Illinois Science & Technology Coalition

Chicago tumbles as R&D Capital, Neighborhing Regions Grow

jhollick — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:52:19 +0000

(Crain’s) — Chicago is falling behind other big metro markets in research and development employment, a new study shows.

While the R&D jobs increased in Boston, Washington and San Diego from 2000 through 2010, private-sector R&D employment plunged 43 percent to 21,792 in greater Chicago in 2010 after peaking in 2000 at 38,066, according to Moody’s Analytics data compiled in the Illinois Innovation Index.

Boston’s R&D headcount soared 62 percent during the decade to 43,929, Washington surged 28 percent to 47,467 and San Diego climbed 23 percent to 30,451, while New York held steady at 53,528, according to the index, which was commissioned by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Chicago Metro Agency for Planning, Illinois Science & Technology Coalition and World Business Chicago, the city’s economic-development arm.

A major factor in Chicago’s R&D dropoff, according to the group, is its dependence on manufacturing, which retrenched between 1998 and 2003. While metro Chicago accounts for more than half the state’s 700-plus R&D operations, the number of employers has been stagnant while other regions saw growth.

Read more at Crain’s Chicago Business.

Obama Boosts Federal R&D By $2 Billion

jhollick — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:49:49 +0000

The White House has proposed a $2 billion increase in the budget for federal research and development (R&D) for fiscal year 2013, with the a particular boost to research being done at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Department of Energy (DOE).

President Obama’s proposed R&D budget for 2013, released Monday, also provides $3 billion to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education as part of an ongoing effort to prepare a more technology-savvy workforce and help the United States remain competitive overseas.

In total, the White House has proposed $140.8 billion for R&D, an increase of 1.4% over last year’s enacted budget, according to the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), which partners with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to advise the president on R&D priorities.

Read more fiscal year 2013 proposed budget at InformationWeek.

Statewide Competition Brings High-Speed Internet to Communities

jhollick — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:03:58 +0000

SPRINGFIELD – February 10, 2012. The race for ultra high-speed Internet throughout the state has begun. Governor Pat Quinn recently announced details of the Illinois Gigabit Communities Challenge, a competition that will award up to $4 million in capital funding to the most promising high-speed Internet deployment projects.

“Through this challenge, we want our neighborhoods to become Gigabit communities with Internet connections more than 100 times faster than today,” said Quinn in his Feb. 1 State of the State address. “Our goal is to build smart communities that will foster the job engines of the future.”

The competition is part of the comprehensive, multi-year Illinois Jobs Now! economic development program and is open to any private or public organization. Each proposal should outline a viable plan to connect at least 1,000 end users to an ultra high-speed broadband network.

“Faster broadband connections provide new economic opportunities for Illinois,” added Matthew Summy, president of Illinois Science & Technology Coalition. “Through the gigabit communities initiative, Governor Quinn is challenging us to draw on the strength of public private partnerships to open new doors for innovation and job creation.”

To read the full press release, click here: 2-14-2012_Gigabit Challenge Press Release.