SSTI Digest

What TBED Approaches are Successful in the Current Economy?

We're confronting almost unprecedented problems on the national, state and local levels. Technology-based economic development (TBED) can provide the leadership and long-term solutions that states, universities and communities need to ensure our future is one of prosperity rather than problems.

What TBED Approaches are Successful in the Current Economy?

We're confronting almost unprecedented problems on the national, state and local levels. Technology-based economic development (TBED) can provide the leadership and long-term solutions that states, universities and communities need to ensure our future is one of prosperity rather than problems.

On Oct 21-23, the 300+ participants from more than 40 states that may attend SSTI's annual conference will debate and identify smart approaches for promoting regional growth through science and innovation that can provide leadership into the next economy.  The proof is packed into this year's conference agenda: more than a dozen real life examples that are TBED's cutting edge survivors of a truly hard knock economy. For example:

Once again, SSTI's annual conference continues to be the most affordable professional development event of the year for the state, local, and university-based TBED community. Early registration discounts, which knock off $100 from the lowest prices already in the field, will expire Sept 29. Make the smart investment for your TBED program and your career by registering today. More information, including a registration form, is available at: http://www.ssticonference.org

The current fiscal pressures on regional technology-based economic development initiatives have been never greater than they are now. And, as the article above points out, things are going to get worse over 2010 and 2011 before they get better.

Additionally, since local communities became proactive partners with their universities, businesses, tech councils, civic organizations, and states to support economic growth through innovation, the need for local TBED never has been greater. Economists and policy wonks agree: the next economy is being built on innovation and technology.

So how will you sustain or jumpstart your regional TBED initiatives as traditional sources of funding contract?

SSTI is dedicating several sessions at our upcoming Annual Conference specifically to help answer that question for local, nonprofit, university and state TBED programs. Here are some highlights:

This week's Digest covers two new independent reports that separately assess two critical aspects to how well nations are prepared for the economic recovery: competitiveness and educational attainment. The news, obvious in our choice of headlines, may suggest the past year - actually several years - has not been kind to the United States relative to other nations. Reading the articles one will see, however, that it isn't time that is working against the U.S. but rather our progress on several indicators of preparedness for a future based on innovation, technology and entrepreneurship. The reports show other nations are succeeding in laying a more solid foundation for their future than the U.S. is preparing for itself.

At this moment, every aspect of the U.S. economy is in a period of transformation. And nearly every aspect of getting out of the current mess is related to one or more of the fundamental principles of tech- based economic development (TBED).

Offering some good news for universities and companies looking for funding, the National Science Board (NSB) has recommended the elimination of any evidence of voluntary cost share from most grant proposals to the National Science Foundation (NSF). However, the board recommended mandatory cost matching should be reinstated in a handful of initiatives, including its Engineering Research Centers (ERC) program, its Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRC) program, and its EPSCoR program.

The return of mandatory matching funds may present a mixed bag for state and university TBED policies in an era of shrinking financial resources. States that have programs in place to match federal research grants are well positioned strategically to support those opportunities that may provide the fit with the state's tech-based economic development goals. States without matching-grant mechanisms already established may need to expand their portfolio of programs if growing the research enterprise is one of their TBED priorities.

SSTI believes conference sponsors deserve to stand out to attendees so exhibits are placed prominently in a highly-visible location. Only our exhibit and host partners are provided with the opportunity to exhibit.

Sponsorship increases your credibility and relevance. Today's marketplace is about belonging and staying connected. No other event brings together the nation's top players in the TBED community. As an SSTI Conference Sponsor, you have the chance to showcase your organization with the decision makers responsible for crafting and implementing local and state-level policies and programs that directly contribute to the nation's competitiveness.

Last year's conference included more than 350 representatives from 48 states and four countries.

As a conference sponsor you gain:

The newly-created Clean Energy Leadership Council, convened by the Washington governor's office and a state-wide public-private clean energy alliance, held its first meeting. The council will deliver a clean energy strategy and recommendations by December 1, 2010.

Vicki Gaddy has been appointed director of workforce development for BioNJ.

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear shuffled two top positions in his administration. Larry Hayes will be secretary of the state Economic Development Cabinet and budget director Mary Lassiter will replace Hayes as Executive Cabinet secretary. Hayes has been interim Economic Development Cabinet secretary since last September. Lassiter will keep her position as budget director.

SSTI is pleased to provide Digest subscribers with the first peek at the 28-page, full-color brochure for SSTI's 13th Annual Conference, Seize the Moment: Tech-based economic development for the next economy while it's still on the presses. The brochure will begin arriving in mailboxes soon, but is available now as a PDF by clicking either of the links below.

SSTI is so excited about this year's conference that we're providing Digest subscribers the first peak at the 28-page, full-color brochure while its still on the presses. It will be arriving in mailboxes by the end of the week, but is available now as a PDF by clicking either of the links below or by email request.

• http://www.ssti.org/Conf09/SSTI_Seize_The_Moment2009_full_brochure.pdf
• http://www.ssticonference.org/SSTI_Seize_The_Moment2009_full_brochure.pdf

In addition, speaker bios, conference updates, and more details are available at: http://www.ssticonference.org/.

The circumstances leading 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. As you scan the conference website, you'll discover we're putting together our most complete and complex conference yet.

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 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.

Mark your calendar for Oct. 21-23 to attend SSTI's 13th annual conference Seize The Moment in Overland Park, Kansas! Past attendees know SSTI's conference is the premiere professional development event for the TBED community. And 2009 will be no exception. Back by popular demand, we will be offering an array of pre-conference workshops on Oct. 21.

The challenges facing the economy reveal the need has never been greater for universities, companies, and government working together to spark innovation and seize the opportunities presented by the current economy.