Over the last three years, 87 percent of companies have grown their product portfolio through incremental innovations, according to an Ernst & Young report — Competing for Growth Approximately 75 percent of new products developed are intended for consumers in the established markets of the developed world. Respondents, however, envision the new global shifting its focus away from these established markets towards the emerging markets. Seventy percent of respondents indicated that their companies are becoming more global due to the recession.

"Productivity growth is below the average rate of growth that has historically been recorded 39 months after a business cycle started," according to Growing Concerns About Future U.S. Competitiveness — a policy brief by the Center for American Progress. In this report, researchers examined several short-term economic trends (e.g., business investments and innovation) that help to stimulate long-term competitiveness.

U.S. average venture capital deal size rose by 6.7 percent in 2010, after having fallen to its lowest point in a decade in 2009. While California leads in average deal size, Iowa has run a close second over the past five years. Iowa, Minnesota and Nevada are all among the middle ranks of states in terms of overall venture activity, but rank near the top in average deal size. These states depend on larger deals to sustain their competitiveness in capital access. Illinois, Colorado and Pennsylvania all ranked in the top 10 for venture activity in 2010, but have lower than average deal sizes.

Included below are recent development plans and groundbreaking news for research parks announced by officials in Connecticut, Colorado, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.

Hoping to capitalize on Tennessee's "entrepreneurial spirit," Gov. Bill Haslam today announced today a $50 million innovation strategy as part of his regional jobs plan outlined last month. Named INCITE for its focus on innovation, commercialization, investment, technology and entrepreneurship, the initiative encompasses four components, including:

In support of Gov. Martin O'Malley's Bio 2020 Initiative, lawmakers increased funding for stem cell research and provided $8 million in tax credits for biotechnology investments in the FY12 budget approved last month. Lawmakers also passed a bill providing a two-year eligibility extension for companies using the biotech tax credit and allocated $2.4 million to fund nanobiotechnology projects.

Estimated FY16 funding levels are used for comparisons unless otherwise noted.

Enacted FY16 funding levels are used for comparisons unless otherwise noted.

Enacted FY16 funding is used for comparisons unless otherwise noted.

Enacted FY16 funding is used for comparisons unless otherwise noted.

Enacted FY16 funding is used for comparisons unless otherwise noted.

Enacted FY16 funding is used for comparisons unless otherwise noted.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) would receive $29 billion in FY17 discretionary funding under the president’s budget request, a 1 percent increase.

Enacted FY16 funding levels are used for comparisons unless otherwise noted.

Enacted FY16 funding levels are used for comparisons unless otherwise noted.

Enacted FY16 funding is used for the Department of Transportation comparisons, unless otherwise noted.
The president’s FY17 budget request for the Department of Transportation (DOT) totals $98.1 billion (35.5 percent increase), including a vision to build a clean transportation system for the 21st century. Notable investments in research and development from the Department of Transportation include:

Enacted FY16 funding is used for comparisons unless otherwise noted.

Estimated FY16 funding is used for comparisons unless otherwise noted.
The president’s FY17 budget request for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is $48.9 billion, a 4 percent increase. Priority funding items within HUD include rental housing assistance, ending homelessness, supporting tribal communities, and improving mobility for low-income families.

The president’s FY17 budget proposal includes requests for four regional commissions, which work to develop the economies of economically distressed regions. 

Enacted FY16 funding levels are used for comparisons unless otherwise noted.

FY16 enacted funding is used for NASA comparisons, unless otherwise noted.
Under the president’s FY17 budget request, NASA would receive $19 billion (1.6 percent decrease). For a number of programs, FY16 comparisons are unavailable because NASA’s FY16 operation plan has not been finalized. Priority items in the NASA budget include the development of technologies that make future space programs more affordable and capable, continued support for the Webb Telescope, and developments to catalyze growth in the American commercial space industry.

Enacted FY16 funding is used for comparisons unless otherwise noted.
The president’s FY17 budget proposal would provide $12.8 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Labor (DOL), a 4.9 percent increase from FY16. Priority items supported in the budget are apprenticeships, career navigation tools, and additional reforms recommended in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

Estimated FY16 funding levels are used for NSF comparisons, unless otherwise noted.

Enacted FY16 funding is used for comparisons, unless otherwise noted.
The president’s FY17 proposed budget would allocate $69.4 billion in discretionary funding (1.6 percent increase) for the Department of Education. Priority areas addressed in the budget proposal include increasing equity and excellence in education, providing additional support for teachers and school leaders, and expanding access, affordability, and completion in higher education.  

Enacted FY16 funding levels are used for comparisons unless otherwise noted.