Why join?
Doing this work in our individual organizations, regions, and states, we can sometimes feel like we're the only ones doing what we do. SSTI recognizes that it is even hard to explain your work to friends and family. What is a tech-based economic development practitioner? An ecosystem builder? A commercialization professional?
So, we've created a place to fix that. Come home to SSTI, people who understand your work.
As an SSTI member, you'll be among people who understand what it means to be working toward creating a better future through science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. People who know your jargon. People who have experienced the same challenges in their own regions that you face.
As you interact with fellow members, you can skip the awkward part of many conversations when you must explain why your job even exists and instead just dive into sharing your work, your challenges, your knowledge.
We have members working on capital access, entrepreneurship support, STEM talent, tech transfer, inclusive innovation, incubators and tech parks, higher education R&D, regional innovation ecosystems, state policy, and much more. (Doesn't it feel good to know you'll be rubbing shoulders with people who know what all those things are?)
Enter your professional home by joining your peers as an SSTI member.
Join or renew today!
To ask questions about SSTI membership, or to request an invoice, contact SSTI at membership [@] ssti.org.
Membership Benefits Overview
The following table provides an overview of the most popular benefits of SSTI membership by member level.
| Membership Highlights | State (Budget $1M or more) |
Sustaining & State (Budget under $1M) |
Affiliate & Supporter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customized Technical Assistance Hours | 25 | 10 | 0 |
| Funding Supplement Subscriptions | Unlimited | Unlimited | 12 |
| Invitation to SSTI Senior Leadership Forum | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| Webinar Discounts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Access to Members-only Research | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Unlimited Free Position & RFP Postings | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Listed on SSTI Website | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Access to SSTI listserv | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Annual dues for the organization | $5,000 | $2,000 | $750 |
Membership Benefits Descriptions
Customized Technical Assistance—Customized technical assistance on research/analysis, strategic planning/peer review, advocacy/education projects. State and Sustaining members only.
Funding Supplement Subscriptions—The Funding Supplement is a member-only electronic publication that provides readers with application information, eligibility criteria, and submission deadlines for hundreds of funding opportunities offered by the federal government, foundations, and others.
Invitation to SSTI Senior Leadership Forum—One member of your executive team will be invited to participate in this exclusive meeting, which is capped at 35-40 attendees. Members set the agenda for a day-and-a-half of freewheeling discussion and presentations from key federal officials.
Webinar Discounts—Members receive exclusive rates for SSTI webinars.
Access to Members-only Research—Gain access to reports and issue briefs SSTI has prepared to answer member questions.
Member Listserv—1990s old school, but still one of the best ways to pose questions to your peers and tap into their wisdom.
Unlimited Position & RFP Postings—SSTI members can place an unlimited number of position openings or RFP (and RFQ, FRI, etc.) on SSTI's Job Corner, and each posting will also appear in the SSTI Digest.
Listed on SSTI Website—Acknowledgement of membership status on the SSTI website and in publications that include a list of members.
SSTI Digest—SSTI's twice-monthly electronic newsletter provides readers with valuable, timely information on critical issues affecting the tech-based economic development community. Available to SSTI members as well as the public. Subscribe Today!
Join SSTI today! Together, we can have the most significant impact on developing policies and administering programs that enhance our community.
Membership Categories
Membership is for your entire organization and is based on a 12-month rolling cycle (Due to the nature of membership, there are no cancellations or refunds).
State Member, $5,000—Open to state technology-based economic development programs with annual budgets in excess of $1 million.
State Member, $2,000—Open to state technology-based economic development programs with annual budgets below $1 million.
Sustaining Member, $2,000—Open to affiliate organizations that would like to receive additional benefits, exclusive invitations to networking events, and personalized technical assistance hours.
Affiliate Member, $750—Open to local and regional tech-based economic development programs, universities, venture development organizations, trade associations, publicly-funded seed and venture funds, tech councils, incubators, manufacturing extension centers, innovation districts, research parks, and other non-profit groups working to create a better future through science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Supporter Benefits, $750—Eligibility may be restricted at SSTI's discretion. Open to for-profit and consulting organizations, retired persons or individuals who are employed outside of the tech-based economic development field, and all other groups interested in tech-based economic development. This category is also open to individuals who are not employed or actively involved with a technology-based organization and want to stay involved with SSTI. (If the individual's status changes, the individual must transfer the membership to the appropriate organizational membership and category.)
Other Ways to Get Involved
In addition to (or instead of) joining SSTI as a member, organizations can become engaged in the SSTI community through any of the following events, resources, and services. For paid activities, email contactus [@] ssti.org for combined or discounted invoicing.
SSTI's Annual Conference—Each year, SSTI hosts an event with people who are shaping the nation’s innovation ecosystems to focus on best practices and current issues affecting the community. Organizations can participate as attendees or sponsors, if they wish to gain exposure with this core audience of national policymakers and practitioners. Learn more here.
Innovation Advocacy Council—The SSTI community's voice in Washington, D.C., for issues related to science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. Organizations can sponsor or participate in Capitol Hill events and sign onto letters of support. Click here for more information.
SSTI Inspiring Thought Webinars—SSTI hosts Inspiring Thought webinars focused on topics of current importance to the innovation community. Click here for upcoming webinars.
SSTI Digest—SSTI's twice-monthly electronic newsletter provides readers with valuable, timely information on critical issues affecting the innovation community. Subscribe Today!