SSTI Digest

With a large land mass and a population surpassing the 21 least populated states and the District of Columbia combined, California has scores of public programs and nonprofit organizations dedicated to encouraging technology-based economic development on the state, regional, local and sub-local levels. Best practices in the field, then, could have applications in a number of other states and communities.

Alaska

The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is better equipped to study technologies and barriers to developing energy resources in Alaska, thanks to a cooperative agreement with the University of Alaska. A story in Inside Energy reported that NETL recently established its fourth office in the U.S. in Fairbanks, helping to fulfill a Department of Energy (DOE) venture begun in FY 2000. In 2001, DOE awarded a $24-million grant to the university to operate the new Arctic Energy Technology Development Laboratory. A total of $30 million is expected to be awarded by September toward the effort.



California

With technology's pervasiveness and important role in most aspects of the policy agenda before Congress, the need for accurate, nonpartisan information on technology may never have been greater. Two approaches to meeting the need were the topic of Technology Assessment: Identifying the Needs of Congress, a recent forum co-hosted by ASME International and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).



The forum provided an opportunity for an exchange of information on technology assessment legislation currently proposed in the House and Senate. Forum speakers included Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ); Jonathan Epstein, Congressional Fellow, Senator Jeff Bingaman's (D-NM) office; and, Amy Fraenkel, Counsel, U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Attendees included representatives from various scientific, engineering and technology organizations.

Industrial R&D intensity, or measuring industrial research and development expenditures as a proportion of Gross State Product, is just one method to standardize the data for comparison across states (see the April 12, 2002 edition of the SSTI Weekly Digest). Reviewing a state's expenditures on the basis of its population is another technique.



SSTI has prepared a table presenting industrial R&D per capita values and rankings for 1997-1999 for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The table reveals different results in rankings than industrial R&D intensity for many states. The top five states for industrial per capita in 1999 were Michigan, Delaware, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Washington.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has named Heath Copp as the Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Mr. Copp, 24, is a resident of Grand Forks, North Dakota.



Gary Neil Drummond has been elected chairmain of the board for the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama.



Joseph Hammang is leaving his position as director of science and technology at the Rhode Island Economic Policy Council to join the pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer, Inc.



John S. Maxson has been named as the new president of The Illinois Coalition. Mr. Maxson fills the position vacated by Shaye Mandle earlier this spring.



The Illinois Innovation Initiative has named Jerry Mitchell to serve as commercialization manager. Mr. Mitchell is also president of the Midwest Entrepreneurs Forum.



Sacramento's economic development director, Andy Plescia, is moving on to become a private development consultant.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has named Heath Copp as the Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Mr. Copp, 24, is a resident of Grand Forks, North Dakota.