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New concepts, new ideas, and leading research innovations are
positioning Washington state for a bright future. That’s what
the new programs initiated by the Washington state legislature
are all about. Three different programs designed to bring to
the marketplace new innovative processes and products,
brightening the economic horizon for the state.
First, the STARS program, authorized in 2007 by state statute,
provides state support for recruitment of entrepreneurial
researchers to Washington, bringing individuals with the
knowledge, skills and ability to generate research products and
innovations with direct commercial applications. The program
fosters both product innovation and longer‐term
statewide economic development. Washington STARS follows a model
in place in other states. The strategic direction of the STARS
program is managed by the
Washington
Economic Development Commission (WEDC) which also oversees
the performance criteria of the program. The program and
recruitment is administered by the
Washington
Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB).
“The STARS program isn’t just a good investment; it’s the kind
of investment that will accelerate and escalate our economic
recovery. We’re going to come out of this recession stronger
than went we went in, because we’re creating the industries of
the future,” said State Sen. Jim Kastama, whose legislation
launched STARS. The STARs program is Washington State’s
commitment to winning the future in research, technology and
innovation. “STARs can pioneer leading edge innovation and lay
the foundation for the nation’s future prosperity, security,
jobs and competitiveness,” said Bruce Kendall, chair of the
Washington Economic Development Commission.
The WEDC, in
conjunction with the
Higher Education
Coordinating Board (HECB) and working with the
Washington
Education & Training Coordinating Board (WTB), plans to
recruit 10 lead entrepreneurial researchers over the 10-year
period, 2007-2017. As of Spring, 2011 five STARS had been
recruited:
Michael
Hochberg, UW, Nanophotonics
Birgitte Ahring, UWS, Biofuels
Hugh Hillhouse, UW, Smartgrid
Daniel Kirchen, UW, Smart Grid
Chen-Cheng Liu, WSU, Smart Grid
Next, the Entrepreneur-in-Residence program or EIRs.
Entrepreneurs-in-Residence are seasoned entrepreneurs and
business executives working “shoulder-to-shoulder” with
researchers whose work may have commercial relevance. They
collaborate with start-up teams on identified business
opportunities. These industry experts provide expertise, guiding
teams on the product development and market development efforts
as they explore
funding opportunities and
staffing needs. This collaboration, and coordinating of
resources evolves ideas from initial concept all the way through
to first-stage start-up financing and is a new direction for
encouraging intellectual property to :spin-out” into private
sector businesses.
In 2011 the
legislature expanded the EIR program adding regional
Entrepreneurs-in-Residence. The first regional EIR,
working closely with the Northwest Innovation Resource Center
located in the Whatcom County area, will work to identify and
commercialize intellectual property at non-research
institutions.
The third new concept, Innovation Partnership Zones, also
launched in 2007 by the Washington legislature, consist of
twelve designated “hot spots” in the state. The IPZs develop new
technology, new partnerships between public, research
institutions and the globally competitive firms. The current
IPZs, with diverse focuses, are administered by the
WA Department of Commerce.
The HECB administers the
program supporting designated STAR teams.
The Department of
Commerce administers the Innovation Partnership Zones (IPZs).
The WEDC provides the IRTs and IPZs with advice of on
designation criteria and outcome metrics.
In 2009, the Washington Economic
Development Commission also established an
Innovation Advisory
Committee to guide both STARS & IPZs with strong private sector
input, ensuring the money invested in these programs
will generate the most return in the economy. The
Committee, required by legislation, is comprised of 27 members
from the public, private, higher education, and non-profit
organizations.
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News |
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May 16, 2011
BSEL, WSU & Port of Benton announce an innovative idea for
making advanced biofuels such as jet fuel, disel and gasoline
from regional resources.
April, 2011 -
WSU Hires Chen-Ching Liu world
renown researcher on SMART Grid.
On February 1st - University
of Washington's STAR researcher, Michael Hochberg, celebrated
the
kickoff of the
Optoelectonic Systems Integration in Silicon (OpSIS)
program. OpSIS, co-funded by UW, Intel Corp and the US Air
force office of
 Scientific
Research could revolutionalize silicon chip manufacturing.
Read more...
January 21st, WEDC
Exec. Director Egils Milbergs, WSU VP John Gardner,
HECB Associate Director John Lederer presented current
STARS and EIR program information to the WA Senate Committee on
Economic Development, Trade & Innovation.
December 14th
Randy Hodgins, UW VP of External Affairs, presented
UW's Economic Impact Study to the
Washington Economic Development Commission
Download
Impact fact sheet, full
report.
"Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education will
determine whether the US will remain a leader.."
Review the
STEM Work Group's recommendations for WA...
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Investing in Research &
Innovation, The STARS Report, Program and Plan
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