SSTI Digest

Governors across the nation are trying to find ways to prevent their state finances from falling further in the red as revenues continue to fall while costs for Medicare and unemployment remain high. Deficit-reduction plans announced in two states seek to delay payments and cut funding to biomedical research initiatives that were established to expand the states’ research capacity and generate wealth.

Connecticut
Aiming to close a deficit of nearly $470 million in the current fiscal year, Gov. Jodi Rell announced a deficit-mitigation plan that includes delaying payments of $10 million to the state’s Stem Cell Research Fund and $6 million to the Biomedical Research Trust Fund. The Stem Cell Fund was established in 2005 with a budget surplus of $20 million to be used in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 and supplemented with $10 million per year from the Tobacco Settlement Fund through 2015 (see the May 30, 2005 issue of the Digest).

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

The Software and Information Technology Association of Kansas (SITAKS), a state-wide trade association dedicated to strengthening and expanding Kansas’ software and IT sector, is recruiting for a President/CEO to provide overall leadership and management for the daily operation of SITAKS to insure its viability, growth and adherence to its vision, mission and strategic plan. This position is responsible for the organization’s administration, marketing, financial management, community relations, program development/execution, fundraising and strategic direction.

Capturing national attention for initiating successful programs to sustain the nation’s position as a global leader for innovation and competitiveness, six organizations were named recipients of SSTI’s 2009 Excellence in TBED Award. The third annual awards follow a nationwide competition recognizing outstanding achievements in tech-based economic development (TBED) emphasizing impact, strategic value and replicability.

“The impressive stories behind each of these six initiatives illustrate how strategic TBED investments work to promote regional growth through science and innovation,” said Dan Berglund, SSTI President and CEO. “These organizations serve as best practice models in the field for their demonstrated leadership and meaningful impact to state and regional economies.”

Recipients were honored today during a ceremony at SSTI’s 13th Annual Conference in Overland Park, KS, attended by top economic development professionals from across the nation. The following initiatives were selected to receive the Excellence in TBED Award for 2009:

The economic circumstances leading up to SSTI’s 13th annual conference make this year’s event critical. We encourage you to join us in Overland Park, Kansas, October 21 – 23, 2009 to Seize the Moment.

This year’s conference will bring together distinguished speakers like Josh Lerner of Harvard Business School and Rob Atkinson of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation who will challenge conventional thinking; experienced practitioners who will share best practices; and, leading individuals who are breaking new ground in their attempts to build a tech-based economies. Plus, we’ll have four stimulating roundtable discussions examining some of the thorniest issues we’re facing—improving metrics that are being used, re-examining equity programs, and engaging universities.

If we have no map, does that mean we’re lost? Hardly. But given the economic turmoil affecting every crossroad of the country, some folks may be having a hard time seeing which road leads in the right direction. This year’s conference will feature two speakers at the forefront of TBED research who will share their insight on how states and regions can prepare themselves for the challenges ahead.

Information Technology and Innovation Foundation founder and president Rob Atkinson will examine the choices we face in strengthening American competitiveness. Atkinson is the author of the State New Economy Index series and the book, The Past And Future Of America’s Economy: Long Waves Of Innovation That Power Cycles Of Growth. He has an extensive background in technology policy, has conducted ground-breaking research projects on technology and innovation, is a valued adviser to state and national policymakers, and a popular speaker on innovation policy nationally and internationally.

SSTI’s pre-conference workshops have received high praise from past participants because of their personalized nature, their dedication to sharing knowledge, and their opportunities to forge worthwhile relationships with other participants. The two pre-conference sessions scheduled on Wednesday, October 21 are no different and will provide plenty of value for those in attendance.

Our extremely popular “Where Do We Start?: Introduction to Technology-Based Economic Development” all-day pre-conference workshop is tailored to professionals new to the field of tech-based economic development. In a format that is engaging, educational and enjoyable, you will discover proven building blocks and programs for creating technology companies, financing high-tech firms, commercializing technology, and developing productive university-industry partnerships.

One of the best takeaways from the SSTI Annual Conference is the personal contacts one can make over the course of the event. Whether it’s chatting with a peer who has led successful economic development initiatives, breaking bread with fund managers at our scheduled Dine-A-Rounds, exchanging contact information with our conference speakers, or playing tennis with a myriad of people in the Wii Room, the upcoming conference will provide plenty of opportunities to make friends and meet other leaders who share your background and hopes for the future.

The SSTI Annual Conference is the tech-based economic development community’s premier event of the year because it brings together hundreds of the practitioners interested in tech-based economic development in one location.

Practitioners just like you.

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)

"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?

The opportunities for improving the partnership your TBED effort has with the federal government appear to be improving rapidly. Are you ready? Is the TBED community ready? SSTI's Annual Conference theme, Seize the Moment, was developed around this growing momentum. Timely and highly interactive plenary sessions, 16 intensive breakout sessions and some of the most forward-thinking TBED practitioners and policymakers will be on hand with hundreds of your peers at SSTI's Annual Conference, Oct 21-23. Shouldn't you be there? More information, including the opportunity to take advantage of the early registration deadline of Sep 29, is available at: http://ssticonference.org/