Contributors:
Marvin Parnes, Assoc. Vice President for Research
Daryl Weinert, Executive Director, Business Engagement Center
Ken Nisbet, Executive Director of Technology Transfer
Lawrence Molnar, Director, EDA University Center Institute for Research on Labor, Employment, and the Economy (IRLEE)
February 2011 Newsletter
Q. President Obama set the clear goal of increasing R&D investments to 3 percent of GDP. How will this level of commitment enhance the great work being done at universities around the country?
A. Universities are the pipeline for innovation in America. A stable R&D budget, with appropriate increases year-to-year, is essential for universities to maintain and grow leading edge facilities and give emerging generations of scholars a place to innovate and create the new technologies that drive economic growth and competitiveness. Federal investment in R&D is the primary source of funding for the university research that generates the vast majority of inventions successfully licensed to start-ups and existing firms.
> Read more
February 2011 Newsletter
Universities Can Drive Innovation and the Economy
Special to EDA from University of North Carolina Chancellor Holden Thorp
The U.S. economy of late has been driven by a series of
bubbles. In the late 1990s, we had a technology bubble.
When it burst, it was painful. In the late 2000s, we had
a financial services and housing bubble. When that burst,
it was nearly cataclysmic, and we're still living through
its aftermath.
> Read more
February 2011 Newsletter
America COMPETES Act Helps EDA Support Clusters that Drive Business Activity and Job Growth
The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, which
President Obama recently signed into law, strengthens EDA's
capacity to elevate regional innovation cluster development
as a key driver of future jobs growth and accelerate the
commercialization of new technologies, products, processes,
and services.
> Read more
February 2011 Newsletter
In October 2009, EDA announced several important changes to its grant application and review process. These changes built upon EDA's existing reputation for superior customer service, ensuring our stakeholders that EDA's grant-making process be as efficient, transparent, and competitive as possible. Staff in EDA's Regional Offices recently completed the first round of reviews for applications submitted since the launch of the improvement initiative. We are happy to report that each Regional Office received a number of competitive and highly competitive applications for funding and informed all applicants of their status within the 20 days promised from the December 15 application deadline. Overall, EDA received 120 applications.
March 10, 2011 is the deadline for funding cycle 2.
> Read more
Submitted by EDA Chicago Regional Office
February 2011 Newsletter
EDA Funding Supports the Innovation
Economy in Illinois
Role of University Technology Park at IIT
The success of the U.S. innovation economy is rooted
in the drive of entrepreneurial individuals to create
products that serve human needs, and provide themselves
with financial rewards and the satisfaction of developing
successful enterprises in the process. Since the 1980's,
the U.S. has attempted to accelerate the innovation process
by supporting technology transfer from university research
laboratories to support innovation in the market place. However,
in the Chicagoland area, one missing element for technology
development was the availability of affordable, flexible
laboratory space for the incubation of nascent technologies.
> Read more
February 2011 Newsletter
US Labor Dept Encourages Applications for Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant Program
The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced a solicitation for grant applications under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant Program. The Labor Department will award approximately $500 million this year through the program and a total of $2 billion over the next four years.
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From U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Brian P. McGowan
February 2011 Newsletter
EDA & IEDC Launch RestoreYourEconomy.org to Support Regional Economic Recovery Efforts
McGowan led the White House National Incident Command
Economic Solutions Team, charged to help communities
and regions mitigate the impacts of the BP Oil Spill.
This initiative is part of EDA's goal to support
collaborative regional innovation to promote sustainable
job growth and strengthen communities that have suffered
disproportionate economic and job losses to become
more competitive in the global economy.
> Read more
February 2011 Newsletter
The Indiana University Business Research Center's Innovation
Index helps regions determine their capacity for innovation,
providing actionable data to guide critical public and private
investments and to formulate effective development strategies
that foster economic growth.
The IBRC provides this and other regional assessment tools as part of an EDA
funded project for assessing regional competitiveness in America.
Click here for more information.
> Read more
February 2011 Newsletter
Locals, federal official meet as University of Toledo vies for $46M solar energy grant
EXCERPT:
Wednesday, Dr. Jacobs was one of the many local officials to meet with John Fernandez,
an assistant secretary of commerce for economic development in the Obama Administration.
Mr. Fernandez, in Ohio to stump for President Obama's Tuesday night address, was
the keynote speaker Wednesday night at the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of
Governments' annual general assembly meeting at the Holiday Inn French Quarter
in Perrysburg Township.
College of Southern Idaho gets $4.4 million for new
tech center
EXCERPT:
The College of Southern Idaho received a $4.4 million federal [EDA] grant Wednesday
[January 19] to help bring a nearly $7 million technology center to Twin Falls. The
Applied Technology and Innovation Center will provide a consolidated home for
CSI's renewable energy programs.
Read
article.
> Read more
