SSTI Digest

North Carolina is a nationally-recognized center for basic research due to its sustained investment in higher education and TBED-related projects. Many in the state believe, however, that North Carolina is not translating as much of that research throughout its innovation economy as it should be. Advancing Innovation in North Carolina, a new report from the North Carolina Board of Science and Technology, argues that in order to have a truly prosperous high-tech economy, North Carolina will have to increase the adoption of new technologies throughout rural regions of the state and improve its performance in areas not related to its higher education system, including the availability of capital and percentage of R&D workers as a share of the workforce. North Carolina faces several challenges in creating a rich innovation ecosystem according to the report. The first is a relatively low overall investment in research and development. In 2004, North Carolina ranked 23rd in R&D investment as a share of gross state product. The state's innovation economy is also heavily dependent on just a few innovative geographic clusters for development. The rate of successful…

North Carolina's $1.2 billion dollar investment in bioscience over the past decade has helped to build a $45 billion dollar a year industry in the state, according to a new study released by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. The report finds that North Carolina's bioscience employment numbers have grown 18.5 percent since 2001, the fastest in the nation. Much of this growth has been fueled by increased activity in research, testing and medical labs and in the agricultural feedstock and chemicals subsector.  North Carolina is now home to more than 500 bioscience companies employing over 54,000 people. The report estimates that this sector generates an additional 127,000 jobs outside the industry, and more than $9.4 billion in wages and salaries. Biotechnology companies also are responsible for $1.44 billion in state and local taxes each year. Between 1999 and 2008, North Carolina funded a multitude of biotechnology initiatives to help stimulate the growth of the sector. This funding includes: $857 million in research and facilities including the NC Research Campus in Kannapolis and UNC Cancer Research; $135 million in workforce training…

Eleven gubernatorial elections were held across the U.S. on Tuesday, resulting in the selection of three new governors - with TBED initiatives spread throughout their campaigns' messages. Only one of the races resulted in a change of party affiliation in the top state position, Missouri, where Democrat Jay Nixon defeated Republican Congressman Kenny Hulshof after current-Governor Matt Blunt declared he would not seek another term. Democrats now hold twenty-nine governorships, expanding on their significant gains in 2006. Governors retaining their seats include John Hoeven (R-ND), Christine Gregoire (D-WA), Brian Schweitzer (D-MT), Jon Huntsman (R-UT), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Mitch Daniels (R-IN), John Lynch (D-NH), and Jim Douglas (R-VT). Several of the governors-elect made economic development and TBED a part of their platforms throughout their candidacy. Here is a sampling of policies and programs announced by some of the governors-elect on their official websites as collected by SSTI: Delaware State Treasurer Jack Markell (D) notes in his economic development plan that he became Nextel's 13th employee in 1989, in addition to being a colleague of…

Southern Growth hired Ted Abernathy, Jr., former Executive Vice President & COO of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, to serve as its Executive Director, filling the vacancy created by Jim Clinton's resignation in September. The Minnesota Center for Engineering & Manufacturing Excellence has hired Ronald Bennett as executive director. The City of Virginia Beach Economic Development Department has hired Scott Hall to fill their newly created position of Business Development Coordinator. Marquette University has named Keith Osterhage as executive director for its office of research and sponsored programs. Mary Jo Waits is the new Director for NGA Center for Best Practices' Social, Economic & Workforce Programs Division within the National Governors Association. Dennis Yablonsky, secretary of the Pennsylvania Dept. of Community & Economic Development resigned effective Oct. 23. New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine named Jerold Zaro as Chief of the Governor's Office of Economic Growth. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm has reorganized the Department of Labor and Economic Growth and changed the department's name…

Technology-focused incubators are an important component to fostering entrepreneurial development in a region by nurturing businesses in the earliest stages of development and helping them grow into larger companies that employ high-wage workers and bring new technologies to the market. The following select announcements provide an overview of new incubators from across the nation, illustrating the vital role of entrepreneurial development in growing high-tech regional economies. Ann Arbor Spark announced last month a new location for its proposed business incubator in downtown Ypsilanti, reports the Ann Arbor News. The 8,500-square-foot incubator, which is expected to open in December, will provide space for 10 start-up technology companies for two years, the article states. Battle Creek Unlimited announced in August they are developing a virtual incubator as a Web 2.0 network to match high-tech start-up companies with universities and public entities. With partial funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the virtual incubator will offer services including quick access to resources, business progress monitoring, and the ability…

California California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a bill authorizing community service districts to provide high-speed Internet services in areas in which no private company has done so. The districts, which provide basic infrastructure such as water, sewer and police services, will help extend broadband access into rural areas of the state that remain underserved. The bill reflects the recommendations of the California Broadband Task Force, which was created in 2006 by Gov. Schwarzenegger and presented its findings in January (see the Dec. 4, 2006 issue of the Digest). This action comes on the heels of a new report from the Public Policy Institute of California and the California Emerging Technology Fund, which finds that the digital divide in the state is growing between key demographics. Rural residents are marginally less likely to have access to a high-speed connection than urban dwellers, but some groups in both urban and rural areas are less likely to have access. Less than half of Hispanics in the state have home computers and only about a third have access to a broadband connection. About two-thirds of white, black and Asian residents have at-…

