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Blog Entries from February 2011

Q&A with University of Michigan

University of Michigan logo 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.

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Feature Article

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.

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Policy Corner


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.

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Process Improvement Update


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.

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Highlight

Photo of inside of ITT Building 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.

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Federal Funding Opportunity

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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Spotlight

RestoreYourEconomy.org logo 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.

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EDA-funded Indiana University Innovation Index Releases 2011 Results


Indiana University logo 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.

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Extra Extra

Toledo Blade logo 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.

Magic Valley News logo 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.

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