SSTI Digest

As the nation's economy shifts to knowledge- and technology-based industries, Mississippi's colleges and universities must provide expertise and leadership to attract new jobs and build a stable state economy, members of a special committee told the state House of Representatives last week. The state must quickly commit substantial resources to higher education to achieve the goal of making Mississippi competitive in the New Economy, the chairs of the McCoy Working Group said. The group – organized by state Reps. Billy McCoy, Steve Holland and Charles Young – was created by the Mississippi Legislature last spring to develop a 20-year strategy for investment in higher education. The group is co-chaired by University of Mississippi Chancellor Robert Khayat, Commissioner of Agriculture Lester Spell and Hinds Community College President Clyde Muse. To spur economic development, the group outlines 17 recommendations across three broad areas ­ individuals, ideas and infrastructure. Technology-based industries rely on a dependable, flexible infrastructure for support, the group argues. Moreover, the…

In SSTI's final look at the 2004 State of the State and Budget addresses, the importance of building tech-based economies continues to be emphasized by governors across the country. Below are excerpts from speeches given in Alabama, Maryland, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, State of the State Address, Feb. 3, 2004 "Recently President Bush announced his plan to send Americans back to the moon and then on to Mars. We must unite as a state to ensure that Alabama is the first stop on that journey. Tonight I am proud to announce the Alabama Space Exploration Initiative which will create a partnership between state government, Marshall Space Center, our colleges and research universities, and industry to strengthen our capabilities in support of our nation’s new space policy. By working together we will continue to expand the economic potential of the space industry in Alabama." Maryland Gov. Robert Erlich, State of the State Address, Jan. 29, 2004 [not available online] "...we must help our State achieve…

National Science Foundation (NSF) Director Rita Colwell has announced her retirement from the foundation, effective Feb. 21, 2004. Dr. Colwell took office at NSF in August of 1998. With five-and-a-half years as NSF's leader, Dr. Colwell is the third longest-serving director in the Foundation's 54-year history. Dr. Colwell will assume the position of Chairman of Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc., a newly created, Washington-based subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc. that serves to identify and develop life science solutions with potential applications in diagnostics and medical instrumentation. A microbiologist and internationally recognized expert on cholera and other infectious diseases, Dr. Colwell also will serve as Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland, College Park, and on the faculty of The John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. At Johns Hopkins, she will help develop a new international center for the study of infectious diseases, water and health in conjunction with scientific colleagues from Sweden, Norway, Japan and Bangladesh. The White House has…

Ohio State University has appointed Vicki Butland to serve as interim president and chief executive officer for the Science and Technology Campus Corp. Eric Cromwell has been appointed to serve as Director of Technology for the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development. After 11 years as president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), Carl Feldman has announced he will resign at the end of the year. Robert Geolas, director of the Centennial Campus at North Carolina State, is resigning to become director of the new International Center for Automotive Research at the Clemson University. Victor Hwang has been promoted to the position of president at Larta. With Randall Olson's resignation, Pat Dillon has become the executive director for Minnesota Project Innovation. BioCrossroads, the Central Indiana life sciences network, announced Chuck Schalliol is the organization's new chief executive officer and president. William Tew has resigned as director of the Office of Licensing and Technology Development…

Ohio State University has appointed Vicki Butland to serve as interim president and chief executive officer for the Science and Technology Campus Corp.

Eric Cromwell has been appointed to serve as Director of Technology for the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development.

After 11 years as president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), Carl Feldman has announced he will resign at the end of the year.

Robert Geolas, director of the Centennial Campus at North Carolina State, is resigning to become director of the new International Center for Automotive Research at the Clemson University.

Victor Hwang has been promoted to the position of president at Larta.

With Randall Olson's resignation, Pat Dillon has become the executive director for Minnesota Project Innovation.

BioCrossroads, the Central Indiana life sciences network, announced Chuck Schalliol is the organization's new chief executive officer and president.

William Tew has resigned as director of the Office of Licensing and Technology Development for Johns Hopkins University.