EVENTS:

June 03, 2008 - RI Research Alliance Conference
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Location: RI Convention Center

FAST FACTS:

• STAC is making innovation central to the state's future by assisting Rhode Island's leadership in creating an innovation economy that will grow higher wage jobs and address critical needs in areas such as healthcare, education and public safety.
• According to the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University, for the period 2001-2005, Rhode Island was the regional leader in net job growth. Rhode Island added 13,600 jobs reflecting a 2.8% net increase and surpassed all other New England states.
• STAC co-chair Jeff Seemann is one of the world's most highly cited researchers in the field of plant biology. His research focuses on photosynthesis and global change biology.
• On April 10, Senator Reed, Governor Carcieri, and legislative leaders joined STAC to celebrate the awarding of a $6.75 million EPSCoR grant and the introduction of our legislative package.
• The state's major collaborative research programs-COBRE, INBRE, and EPSCoR-collectively account for more than $80 million in federal research investment.
• With 86 colleges and universities located within a 50-mile radius, Rhode Island has the highest concentration of higher education institutions in the United States.
• According to "The 2007 State New Economy Index" issued by the Marion Ewing Kauffman Foundation and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), Rhode Island was cited as one of the "Top Five Movers" in economic transformation from 2002 to 2005. In the 2002 Index, Rhode Island was ranked 23rd overall nationally. In the 2007 Index, the Ocean State's ranking was 15th in the nation.
• A recently announced grant from the National Science Foundation will infuse $6.75 million into the state's life sciences research infrastructure over the next three years.
• STAC's Collaborative Research awards provided support to 32 researchers from 15 institutions pursuing projects in medicine, engineering, chemistry, biology, oceanography and environmental science.
• Through the Research Alliance, STAC has created a competitive, merit based award program to support projects that are: 1) of significant scientific merit; 2) collaborative across institutional boundaries; 3) catalytic in nature; and 4) well positioned to receive additional public and/or private funding.
• According to the US Department of Labor, the "Top 10" projected in demand jobs for 2010 did not exist in 2004
• STAC's Co-Chair, Dr. Jeffrey Seemann, Dean of the University of Rhode Island College's department of Environment and Life Sciences, lead a successful effort to secure a $1-million donation from Amgen, Inc., to help finance a new $60-million dollar biotechnology and life sciences center at the university's main campus.
• According to the US Department of Labor, the "Top 10" projected in demand jobs for 2010 did not exist in 2004.
• According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Rhode Island's per capita income as a percentage of the national average is on the rise, positioning the state as the 6th highest ranking state per capita income growth in the time period 1999-2005.
• According to the National Science Foundation (NSF) "Survey of Industrial Research & Development: 2004," Rhode Island ranked 5th (3.15%) in a listing of states by intensity of total industrial R&D spending in the U.S. The national average industrial intensity for 2004 was 1.79%.>
• STAC supports RI-WINS - an unparalleled platform for wireless innovation, which seeks to create a seamless border-to-border broadband and network that covers all of the state's geography and supports economic development in all communities.
• STAC has joined the Business Innovation Factory and a coalition of education innovation, science and technology leaders to bring Dean Kamen's FIRST Vex^TM Challenge to each of Rhode Island's 67 public high schools, charter schools, career and technical centers.