SSTI Digest

While the topic of embryonic stem cell research has been at the forefront of S&T policy since 2001, attention has shifted to the states in the last six months. Last fall, California voters overwhelmingly approved a $3 billion bond issue to support embryonic stem cell research over the next decade. This vote triggered action in a number of states concerned about the loss of researchers to California and increased activity on Capitol Hill to overturn the Presidential directive that limits the use of federal research funds to only those embryonic stem cell lines derived before Aug. 9, 2001.

Last week's Digest reported on three reports that have been issued recently raising concerns about America's standing in the world in encouraging innovation. Each of the reports suggested stronger action on the part of the public and the private sector to ensure the U.S. will remain competitive.

Since the beginning of the year, the Digest has reported through its Tech Talkin' Govs series that the states are making investments for the future. This week, we devote this edition of the Digest to a sampling of how the governors are proposing to put money up to match their rhetoric.

Victor Budnick, executive director of Connecticut Innovations, has announced his retirement effective April 1.

Gov. Jodi Rell recently announced the results of a study of the strengths and weaknesses of Connecticut’s infrastructure for innovation, technology transfer and development of new businesses. A report prepared for the Connecticut Technology Transfer and Commercialization Advisory Board of the governor's Competitiveness Council presents the results.

The report examines successful university-based technology transfer and commercialization initiatives in the U.S. and at the University of Cambridge in England. It notes five factors that could help states position their universities as centers of innovation and business growth: strong academic leadership and research capabilities, availability of early-stage capital, commitment to and support of entrepreneurship programs, and the existence of infrastructure such as innovation centers, incubators and research parks.

Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell named Marie O'Brien to oversee the Connecticut Development Authority.

Connecticut Lt. Gov. M. Jodi Rell was sworn in as the state’s 87th governor on July 1, taking over from former Gov. John Rowland, who resigned amid a federal corruption investigation and a threatened impeachment for allegedly accepting gifts from employees and state contractors. Senate President Pro Tem Kevin Sullivan was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor. Rell is a Republican, while Sullivan is a Democrat.

The winners of the Siemens Westinghouse/AAAS Competition for the Best Teen Scientists and Mathematicians of the Year were announced this week: 17-year-old Yin Li of New York City was the individual grand prize winner for his project "Characterizing the Prion Properties of a Translational Regulator Expressed in Mouse Brain." Brothers Mark and Jeffrey Scheider, 18 and 16, respectively, of South Windsor, Conn., won the grand prize in the team category for the "Simulation of the West Nile Virus using STELLA 7.02." Each award comes with a $100,000 prize. More information, including a list of all national winners, is available at: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2003/1208siemensIntro.shtml

The Connecticut Technology Council has named Matthew Nemerson as its new President and CEO, replacing Michael Theodore.

Connecticut-based bioscience research and development (R&D) investment in 2001 totaled $3.6 billion, an 18 percent increase over 2000, according to the Seventh Annual Economic Report of Connecticut United for Research Excellence (CURE), Connecticut's bioscience Cluster. 2001 Gains and Future Opportunities, released last week at Yale University, highlights several economic indicators that demonstrate the growth of the bioscience industry in Connecticut, including:

This is the fifth installment in the "Tech-talkin' Govs" series which provides highlights of programs, policies, and issues included in the Governors' addresses related to tech-based economic development. Connecticut John G. Rowland, Budget Address, February 6, 2002 http://www.state.ct.us/governor/news/budget2002.htm

They may be separated by more than 6,000 miles, but tech-based economic development initiatives in Hawaii and Connecticut have adopted similar strategies to encourage the commercialization of alternative energy technologies: they're buying them.  Using the purchasing power of the public sector to affect change has been an effective tool in the past for socio-political projects ranging from helping topple the apartheid regime in South Africa to addressing environmental goals such as providing a large enough market for recycled paper products to warrant the substantial private investment needed in pulp mill construction and refurbishment.  Combining public purse strings with the need to demonstrate commercially unproven-yet-promising technologies such as all-electric cars and fuel cells, however, is a less commonly applied strategy. Public transportation projects, such as buses run on natural gas, provide perhaps the most widely known application of the concept. 

After seven years of serving as the first president of the Connecticut Technology Council, Laura Kent is resigning her position at the end of June. The Council now boasts over 400 members.