SSTI Digest

Anyone connected to state and local efforts to increase the performance and commercialization success of SBIR awardees will not be surprised to learn the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report critical of how well the participating federal agencies and the Small Business Administration (SBA) provide information regarding awardees.

In compiling the results for Small Business Innovation Research: Agencies Need to Strengthen Efforts to Improve the Completeness, Consistency and Accuracy of Awards Data, the GAO found several structural issues in how the participating agencies approach the administration of the grant program. Some agencies stated they did not collect all of the information required. In addition, GAO found approximately one-fourth of the data agencies submitted to SBA in 2004 and 2005 did not comply with formatting requirements, rendering it difficult to use in program evaluations and reporting.

The U.S. may lose its edge in advanced military technology if it does not increase national investment in basic defense research, according to a new report issue by the Task Force on the Future of American Innovation. The group, comprised of organizations from academia and industry supporting investment in basic research, notes that though military R&D spending is at a record-high, the share of Department of Defense (DoD) science and technology investment dedicated to basic research has declined from 20 percent to 12 percent over the past 25 years.  

ANGLE, an international venture management and consulting company with broad experience in technology development initiatives at the regional and national level, has position openings for a consultant and a senior executive. These starting-level positions would assist ANGLE's U.S. Consulting and Management operation on domestic and international projects. Both positions require someone with a Ph.D. or a master's degree in business, public policy, development studies, economics, or technology and interests in technology-based economic development, technology transfer, technology and innovation policy, and strategy. A full description of these opportunities and others is available through the SSTI Job Corner at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.

Columbus State University (Ga.) appointed James Bowie as director of its Columbus Technology Incubator. Ohio Gov.-elect Ted Strickland announced he will nominate Lieutenant Gov.-elect Lee Fisher to be the state's development director. Art Garcia has resigned as director of the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund to accept a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in his home state of New Mexico. Dr. Anthony Green has been appointed vice president of regional technology initiatives for Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Columbus State University (Ga.) appointed James Bowie as director of its Columbus Technology Incubator.

Ohio Gov.-elect Ted Strickland announced he will nominate Lieutenant Gov.-elect Lee Fisher to be the state's development director.

Art Garcia has resigned as director of the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund to accept a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in his home state of New Mexico.

Dr. Anthony Green has been appointed vice president of regional technology initiatives for Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has appointed Stephan Helgesen as director of the Office of Science and Technology at the state Economic Development Department.

South Dakota State University named Teresa McKnight as the first permanent director of the Innovation Campus at SDSU, the university's new research park.

The Northern Colorado Economic Development Corp. has named Larry Penley, president of Colorado State University, the recipient of its first Regional Economic Development Excellence Award.

The Association of University Research Parks named the Science Center in Philadelphia "Outstanding Research Park of the Year."