How Does TBED Make the Most Significant Difference for Our Regional Economies?

State, regional and university technology-based economic development (TBED) is at a crossroads. Many initiatives are celebrating major chronologic milestones at the same time new TBED elements – such as incubators, grant programs, research parks, and equity funds – are popping up almost daily in more and more communities and universities.
 
Still a rapidly growing field, TBED practitioners and stakeholders are asking, “Where do we go from here?” The economy is changing ­ so are the challenges facing scientists, technologists, innovators and entrepreneurs. To stay ahead, every element of a regional innovation support system must become smarter and more efficient.
 
But how? We will have answers at SSTI’s 12th Annual Conference this fall. Our most complete conference yet, the premiere professional development experience for the community of organizations promoting innovation and entrepreneurship keeps getting better! Just look:

• Four future-looking special sessions focused on the key TBED partners: industry, universities, service providers and government. We’ll use instant polling and discussion with leaders in each area to explore how TBED can address the challenges and opportunities facing the nation’s innovation system.
• An engaging and timely agenda of breakout sessions set by our members – your peers!
• Best Practices Galore! With the second anual Excellence in TBED Awards and a new TBED Hall of Success profiling economic and social impacts resulting from state, regional and university initiatives.
• A diverse offering of networking opportunities with more than 300 of your peers from across the country – two great receptions, optional dine-around dinner groups, morning exercise in Hatha yoga, walking and running, and even a large Wii Room and bar!
• Four pre-conference workshops to delve deeper into improving key TBED practices.
• A new team registration program that allows SSTI members to send multiple staff at great discounts. Join today to take advantage of this offer, as well as to showcase your program’s accomplishments in the TBED Hall of Success.

All of the excitement takes place Oct. 14-16, 2008, at the InterContinental Hotel and Conference Center Cleveland, situated on the campus of the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
 
Few states can match the sustained commitment to technology-based economic development Ohio has, making the Buckeye State the perfect backdrop for SSTI’s 12th Annual Conference. We can go a step further and say Northeast Ohio’s continuing collaborative inventiveness and success capitalizing on its industrial capacity and knowledge assets lent us the theme for this year’s premiere event for TBED community, Encouraging Regional Innovation. For more than 25 years, Ohio has been leveraging its technology strengths to grow and increase future economic opportunities. Innovative policies and programs at the state and local levels have spurred research, development and commercialization activities, as well as business and job growth and creation.
 
More information, including a registration form, is available at http://www.ssticonference.org/.