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The New York Academy of Sciences is located directly north of the world trade center site in New York City. It was founded in 1817 and “works to advance scientific knowledge, mobilize science to address major global challenges, and increase the number of scientifically informed individuals in society”. Their website provides a comprehensive overview of what they do:

Scientific Meetings
Frontiers of Science is the Academy’s core program for convening professional scientific conferences and symposia, focusing on cutting-edge topics in the life sciences, physical sciences, and green science and sustainability. Bringing together international experts and partners from academia, industry, government, and beyond, Frontiers of Science provides a neutral forum for participants to exchange information on basic and applied research and on the broader role of science, medicine, and technology in society.

Publications
Since 1823, publishing has been an important element of the Academy’s mission to advance scientific knowledge. Signature publications include the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, one of the country’s oldest and most respected scientific periodicals, and Academy eBriefings, innovative online multimedia reports that document many of our Frontiers of Science events. We also cover Academy and member news three times annually in The New York Academy of Sciences Magazine, and offer a variety of multimedia products in our Media Center, including podcasts, videos, and an archive of Academy webinars, live, interactive webcasts of selected events.

Career Development
The Academy supports young scientists through its Science Alliance program, a consortium of universities, teaching hospitals, and independent research facilities committed to advancing the careers of students and postdocs in science, technology, engineering, and math. The Academy organizes events offering career advice and opportunities to network, learn from industry professionals, and interact with young investigators in other institutions and disciplines.

Science for the Public
Science & the City is the public gateway to the New York Academy of Sciences. It hosts events focusing on scientific subjects of general interest, publishes a comprehensive calendar of public science events in New York City, and produces a weekly podcast focusing on science-related activities in the metropolitan area.

Scientists Without BordersSM
Scientists Without Borders aims to mobilize and coordinate science-based activities that improve quality of life in the developing world. The Scientists Without Borders database provides a way for organizations, projects, and individuals with complementary needs and resources to find one another.

The Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science
The Academy has recently established The Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science, dedicated to the advancement of nutrition science research and knowledge, translation of this work into the field, nutrition-inspired product development, and nutrition policy. The Institute will collaborate with the World Health Organization to formulate a prioritized agenda for nutrition science research. It will also house a public-private partnership of academic institutions, non-profit organizations, government bodies, and corporations that will work together to galvanize action on this agenda and implement outcomes in the field.

Awards
The Academy organizes two annual awards to support and promote the achievement of young scientists in the New York area. The Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists recognize the excellence of our most noteworthy young faculty and postdocs in nearby academic institutions. The Innovation and Industry Awards celebrate great contributions by young scientists in research and development.

Innovation & Economic Development
Science and technology are at the heart of economic development, and the New York Academy of Sciences is uniquely poised to assist partners in and outside of New York to become more competitive. The Academy draws on the expertise of its membership to provide advisory services for state and municipal governments internationally.

Sections
These meeting groups are organized by committees of NYAS members interested in particular areas of research. Each section presents lectures and symposia several times each year. Sections are currently active in Anthropology, Environmental Sciences, History & Philosophy of Science, Psychology, and Science Education.

The Committee on Human Rights of Scientists
Fighting on behalf of the human rights of scientists, physicians, mathematicians, engineers, and educators around the world has been the raison d’être of the Academy’s Committee on the Human Rights of Sciences since it was created in 1978.

The Harbor Project
The New York Academy of Sciences undertook a multi-year study to identify and quantify the flows of specific contaminants into the NY/NJ Harbor from its air and watershed, and to recommend pollution prevention strategies.

When shopping for funding, a startup company is well served to identify investment firms able to provide resources as well as money to the company.  Investors with a team approach among its partners, a network of contacts, and experiences and successes in the technical area, are able to invaluable practical assistance as well as funding to a new company.  Investment firms that do this successfully have a competitive advantage over less developed investors.  First Round Capital offers another unique advantage.

The keynote speaker at the Building Human Capital to Drive New York’s Innovation Economy was Howard Morgan, Ph.D., a partner at First Round Capital. First Round Capital offers a unique network for its companies to access not only First Round Capital’s team, but also other companies similarly situated. First Round Capital’s website includes a highlight about this competitive advantage: “We’re probably one of the only venture firms with engineers on staff, building new technology to connect our entrepreneurs and wire up our community. That network lets our CEOs ask questions, share content and learn from each other, so better decisions get made faster. Every year brings hundreds of questions and thousands of great answers.” In addition, entrepreneurs have the support of the entire First Round Capital team to provide support on their boards, assist with testing and iterations of products, raising additional capital and providing connections.

