SSTI Digest

Developing and implementing a successful TBED initiative that generates substantial economic gain for a state or region is no easy feat. SSTI’s third annual Excellence in TBED awards recognize outstanding achievements in tech-based economic development from innovative programs across the nation, emphasizing impact, strategic value and replicability.

The anticipation has been building for months. Join us in celebration on Thursday, Oct. 22 at lunch for the highly-anticipated unveiling of 2009 Excellence in TBED award recipients when a select group of organizations will join the small ranks of those chosen from across the nation as a best practice in the field of tech-based economic development.

Stories that illustrate how TBED succeeds in improving our nation’s competitiveness are presented during two dedicated breakout sessions following SSTI’s awards ceremony. Conference participants are provided the opportunity to explore the award-winning programs in depth directly with program administrators on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. and Friday at 9:00 a.m.

2007 & 2008 Excellence in TBED Award Winners

SSTI’s Annual Conference offers a rich and rewarding slate of professional development opportunities for seasoned conference veterans and first-timers alike. Each year, SSTI helps connect TBED professionals to the ideas and perspectives making a difference in the regional innovation. The conference also provides a vibrant atmosphere where attendees can connect to the leading thinkers and practitioners in the field. You can expect:

• An exciting mix of sessions incorporating both nuts-and-bolts advice for practitioners and long-range views on the future of technology-based economic development.
• New perspectives on the future of the field and the strategies that will prepare regions for the next economy.
• Stimulating dialogue and networking with the right people within the tech-based economic development community.
• Ample opportunity to connect to colleagues.

Attendees will be able to participate in a number of activities and events that will allow them to network and have fun in a more casual environment. This year’s activities include something for everyone, such as:

SSTI’s 13th Annual Conference is made possible by the support of our host sponsor, the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (KTEC), and the generous support of our national conference sponsors. SSTI extends its appreciation and thanks to the following exemplary organizations serving as our national sponsors:

• Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
• Greater Oklahoma City Chamber
• Battelle
• National Centers of Excellence (NCOE)
• GSP Consulting
• Monster Public Sector & Education
• Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC)
• Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
• Lytmos Group
• National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP)
• National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Technology Innovation Program (TIP)
• NorTech
• ASMEs Center for Engineering Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CEEI)
• Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
• National Science Foundation (NSF)
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)

Missouri Small Business Technology Development Center invites applications for an associate state specialist (counselor). This position serves as a statewide specialist to provide leadership, expertise, and training to University faculty and staff, and private sector clients with SBIR/STTR. A master’s degree in engineering, business, science, or a related area with appropriate coursework and five or more year’s relevant experience are required.

While the U.S. venture capital (VC) industry struggles to recover from the last year’s sudden collapse in fundraising and investment, several regions are successfully rebuilding their venture environment. Venture investment remained far below 2008 levels in the second quarter of 2009, with venture centers such as Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, New York City and Texas falling farther from their lackluster numbers in the first quarter. Other key regions however, such as Philadelphia, and states in the Southwest and Southeast performed at, or near, the level of investment they experienced at the same time last year. Though the industry remains highly volatile, these changes have the potential to narrow the venture funding gap between Silicon Valley and the rest of the country.

"Tapping the Technology Innovation Program and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership"

On October 21, from 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m, SSTI is co-hosting a regional meeting with officials from the Technology Innovation Program (TIP) and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) that we encourage you or one of your colleagues to attend. TIP and MEP are two of the most market-driven programs operated by the federal government. Both programs have launched new investments and innovative services in the last year. The meeting will give you a chance to learn about:

• New federal funding opportunities;
• New resources to support early-stage research;
• New products and services to expand manufacturing;
• New tools to help foster growth and innovation in companies you work with;
• New models to accelerate technology commercialization and translation; and,
• New ideas about ways to integrate state, local and federal investments.

Who should attend?

Given the important contribution of innovative entrepreneurs, it is essential for colleges and universities to adopt effective programs to educate and train prospective business founders who will introduce new products and new production processes, find new markets, or innovate in other ways, finds a study released by the Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy.

Unlike traditional entrepreneurs who generally establish new firms of some conventional variety, innovative entrepreneurs are considered critical contributors to economic growth, bringing technological advances to market. The study notes that while business schools throughout the U.S. currently have well-designed, effective programs to train conventional entrepreneurs, there are few, if any schools with programs specializing in the education of innovative entrepreneurs.

Two recent efforts – a new program launched in Maryland and legislation introduced in Congress – aim to help manufacturers retool for the rapidly changing economy. Successful tech-based economies have an environment conducive to industry development of new, leading-edge products or services or processes that significantly enhance the competitiveness of existing operations. Programs and initiatives that provide industries with the essential tools and resources to effectively compete in the global marketplace are imperative to achieving this climate.

In Maryland, a new program that pulls together a network of resources from around the state recently was launched to provide expanded services to the state’s manufacturers. A partnership between the University of Maryland’s Technology Enterprise Institute and the Regional Manufacturing Initiative, the Maryland Manufacturing Partnerships program will deliver services to manufacturers focusing on four main areas:

The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce unveiled a new website targeting the region’s entrepreneurial community. The Nashville Entrepreneurial Center provides insight and advice on starting a new company, local business and innovation news and several ways to connect to other entrepreneurs and investors. Though the site already offers a blog and social networking features, the group plans to expand their services to include additional resources for entrepreneurs seeking funding and other types of assistance.

On a per capita basis, federal R&D obligations to U.S. universities and colleges increased by 7 percent from FY 2003 to 2007, rising to $83.80 per person in FY07, according to the National Science Foundation. Total U.S. federal R&D obligations to academia increased by 11.1 percent over the same five years to $25.3 billion in FY07.

SSTI has prepared a table listing the academic obligations per capita from FY 2003 to 2007, the percent change of these obligations per capita over this period, and the relative rank of this change.

The range in per capita figures among the states is large. Washington D.C. led the country with $360.10 in federal R&D obligations to academia per capita in FY07. This was followed by Maryland ($279.30), Massachusetts ($230.70), Connecticut ($142.10), and Hawaii ($135.60). Maine, Arkansas, Idaho, Nevada, and Oklahoma were the states with the lowest per capita values. Overall, the U.S. average of $83.80 per capita bested 28 states.

Kathy Collins has been appointed as the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Network (WEN) regional director in Madison. Previously, Collins worked as the technology and financial development manager in the Commerce Division of Business Development.

Ron Cox has been appointed as the assistant dean for economic development in the engineering college at Iowa State University. He retains his current position as director of CIRAS, the Center for Industrial Research and Service.

Frank DiBello, a veteran aerospace consultant who’s been Space Florida’s interim president since May, was named as the permanent leader of the aerospace development agency.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert appointed businessman and philanthropist Spencer Eccles to lead the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. Eccles, son of the former First Security chairman and CEO Spencer Eccles, will be joined by Josh Romney, son of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. The younger Romney will serve as the state’s national business recruitment policy advisor.

Complete descriptions of these opportunities and others are available at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.

Missouri Small Business Technology Development Center invites applications for an associate state specialist (counselor). This position serves as a statewide specialist to provide leadership, expertise, and training to University faculty and staff, and private sector clients with SBIR/STTR. A master’s degree in engineering, business, science, or a related area with appropriate coursework and five or more year’s relevant experience are required.