Tuesday, September 14

Optional Preconference Sessions

Introduction to Tech-based Economic Development

Gaining a good understanding of tech-based economic development (TBED) — the approaches, vital elements, effective strategies, successful programs, proven policies, and important lessons learned from failures — will make your efforts in the field more rewarding.

This workshop is tailored to those new to tech-based economic development. Attendance is always limited to a small group to ensure each participant benefits from the personalized session — walking away with a firm foundation for SSTI's full conference and for their TBED responsibilities back home.

In a format that is engaging, educational and enjoyable, you will discover proven programs and policies for creating technology companies, financing high-tech firms, commercializing technology, and developing productive university-industry partnerships. Attend the session to find out what your peers and colleagues in successful communities and states are doing to build tech-based economies.

If you're new to the field, there is no better way to prepare for the caliber of discussion and content at SSTI's 14th Annual Conference than to attend this workshop examining the fundamental elements of successful tech-based economic development.

Presented by:

• Dan Berglund, President & CEO, SSTI
• Marsha Schachtel, Senior Fellow, Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies

Power Roundtable: Insider Advice

A new type of event, the Power Roundtable is equal parts best tips of the trade, informational interviews, and speed dating.

We'll start with nationally recognized experts in six critical areas for TBED providing a rapid-fire roundtable of their top four insider tips for success — so you are guaranteed to leave with two dozen ways of the most important lessons for better TBED practice. But then things really start hopping!

Each of the experts will move to private tables, giving practitioners a chance — in comfortable, informal settings — to ask their own questions directly to gain insider perspective. Pre-event surveys of registrants' most pressing interests will help set the clock for how long you may spend with each expert — times likely will vary. At points in the session, you may find yourself in a small group, having an insightful discussion with other TBED practitioners. At other points, you may be one-on-one with the expert, asking candid questions in a setting where you don't need to worry about others.

The Power Roundtable gives you direct access from people who know the answers you need to improve your TBED practice!

Moderator:

• Bob Starzynski, Director, Innovation Adoption Grant Fund, Innovation Works, Inc., a program that helps established manufacturers with research and development needs.

The TBED categories and the experts:

• Attracting Talent to Your Companies and Region — How do you incentivize best-in-class C-level executives to relocate to your region and join your startups? What are crucial HR errors every entrepreneur should avoid when growing his company? How do you transition the founder out of the CEO position? What items should be in place to ensure a smooth ride for the company, from due diligence to exit?
• Kathy Mitchell, Human Resources Strategist, Innovation Works, who has helped place more than 70 key hires into Pittsburgh-region startups and the former head of HR with high-growth startups and Fortune 50 companies.
• Communicating Success, Marketing TBED Initiatives — What are the most effective communications messages for various stakeholder groups (entrepreneurs, elected officials and investors)? What new forms of social media can reach targeted entrepreneurial audiences? What are the most effective ways to quantify your organization's impact?
• Cathy Belk, Chief Marketing Officer, JumpStart, Inc., a veteran of both consumer marketing and private industry business management.
• Terri Glueck, Director of Community Development and Communications, Innovation Works, Inc., a seasoned TBED practitioner for more than 15 years.
• Leveraging Technology Assets Outside Major Metro Areas — How do I identify and leverage the technology assets outside of a major metropolitan area? Are there funding sources to tap that specifically target development away from metropolitan areas? What are realistic but successful impact metrics for initiatives in small towns? How can I get some easy wins to promote with key stakeholders?
• Steve Brawley, President and CEO, Ben Franklin Technology Center for Central and Northern PA, a TBED leader serving 32-rural counties in Central Pennsylvania.
• Building and Sustaining Relationships with Foundations — What resonates with this important funding source? What should you absolutely avoid saying in a grant application? How important is sustainability of a TBED program?
• Chris Gabriel, Member of the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, is a nationally recognized TBED leader who most recently headed the Innovation Economy group at the Heinz Endowments and has served in senior leadership positions both in academia (as Vice Provost and Chief Technology Officer at Carnegie Mellon University) and in federal research (as Deputy Head of the Engineering Directorate at the National Science Foundation)
• Maximizing Return, Securing Follow-on Funding for Your Portfolio Companies — How do you get nationally known investors to visit with your portfolio companies? How do you maximize returns while also serving your nonprofit mission? What are some strategies to catalyze increased angel investment in your region?
• Matt Harbaugh, Chief Investment Officer, Innovation Works, Inc., a TBED that has attracted nearly $1 billion in follow-on funding to its portfolio over the last decade.
• Collaborating with Universities/Federal Labs for Research and Commercialization — How can I leverage industry experts earlier in the commercialization process? What is and is not negotiable in licensing technology? Which best-practice model is most applicable to my situation? What does a technology transfer group most want from a TBED partner?
• Chuck Brandt, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, The Technology Collaborative, which distributes upwards of $3 million of early-stage technology development awards annually.

The Energy Imperative: Maximizing Green TBED Opportunities

Alternative Fuel Sources. Renewable Energy Standards. Oil Spills. Cap and Trade. Issues surrounding energy — its source, efficiency, conservation, recovery — permeate every aspect of our lives in both explicit and subtle ways.

