Utah Wise to Create USTAR Initiative
A Wall Street Journal story last Monday (paid subscription required) outlined how universities across the country are stepping up their efforts to commercialize research and innovation to license technologies and spin off new companies, bolstering economic development and making money for the higher ed institutions.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that the Legislature, the governor and business leaders were prescient in creating the Utah Science, Technology and Research economic development initiative.
Without such an effort, Utah would quickly fall far behind other states that are pursuing aggressive programs to attract top research scientists, the best graduate students, and the best projects for commercialization.
The article notes that such institutions as Stanford and MIT have long earned millions of dollars from licensing deals and from taking equity stakes in spinoff companies. Just last year, Stanford made $336 million by selling Google stock it owned because it licensed key technology from Google, the search engine developed on its campus. Now other institutions are attempting to do similar things.
“Many are going beyond simply encouraging entrepreneurship among students and faculty and are setting up programs aimed at making technology-licensing deals happen – which can make money for students, faculty and universities and create broader economic benefits in society . . . Such programs can also be a lure for hiring big-name faculty and attracting top-notch grad students.”
Utah’s USTAR program is ambitious, with money appropriated by the Legislature to construct new research buildings at the University of Utah and Utah State University, in addition to money to recruit and fund world-class researchers in carefully targeted disciplines where Utah has a competitive advantage and that have huge markets.
It is also clear that in a global economy, science and technology innovation are the keys to high-paying jobs and a bright economic future. Utah must be aggressively engaged in basic science and technology research or be left behind.
Global Economics A-Z
In his weekly Tea Leaf economic update newsletter, Utah economist Jeff Thregold outlines his views on global economics, A through Z. Samples: “Asia -- still expected to be the location of roughly two-thirds of all additional global economic growth over the next 20 years.” “France -- national unemployment near 9.0% limits opportunities for all, with jobless rates of young workers twice as high. Too many industries remain ‘protected’ from global competition in this near Socialist nation.”
Washington Watch
Matheson: Need for Nukes?
Rep. Jim Matheson says "that studies released by the National Nuclear Security Administration further support his contention that proposals to design and build new nuclear weapons aren't needed and are a waste of precious defense dollars" (see press release).
CPPA Newsletter
The University of Utah's Center for Public Policy & Administration has posted its latest Policy Perspectives newsletter. This edition features articles on transportation planning, Utah and Nevada water use, Utah energy policy, and the Western Presidential Primary.
Many Utahns Struggle in Poverty
More than 232,000 Utahns are living in “official” poverty – on incomes below $19,000 for a family of four, reports United Way of Salt Lake in its bi-weekly newsletter, "Making an Impact". United Way says what is even more striking is the fact that another 500,000 Utahns are struggling in what many call “working poverty,” with incomes that are below $38,000/year for a family of four. Together the number of Utahns struggling with insufficient income is roughly three times the entire population of Davis County. (Read the entire article.)
Management Tip
"Management is the art of absorbing a task in one lump from above, cutting it into smaller lumps and putting them down one level."
-- Andrew Grove, former CEO of Intel, quoted in a Wall Street Journal column by Carol Hymowitz.
Utah’s Technology Awards
Utah is a high-tech, highly connected state, and has the awards to prove it. Spencer Jenkins, public information officer in the Office of the CIO, Department of Technology Services, has compiled a list of awards the state has received in 2006 for its high-tech prowess:
- 4th Place - Center for Digital Government "Digital States Survey" (Utah has consistently ranked in the top ten since the survey began in 2000).
- 3rd Place - Center for Digital Government "Best of the Web" (Utah took first place in 2003)
- 1st Place - Government Customer Support Excellence Award, National Association of Support Professionals (won first place in 2005 as well)
- Achievement Award - Government to Citizen Services (Center for Digital Government)
- Utah County ranked 7th in the Center for Digital Government "Digital Counties Survey"
“I think it's provides a compelling case for Utah, in general, as one of the most connected and tech-savvy states, and not just in government,” said Jenkins.
National Politics
In his U.S. News column Michael Barone says Republican need new ideas and they should look to the states as sources of innovation.
Wise Words
“Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.”
-- Pericles (430 B.C.)
Blog Watch
The Senate Site reports: "Responding to requests, opinions and information gathered at the public hearings, the Redistricting Committee has morphed the plan formerly know as J into a new Map L. ... Each congressional district will have an equal population of 558,292, with the exception of District One, which will have a population of 558,293. The Redistricting Committee approved this map 10-1. Next steps: We anticipate being called into a Special Session on Monday, December 4. Then it's up to Congress" (see also here, and here).... Rep. Steve Urquhart says: "I hope this article is correct that Sen. [Harry] Reid is poised to run with the APPLE Initiative, requiring the federal government to deal with the billions of dollars it is stealing from western states by breaching commitments made at statehood regarding federal lands".... In response to the controversy surrounding the Delta Center/EnergySolutions Arena deal, Rep. Craig Frank explains why "it's radioactively safer to live next door to [EnergySolutions'] Clive facility in the West Desert than to live on the East Bench in Salt Lake City" (see also here).... Utah Taxpayer reports: "Bigger isn't always better, especially when it comes to city property tax rates. As a whole, Utah's largest cities have the highest property tax rates even though they have slightly higher per capita property tax bases than smaller cities and significantly higher per capita sales tax revenues".... The Plank's Jason Zengerle notes: "Say what you will about Mitt Romney, but he does appear to be a serious and competent guy. And if he is indeed going to occupy the conservative-alternative, anybody-but-McCain spot that he appears to be gunning for the in the GOP primaries, then that's not necessarily a bad thing -- especially when you consider that role was once destined to be played by the dunderheaded George Allen. In other words, I can think of a lot worse things than a McCain-Romney race for the Republican nomination; neither one is my cup of tea, but I wouldn't fear for the future of the republic the way I would if Allen had made it onto the ballot in November '08" (see also here, here, here, here, here, here, and here). |
