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Report Finds Innovations Growing in Southern States

Southern states made progress in investments to spur innovations, according a recent report produced by The Southern Growth Policies Board. The rate of patent growth is almost one-quarter higher than the national rate. Technology employment is within one percent of the national average, and federally performed R&D in the south nearly doubled the national rate in the last three decades,

States and organizations featured in the report include:

1. The Missouri Jobs Now Legislation provided the state development finance agency investment funds for infrastructure projects to create jobs and created Enhanced Enterprise Zones to fund worker training in the area of technology skill upgrades.

2. The Georgia Research Alliance has launched the Innovation Fund to foster research partnerships between universities and industry that lead to development of new technologies. Nearly $2.7 million was awarded by the Alliance, which was matched by $3.4 million by the 38 participating companies. Projects included medical, media, and wastewater innovations.

3. The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST), a one-stop center for technology-based businesses, continues to attract business and investments to the state. More than 80 percent of small businesses funded through OCAST’s Applied Research program in the last 13 years are still doing business in Oklahoma. OCAST provides assistance from the research stages through commercialization. Businesses can access:

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A new state-funded Technology Business Finance Program, which requires grantees to leverage $3 of other resources for every $1 of financial assistance;

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A college intern partnership program for students in science and engineering; and

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Intellectual property assistance through Oklahoma State University.

The Southern Growth Policies Board is a regional public policy think tank located in the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
Related Links:

* Governor Holden’s Jobs Now Press Release http://go.missouri.gov/press/press070804.htm

* The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology http://www.ocast.state.ok.us/new.htm

* Southern Growth Policies Board Report http://www.southern.org/pubs/ih2004/index.shtml

* Georgia Research Alliance http://www.gra.org/homepage.asp

http://www.nga.org/center/frontAndCenter/1,1188,C_FRONT_CENTER%5ED_7378,00.html

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