The federal government is investing billions of dollars into clean energy R&D, technology deployment and smart grid technologies, and is likely to continue doing so in the coming years given the urgent need to change fundamental elements of the energy backbone of our economy. Where is this money going? What are the research and technology development opportunities presented by this shift in priorities and investment?

Smart manufacturers are examining energy issues at every step of their production process and supply chain. Startups and research labs are creating innovative energy-related technologies every day that have the potential to transform virtually every sector or product market. What are the resources available to help them? What needs remain unmet? How should your state or region adapt its TBED strategy to take advantage of these opportunities?

As change is inevitable, the possibilities abound - and so do the perils for those who do nothing to prepare. Make sure that your region has the right mix of green, clean policies and programs to ensure that you aren't left behind by the economic boom ahead.

This engaging half-day workshop will provide:

• Up-to-date information on what is happening in federal agencies like the Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Science Foundation. We'll examine the new research priorities, the energy hub programs such as ERIC, planned initiatives, and opportunities for state and regional TBED organizations to get involved.
• Specific examples of how leading states and regions already are injecting energy into their TBED strategies, and developing programs and policies to capitalize on emerging clean, green opportunities.
• Tools and tips for how to accelerate energy technology commercialization and partner with federal energy labs for everything from R&D, to tech transfer, pilot production and commercial success.
• An open discussion among presenters and participants aimed at identifying specific action items for your TBED strategy to exploit and for SSTI and the federal labs to explore to improve your abilities to maximize the opportunities presented in the energy imperative.

Presenters include:

• David Koegel, U.S. Department of Energy
• Brendan Miller, Director of the Office of Science and Technology and Green Economy Manager, New Mexico Economic Development Departmen
• Rich Overmoyer, CEO, Fourth Economy Consulting
• Belinda Padilla, Chair, State and Local Government Committee, Federal Laboratory Consortium
• Simon Tripp, Technology Partnership Practice, Battelle

Opening Plenary

A New Partnership, A New EDA

The Economic Development Administration leads the federal economic development agenda and is one of the nation's most important agencies for supporting state and regional tech-based economic development initiatives. Until recently, that support hasn't always been easy to obtain as the agency was mired in 45-year old policies and layers of inefficient bureaucracy. The difference two years and strong leadership can make!

The transformation underway at the EDA is positioning the agency to be a proactive and responsive partner with state, regional and university strategies to encourage and sustain innovation and TBED.

Need proof that positive change is underway? The completely revamped competitive grant process starting this fall is expected to cut the decision time for applications from the historic 290+ day average to less than 30 days — a 90% reduction in learning a project's fate. And that's just one example.

It takes dynamic, visionary and pragmatic leadership to accomplish such a turnaround so quickly, and SSTI is excited to welcome one of the people most instrumental in carrying through the Obama Administration's commitment to shift more of the federal economic development support structure toward regional innovation and high-growth opportunities. In his address, Deputy Assistant Secretary Brian McGowan will unfold EDA's map for a new federal-regional partnership for innovation, share with us more of the critical changes the Obama Administration is making to drive federal economic development investments toward innovation and technology, and describe the exciting road ahead.

Following his remarks, Deputy Assistant Secretary Brian McGowan will join conference participants in an open discussion about the opportunities for a closer, more engaged partnership with state, local and university policymakers and TBED practitioners.

A perfect way to get your conference experience started on the right course!

Keynote Address
Brian P. McGowan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development and Chief Operating Officer, Economic Development Administration

Tuesday Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Developing An Innovation Strategy: The Inside Story

Combine a changing economy with the need to create economic growth amid political transition, and now is the best time to develop an innovation strategy. Led by two practitioners who have developed multiple economic development strategies over the years, this session will provide you with the inside story on what's needed to put together an effective strategy. We'll look at everything from data to characterize your economy, building support for recommendations, and setting a system for implementation of the strategy.

Presenters:

• Deborah Cummings, Assistant Director, Technology and Innovation Division, Ohio Department of Development
• Catherine Renault, Director, Office of Innovation, Maine Department of Economic and Community Development

Sustaining Entrepreneur-in-Residence & Mentoring Programs

Experienced and serial entrepreneurs can be a powerful resource in helping new businesses to thrive. These professionals offer unique insight about how to succeed within the realities of a particular region. In this session, we will talk to practitioners about challenges of developing and maintaining a roster of experienced entrepreneurs to assist the next generation of high-tech startups.

Presenters include:

• James Jordan, Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse
• Leslie Smith, General Manager, TechTown

Moderator:

• Phillip Battle, Policy Analyst, SSTI

Straight Talk: Early Stage Capital, the Great Recession, and What's Next

This recession has been like no other ever experienced by the nation's equity capital market. What is emerging from the ashes is an equity investment industry still in a state of flux — and financial regulatory reform is likely to change the field yet again. There is a lot of noise in the industry right now, but one thing is certain: local sources of seed and early stage capital — both public and private — are more important than ever. We'll have a candid discussion with three leaders in the field for some straight peer-to-peer talk on the policy opportunities, dangers, and needs to ensure high-growth potential enterprises have the access to capital they need.

Discussants:

• Ray Leach, Chief Executive Officer, JumpStart Inc.
• Richard Lunak, President & CEO, Innovation Works, Inc.
• Catherine Mott, Founder & CEO, BlueTree Capital Group LLC and Chair, Angel Capital Association