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SSTI Digest
SC Centers Program Sees Job Creation, Leverage in 5-Year Results
The South Carolina Centers of Economic Excellence (CoEE) Program, an initiative to recruit star scientists into distinct research clusters at the state's three research universities, has gained $205 million in competitive research awards and non-state matching funds over the program's lifetime - three times the state's distributed investment to date of $66 million. This finding and others regarding the fiscal and employment impact of the initiative was included in a recent outside evaluation of the first five years of the CoEE Program.
Useful Stats: U.S. Industrial R&D Performed per State by Company Size: 2004
Successful small technology businesses serve as integral components of a robust innovation-based economy. The novel products and services brought to market are often the result of these companies' R&D efforts. As a result, nearly every state has programs and policies in place to support the growth of small tech firms.
S&T Figures Prominently In Federal Recovery Plans
Several years of virtually flat and occasionally declining federal funds for the nation's research and economic development communities could end abruptly with passage of an economic recovery plan resembling either proposal released by President-elect Obama or Congressional Democrats. Both call for unprecedented public investments to stimulate the economy out of its worst recession since the Great Depression, while at the same time moving the country dramatically toward a national innovation strategy mirroring the priorities of most state and regional technology-based economic development programs across the country.
Democrats control both chambers of Congress and the White House, however, opposition to the size and the nature of some components crosses both sides of the political aisle and as a result changes in the package are likely before passage.
ITIF Provides Insight Into Stimulus' Potential Impact on High-Tech Employment
The House Appropriations Committee version of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act released this morning includes support for improvement to the U.S. digital infrastructure. The proposal calls for significant spending to boost the economy through science and technology. That figure, along with additional spending on energy, small business, and healthcare improvements, includes significant investment in the country's information technology and networking assets.
Tech Talkin' Govs, Part II
The second installment of the Tech Talkin' Govs series includes highlights from state of the state, budget and inaugural addresses delivered by the governors of Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Oregon and Vermont.
Arizona
Gov. Janet Napolitano, State of the State Address, Jan. 9, 2009
Governor's Budget Eliminates Indiana's $20M Life Sciences Fund
During his presentation of the fiscal year 2009-11 budget last week, Gov. Mitch Daniels said the state's weakening economy will require the suspension of funds for some initiatives supported by his administration. For the TBED community, the governor's proposal delays funds for research aimed at building the state's life sciences portfolio, including elimination of a $20 million Life Sciences Fund at the Indiana School of Medicine and Purdue University and $3 million for the High Growth Business Incentive Fund to encourage high-wage companies to locate or expand in the state.
A Matter of Scale: Florida Governor Outlines "Small" Business Stimulus Package
Facing a $2.3 billion deficit in FY 2010, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has proposed a new financing program to promote small business growth through the current financial crisis. Calling it an Economic Stimulus Plan, the governors.'s proposal will target small Florida-based companies with high-growth potential through direct loans and other support services. By focusing on small businesses, the state can target companies with good prospects for growth with a modest investment of taxpayer dollars, according to the press release accompanying the announcement. The price tag? Only $10 million.
SSTI Brought 1,400+ Funding Opportunities to Subscribers in 2008
Since the SSTI Funding Supplement became a members-only publication in 2006 more than 4,250 funding opportunities have been distributed. In 2008 only, there were more than 1,400 different opportunities for your client companies and university research faculties to secure funding -- if you were an SSTI member. Competition for federal research funding is growing, particularly as program budgets have been relatively flat or declining in recent federal budget cycles. But your tech companies and faculty researchers are at the greatest disadvantage if they aren't even aware of all the opportunities available to them! Don't remain in the dark for 2009. Sign up your organization as one of SSTI's members today to begin your subscription to the Funding Supplement.
A few of the more than 100 opportunities provided in December include:
SSTI Job Corner
Complete descriptions of these opportunities and others are available at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.
Tech Talkin' Govs, Part I
SSTI's ninth annual Tech Talkin' Govs series highlights new and expanded TBED proposals from governors' state of the state, budget and inaugural addresses. The first installment of the series includes excerpts from New York and North Dakota.
New York
Gov. David Paterson, State-of-the-State Address, Jan. 7, 2009
"We should also understand that our current Empire Zone program does not work and we need to reform it. .... That's why we set an aggressive target to have Empire Zone participants produce 20 dollars of benefits for every dollar of state money. With the savings generated by reforming Empire Zones, we will make strategic investments in the job-creating industries of tomorrow, such as biotechnology and manufacturing, and we will offer R&D tax credits to foster innovation. .
Proposals Aim to Attract Renewable Energy Companies to Virginia
Last month, Gov. Tim Kaine unveiled proposed amendments to the fiscal year 2008-10 biennial budget and announced a new initiative aimed at creating jobs by attracting renewable energy companies to Virginia. The governor will seek legislative support for both proposals in the coming months.
The Renew Virginia Initiative is the governor's plan to boost job creation and position the state as a leader in alternative energy generation and R&D. Gov. Kaine created a new Interagency Task Force for Energy Project Recruitment that consists of state agencies, university research centers and federal labs. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership is charged with assembling a marketing plan for promoting the state.
Governor's Budget Continues Washington's Efforts in STEM Education
Many of Washington's programs aimed at enhancing the skills of educators in science, technology, education, and mathematics (STEM) fields will continue to receive state support in the coming biennium under Gov. Christine Gregoire's budget proposal - while other TBED initiatives did not fare as well.