SSTI Digest

The rate of R&D investment by U.S. majority-owned affiliates performed outside of the U.S. increased twice as much as R&D performed within the U.S. from 1998 to 2003, as more countries around the world increased their R&D tax credits relative to those offered by the U.S. In a recent paper by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), The Research and Experimentation Tax Credit: A Critical Policy Tool for Boosting Research and Enhancing U.S. Economic Competitiveness, Dr. Robert Atkinson makes the case for why the Research and Experimentation Tax Credit should be extended and expanded by the U.S. Congress.   When the Research and Experimentation Tax Credit was created in 1981, it was the most generous credit offered by any nation in the OECD. Over the years, additional countries offered more and more financial incentives to attract R&D activities. As a result, in 2004 the U.S. dropped to the 17th most generous OECD nation to offer R&D tax credits.  

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation has awarded its second Kauffman Prize Medal for Distinguished Research in Entrepreneurship to Professor Toby Stuart of the Harvard Business School. The medal is given every two years to a scholar under the age of 40 whose research has made a significant contribution to the study of entrepreneurship and innovation. Stuart accepted the medal last month, along with a cash award of $50,000, at the Academy of Management's annual meeting in Atlanta. At the ceremony, the Kauffman Foundation cited Professor Stuart's pioneering research on social networks and their effect on entrepreneurship as an example of outstanding contribution to the field. Stuart's latest research suggests that entrepreneurs must be perceived positively within their local entrepreneurship community in order to create successful new firms. As a service to those Digest readers who do not regularly review the latest academic research in the field, SSTI offers the follow summaries of a selected set of Professor Stuart's most recent articles:

SSTI is pleased to announce four new appointments to our board of trustees:

The Maine Department of Economic and Community Development is seeking a qualified, energetic, collaborative person to serve as director of its Office of Innovation. The Office of Innovation seeks to advance Maine's economic well-being and to expand employment opportunities by encouraging and coordinating the state's R&D activities and fostering collaboration among its higher educational and nonprofit research institutions and the business community. A four-year degree; experience in science, engineering, technology and/or business; and experience in the management of organizations that innovate, commercialize and deploy technology are among this position's minimum requirements. More information on this opportunity is available through the SSTI Job Corner at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.

The Idaho Falls-based Partnership for Science and Technology selected M. Lane Allgood as its new executive director. Indiana Economic Development Corp. President Mickey Maurer will resign at the end of 2006, fulfilling his pledge to Gov. Mitch Daniels to serve two years. Michael Relyea has been named executive director of New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation, the public benefit authority that oversees the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR). Dr. Russell Bessette, executive director of NYSTAR, will serve as chief science advisor for the foundation and its board.

The Idaho Falls-based Partnership for Science and Technology selected M. Lane Allgood as its new executive director.

Indiana Economic Development Corp. President Mickey Maurer will resign at the end of 2006, fulfilling his pledge to Gov. Mitch Daniels to serve two years.

Michael Relyea has been named executive director of New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation, the public benefit authority that oversees the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR). Dr. Russell Bessette, executive director of NYSTAR, will serve as chief science advisor for the foundation and its board.

Dr. Raymond Taylor has joined the Southern Growth Policies Board leadership team as senior fellow and director of the organization's Council on the New Economy Workforce.

The Kansas Bioscience Authority named Thomas Thornton as its first president and CEO.

Dr. Janet Yancey-Wrona left her post as director of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development's Office of Innovation to join a new University of New England biotech start-up.

Incubators and accelerators. Angel, seed and venture capital. Research parks. University and industry research. Technology licensing and commercialization. Entrepreneurship assistance. R&D tax credits. Technology workforce development. Regional technology councils. Manufacturing extension. Science and technology advisers. While all have specific functions, collectively, when supported by public funds, these activities are working toward a single goal of transforming a regional economy to be more competitive in the knowledge-driven global market for innovation and growth.