North Carolina legislators approved last week the fiscal year 2008-09 budget adjustment, providing additional funds for several TBED initiatives within the higher education system. Earlier this year, Gov. Mike Easley unveiled recommendations to use surplus funds to expand university projects aimed at supporting TBED (see the May 14, 2008 issue of the Digest).   Additional operating funds within the University of North Carolina (UNC) System appropriated in the budget agreement include: $3 million for the new Joint Graduate School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering at North Carolina A&T and UNC-Greensboro Millennium Campus; $2 million for the bioengineering program at the North Carolina State University College of Engineering; and, $1.5 million to fund new tuition waivers aimed at recruiting and retaining top tier graduate students in mathematics and science. The approved budget also provides additional funds to continue university programs initiated over the last two fiscal years, including $3 million for the Faculty Recruiting and Retention Fund and $1 million for the Research Competitiveness Fund. The latter invests in research projects…

The Aerospace, Manufacturing and Information Technology (AMIT) Cluster of Southern Arizona has consolidated its operations with the Arizona Technology Council. Automation Alley was one of 19 organizations chosen to receive 'E' and 'E-Star' Awards, given by the president to recognize American export excellence. The nonprofit Automation Alley, an SSTI affiliate, supports Southeast Michigan's economy through a collaborative culture that focuses on workforce and business development. Raymar Dizon has resigned from the Maryland Venture Fund to become director of technology transfer at Mitre Corp. Jim Hayes, the president of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, passed away on June 6 after a long illness. Hayes was considered one of the state's top experts on economic development. James Ryan was named the first dean of the newly formed Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering being run by North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The National Science Foundation has selected Edward Seidel as the director of its Office of Cyberinfrastructure. Tom Walker…

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) recently announced Ben Franklin Technology Partners (BFTP) as the winner of the "Excellence in Technology-led Economic Development" award, as part of EDA's Excellence in Economic Development Awards 2008. BFTP, created in 1983, has regional offices in Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and State College. Janet Harrah was named the director of a new center being started at Northern Kentucky University that is similar to Wichita State University's Center for Economic Development and Business Research, where Harrah will remain director until July 25. Peter Hermann resigned as president of the North Carolina Technology Association. Robert McGrath, currently senior vice president for research at Ohio State University, will help lead global laboratory operations at Battelle, starting in August 2008. No official title has been developed for McGrath's new position, which will emphasize development in energy policy and sources of renewable energy. J.D. Stack was selected to replace Oleg Kaganovich as chief executive of the Sacramento Area Regional Technology…

Operating with a $152 million surplus for the current fiscal year, Gov. Mike Easley unveiled his recommended budget adjustments for FY 2008-09 earlier this week, providing additional funding for university projects and expanding TBED initiatives. North Carolina is one of a shrinking number of states to still project black ink for its next fiscal year.   Lawmakers approved the FY 2007-09 biennial budget last July, allocating $20.7 billion each fiscal year and making appropriations for fiscal year 2008 (see the Aug. 1, 2007 issue of the Digest). The proposed $21.5 billion budget for FY 2008-09 includes reductions, expansions and adjustments among state agencies, reflecting $396 million in general fund budget cuts and tax increases for alcohol and cigarettes. Appropriations recommended by the governor for the Department of Commerce include: $5 million in additional funding for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) matching program ($200,000 increase over last fiscal year); $4 million for the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, including $2.5 million to help expand its existing building and $1.5…

John Austin is the newly appointed executive director of the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan. Tom Cech announced he will return to the University of Colorado at Boulder next year to pursue laboratory research and teaching after eight years as president of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Sarah Djamshidi was selected as executive director of the Chesapeake Innovation Center. John Hardin was named the acting executive director for the North Carolina Board of Science and Technology. Wayne Hicks announced he is stepping down as the president and CEO of the Cincinnati Business Incubator to focus on other interests, including his work as executive director of the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation. Paul Wooley will serve as R&D director for Via Christi's Orthopedic Research Institute and a faculty member in engineering and biology at Wichita State University.

The Beaver County (Pa.) CO-OP announced it will change its name to StartingGate. The incubator will continue to assist entrepreneurs and new business start-ups and help expand existing businesses. Joe Dedman was chosen as the first executive director of the Southeast Indiana WIRED. Brian DuBoff was named the director of Maryland's southern region Small Business Development Center, which is hosted by the College of Southern Maryland. Barbara Goodman has joined the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization as its executive director. Mark Long has stepped down as the CEO of the Indiana University Research and Technology Corp. Robert McMahan Jr., the North Carolina governor's senior adviser for science and technology and executive director of the North Carolina Board of Science and Technology, has left those posts to become dean of Western Carolina University's Kimmel School of Construction Management and Technology. The Oklahoma Bioscience Association announced its launch. Tracey van Niekerk has been selected as the new life sciences coordinator for the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County, Indiana. Van…