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Week of April 7- 13, 2008 |
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The Broken Pipeline of Young Research Talent
US science advocates are growing
increasingly concerned about the state of the US R&D enterprise. As
funding for key agencies like the National Institutes of Health
continues to lag, opportunities for young researchers are also
disappearing. A new initiative, organized by nine leading research
universities, is seeking to publicize the dangers of these trends.
Dubbed “A Broken Pipeline,” the effort contends that flat funding of NIH
has pernicious long-term consequences. It limits funding in a given
year, but, over the long-term, it restricts opportunities for young
researchers who must forego opportunities to pursue truly innovative
cutting edge research. In a tight budget climate, young researchers face
intense competition for research grants as limited funds go to more
established researchers who are often pursuing more conventional
research agendas. These barriers may force innovative young researchers
into other career paths, potentially depriving the US of a generation of
innovative young thinkers. |
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An Entrepreneurship Agenda for Michigan
Michigan has not received much good economic
news over the past several decades, and, if it wants to improve its
prospects, the state’s leaders must be more aggressive in their support
Michigan’s entrepreneurs. According to a new Small Business Association
of Michigan report, the Wolverine State has not done enough to nurture
the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship among its citizens.
Fortunately, things are beginning to improve. Michigan’s performance on
key entrepreneurial indicators, such as growth in new firms, is
improving. Moving ahead, the report recommends that Michigan continue to
support initiatives that place entrepreneurship education offerings at
all levels of local school systems, seed local angel and venture
investor networks, and continue to strengthen Michigan’s world class
higher education and workforce development resources. |
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The State of Asset Building Policy in the US
As Americans face major financial pressures
due to mortgage foreclosures and the broader economic downturn, it seems
that asset-building policies will assume growing importance. A new guide
from the New America Foundation presents a compendium of what’s been
happening in this area. “The Assets Report 2008” summarizes recent
policy developments in areas such as the creation of tax-deferred
savings accounts, and deployment of individual development accounts. The
study notes that 2007 was a year of limited progress, with no major new
legislation enacted. However, asset development advocates are more
optimistic about prospects in 2008 and beyond. President Bush’s FY2009
budget plan includes a number of proposed incentives for retirement
savings, and Congress is considering several major new legislative
proposals. For example, the ASPIRE Act would create a new universal
children’s savings account that would be opened at birth. Other
innovative plans are also under consideration, and will likely be the
subject of debate during this year’s Presidential and Congressional
election campaigns. |
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International Competition and Small Firm Success
A new US Small Business Administration
Office of Advocacy-sponsored study examines how much international
competition contributes to poor performance by America’s small
manufacturing firms. The study tests the hypothesis that small
manufacturers face greater pressures from international competition.
Because of their small size, these companies face a more limited range
of options when faced with intense foreign trade pressure. Unlike large
firms, they may not be able to outsource or consider other tactics that
cushion these forces. The research finds that small firms are most
affected by currency exchange rate fluctuations. Changing international
trade conditions (e.g. shifts in the import share of a given industry)
did not seem to have a strong effect on the survival of small
manufacturers. The study also finds that high technology firms are
better insulated from the effects of international competition when
compared to other low technology firms. |
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Engaging Universities in Regional Economic Development
In recent years, numerous regions have been
working to engage colleges and universities in support of local economic
development efforts. Building these partnerships has often proved to be
challenging, and a new report seeks to offer guidelines on how to
improve the process. The Council on Competitiveness study, “Cooperate,”
was prepared for the US Department of Labor’s WIRED (Workforce
Innovation in Regional Economic Development) program. It includes a
series of recommendations for how university leaders, business
executives and economic developers can build strong long-term
partnerships in support of regional transformation. It also includes an
interesting series of case studies of exemplary approaches and program
models. Featured regions include Danville, VA; St. Louis, MO: South
Texas; and North Central Indiana. |
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The National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship is an initiative of the Public Forum Institute made possible by a grant from the Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City. Through NDE-news, we bring you short summaries and analyses of various trends driving entrepreneurship around the world. Subscribe now to receive your weekly copy. Archived issues are available online. |
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National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship
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stories © 2008 The Public Forum Institute
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