SSTI Digest

Traci Hancock was named executive director of BioNebraska.

Peter Hermann was selected as the N.C. Technology Association's new CEO. Hermann replaces Joan Myers, who took a position with a software company.

John McIver is serving as interim vice president for research and economic development at the University of New Mexico while the school searches for a permanent replacement to Terry Yates, who passed away in December.

Gary Margules was appointed vice president for research and technology transfer at Nova Southeastern University.

New Carolina, South Carolina's Council on Competitiveness, has formed the South Carolina Engineering Cluster. Lee Stogner will lead the cluster and its steering committee, which represents government, economic develoment, academia, engineering companies and professional societies aiming to promote engineering in South Carolina.

Dr. James Weyhenmeyer will become senior vice president for the State University of New York (SUNY) Research Foundation and SUNY senior vice provost for research, effective March 3, 2008.

Facing a projected budget deficit of more than $600 million, Gov. Tim Kaine told lawmakers the state must invest more money in research and commercialization efforts to accelerate Virginia’s progress in key areas.   Anticipating the state’s investments in R&D will pay off in the future, Gov. Kaine unveiled a $1.65 billion bond package for higher education needs that includes support for researchers and research facilities aimed at R&D and commercialization. The governor’s fiscal year 2009-10 budget includes an additional $44.3 million for colleges and universities and continued funding for research across the state’s higher education institutes. The bond package targets 75 projects for new construction and renovation focusing on developing a 21st century workforce in emerging fields such as science, engineering, education and health care. Upgrades are needed to provide researchers with the equipment to develop cutting-edge technologies, Gov. Kaine said in a press release. The proposed General Obligation Bond, which would be provided through the Virginia College Building Authority, must receive support from the General…

Building on a successful legislative session in 2007, Gov. Lingle is requesting additional funds to supplement various ongoing TBED programs.   Seeking to continue a pilot program approved by lawmakers last year, Gov. Lingle is requesting  $2 million for a second year for the Hawaii Excellence through Science and Technology Academy Program and Robotics Programs within the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (see the May 14, 2007 issue of the Digest).   Under the Strategic Industries Division (SID), Gov. Lingle is requesting one-time funding of $700,000 to establish a Bioenergy Program. The funding would be used to complete the statewide master plan for the program. Annual recurring funding would be necessary to continue operations, the budget documents note. To conduct the expanded responsibilities of the science and technology branch related to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education priorities of the Governor’s Innovation Initiative, an additional $50,000 is requested within SID. The renamed Office of Aerospace Development would receive $235,000 to support a comprehensive…

A long-delayed equity capital program in Montana is on its way to becoming a reality. Montana, which received no venture capital investment in 2006 according to the PricewaterhouseCoopers Moneytree survey, has struggled to attract the interest of venture capital firms. The Montana Equity Capital Investment Act, sponsored by State Sen. Jeff Mangan and signed by Gov. Brian Schweitzer in 2005, was intended to make the state more attractive to outside investors, but never seemed to get off the ground.   As reported in the April 18, 2005 issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest, Senate Bill 133 called for the creation of a $60 million Montana Equity Fund to attract out-of-state investment and increase in-state venture activity. A governor-appointed board was to contract with an outside investor group to capitalize and manage the Equity Fund and a subfund targeted toward investments in strategic industries. The $60 million would be issued in tax credits to investors to offset any shortfalls in scheduled returns on their investments.   The Fund, however, was not created right away. In the subsequent two years, concerns about the law's…

Policymakers and practitioners continually seek new ideas to integrate into their overall TBED strategies in order to capitalize on innovative approaches and remain a competitive force in the global marketplace. Over the last few months, two new concepts in TBED aimed at supporting higher education have surfaced in New York and Wisconsin with two distinct goals: achieving the status of a world-renowned research capital and increasing college graduates to raise per capita income.   NY Considers $3B for Research, Star Faculty, Education Zones In New York, Gov. Eliot Spitzer will consider a multi-billion investment in the State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY) intended to boost the state’s higher education system and enhance university research centers.   The New York State Commission on Higher Education – created by the governor earlier this year – released this week a preliminary report that calls for establishing a $3 billion research fund and hiring additional full-time faculty and eminent scholars. Additionally, the report endorses a compact for public higher education…

Earlier this year, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported that the U.S. had fallen from fourth to 15th in broadband penetration among OECD countries (see the June 13, 2007 issue). This report came as little surprise to states that have been struggling to extend and improve high-speed Internet service, particularly in rural areas. Recognizing the need to accelerate the expansion of broadband networks, both the Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Senate are now considering actions that would help assess broadband deficiencies and build these networks with the assistance of the states.   Earlier this month, the Federal-State Board on Universal Service proposed changes to the FCC's Universal Service program that would expand its focus to include broadband access. Currently, the program collects fees from telecommunications providers to fund the availability and affordability of advanced telecommunications services in low income, rural, insular and high-cost areas. The Federal-State Board, which meets regularly to assess the program, now recommends that it be split into three separate funds: one tasked with…

By creating Ontario’s Regional Innovation Networks (ORIN) three years ago, the provincial government experimented with how to establish customized systems-specific, but network-integrated approaches to strengthening and supporting regional innovation. The early successes of the 12 Regional Innovation Networks (RIN) scattered across the vast province are described in a November report, The Critical Role of Regional Innovation Networks in Ontario’s Economy, and the result of the $13 million initiative of the Ontario Minstry of Economic Development is a potential model for other states and provinces to consider. A longer explanation is required, however, to substantiate that conclusion.   First is to identify the problem of plenty. One now can walk into nearly every major city in the U.S. or Canada and find a vast collection of organizations, programs and tools designed to support employment growth and business competitiveness.   While most may be serving particular audiences well, there is ample opportunity for duplication of services, rivalry and competition for limited financial support…