 million from 1992 to 1995, according to a new study prepared by Battelle Memorial Institute for the Edison Centers. The seven Edison Centers are non-profit organizations that combine state, industry and academic resources to solve industrial problems and develop new technologies. When the impacts were traced through the economy and a multiplier was applied, the total impact on the gross state product was $1.27 billion. Battelle arrived at its results by applying its proprietary econometric model of the Ohio economy to economic data collected by the Edison Centers. State funding during that time for the Edison Centers totaled approximately $70 million. Along with estimating the total economic impact of the Edison Centers, the Battelle study found that the Edison Centers have: Enhanced the financial performance and competitive position of Ohio companies by saving them an estimated $168 million Provided assistance that enabled Ohio companies to create or retain 5,600 jobs,…

Please take a few minutes to complete this form and return it to SSTI. We would like to have responses faxed back to us by November 8, 1996 Fax: 614-421-9123 Your Name: Approximately how many people in your office regularly read the SSTI Weekly Digest? Which articles do you read? Which 3 do you find most useful? Which types would you like to see more or less of Article Type We Read These Find These 3 Most Useful Include More of These Include Fewer of These Federal awards         Federal solicitations         Federal budgets         Federal program changes  …

We are sad to report that Matt Filner, a Policy Analyst with SSTI, has submitted his resignation effective October 18 to pursue his academic studies full-time. In addition to being a valued staff member of SSTI, Matt was a key participant in organizing the Colloquium at Airlie House and a vital contributor to Partnerships: A Compendium of State and Federal Cooperative Technology Programs. His dedication, persistence, and creativity will be sorely missed. We wish him well as he works toward his Ph.D. at Indiana University. Matt's departure leaves us with a position to fill. Please distribute this description to anyone that you think might be interested. The State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI) is seeking a Policy Analyst. This position is with a small, dynamic non-profit organization located in Columbus, Ohio. The Institute serves as a clearinghouse and resource center for government initiatives in all 50 states that encourage industry to use science and technology for economic growth. Responsibilities include: responding to requests for information…

We welcome our first SSTI-Kauffman Interns: Cathleen McComas and Nakisha Fouch. Cathleen is a graduate student in public policy and management. Nakisha is pursuing her bachelor's degree in economics. Funding for the SSTI-Kauffman Intern Program has been provided by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation's Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. We are sorry to say goodbye to Ellen Moore, SSTI's Services Coordinator. Ellen was responsible for the initial administrative set-up of the Institute and produced the SSTI Weekly Digest.

The State Science and Technology Institute has launched its home page on the World Wide Web. The site serves as a one-stop resource for cooperative technology program managers. The site provides information on SSTI activities including information services and research.   One of the key information services provided by SSTI is reporting up-to-date activity from Washington D.C. on matters related to science and technology, particularly as they affect state programs. Our home page has a link to FYI messages from Chris Coburn, President of SSTI, that report Washington happenings. A major area of the site provides detailed descriptions of state cooperative technology programs. At the end of each state profile is: a contact person for the state, who can provide information about its programs and other services the state offers; a link to the state's home page; and links to the state's economic development and S&T home pages, where available. The profiles are from the book Partnerships: A Compendium of State and Federal Cooperative Technology Programs. The profiles will be updated over the coming year and the revised descriptions…

Seed Capital Venture Fund Manager The newly created Seed Capital Venture Fund in Cleveland, Ohio is seeking a fund manager. The fund will be professionally staffed with experienced managers who have a substantial ability to drive the fund to invest for returns, not perform community service. Key elements of the fund's structure include its focus on seed capital and early stage investment in technology-based companies in the State of Ohio, with heavy emphasis initially on Northeast Ohio opportunities.The structure of the fund is a limited partnership with a 10-year life. Gains will be shared 80/20 with the Fund Manager who will in turn share 3 to 4 points with appropriate nonprofit "intermediaries." A Board of Advisors comprised of members of the venture capital community, representatives of Cleveland Tomorrow (similar to the chamber of commerce) and state-wide members will help in raising capital, but will not make investment decisions. Candidates for this position must have a minimum of five years of successful investment experience, most of which should have been focused on true…