In his presentation, Howard Morgan reviewed types of new technology companies, and the “beyond STEM” skills these companies need from their professionals. He spoke about the importance of developing the ability to use knowledge as well as the knowledge, the importance of being able to work in groups or teams, to self-educate, and stay open to change. This is the “beyond-STEM” human capital necessary to transform New York’s research investment into successful companies that contribute to New York’s economic success.

Howard Morgan, Ph.D. is a partner with First Round Capital, a venture capital firm with offices in San Francisco, New York City, and Philadelphia that primarily makes early round investments. He was previously Professor of Decision Sciences at the Wharton School and Professor of Computer Science at the Moore School at the University of Pennsylvania from 1972 to 1985. He has been a Visiting Professor at the California Institute of Technology and the Harvard Business School. Dr. Morgan has been President of the Arca Group, Inc. since 1989, working with early stage companies from seed stage through initial public offerings. In 1996 he was a founding investor of Idealab and now serves as a director. He has served on several public company Boards, such as Franklin Electronic Publishers and Internet Brands, Inc. He is Chairman or a member of the board of many private companies including Fab.com, AxialMarkets, and PublicStuff as well as nonprofits like Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories and Math for America. He served as CEO of Kentek and Franklin during transitional periods. He was named Delaware Valley Entrepreneur of the Year in 1997. Dr. Morgan received a B.S. in physics from City College of the City University of New York and a Ph.D. in Operations Research from Cornell University. He is an author and frequent speaker at industry conferences.

Many programs in New York State share the philosophy that experiential learning opportunities offer a unique and valuable way for students interested in technology commercialization to learn. Because of the “win-win” nature of these programs, an increasing number of research universities in New York offer some sort of experiential learning opportunity.  The double win is the fact that companies receive free research under the direction of experienced faculty, and students interested in technology commercialization receive the opportunity to gain real world experience, thereby increasing their suitability for employment in high-tech areas.

At the Technology Commercialization Research Center at Syracuse University College of Law, the philosophy has long been held that intellectual property law is but one leg of the support structure necessary to commercialize a new technology. In completing research projects for actual companies or inventors, students acquire real life experience managing the myriad of issues involved in technology commercialization.  This Technology Commercialization Clinic concept was enthusiastically received such that its originator, Ted Hagelin, sought and received funding to assist the establishment of similar clinics in other research universities.

A Technology Commercialization Clinic Network of some of these TCC’s has developed to share information, best practices and resources regarding educational curricula, selection of projects, and organization of research for the companies or inventors seeking research relevant to a potential commercialization project. The network is open to any interested New York State graduate educational program, and the research reports are open to any New York State research center, company or inventor – with priority given to NYSTAR sponsored centers. Current programs and universities are: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Partnerships  at SUNY Binghamton, The Shipley Center for Innovation at Clarkson, the College of Business Administration at Niagara University, Saunders College of Business at RIT, theCenter for Biotechnology at SUNY Stony Brook and the College of Law  at Syracuse University.

One of the highlights of the Building Human Capital to Drive New York’s Innovation Economy was presentations from universities with such unique programs. An especially innovative, emerging program is Cornell NYC Tech, profiled in a separate article in this newsletter. Other innovative programs presented at the conference were:

The University of Rochester has developed a Medical Technology Innovation Masters Program.    Students work with medical practitioners to observe their practice and identify “pain” or problem areas in need of a solution. In this way, they better create innovative device solutions for focused clinical problems. They do this through a cross-disciplinary collaboration with the college of medicine, practitioners, hospital personnel, engineers and others. The program seeks to improve patient care and outcomes while promoting a unique education in both clinical care and bioengineering design.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers a Master of Science in Technology Commercialization and Entrepreneurship, an interdisciplinary collaboration between the Lally School of Management, 11 academic departments at Rensselaer, and Albany Law School.   The program is founded on the idea that: “Successful commercialization of technology requires not only technical understanding, but also a basic foundation in management that covers bringing the product to market by developing a business plan, obtaining funding, staffing and managing the enterprise, and understanding how to value and protect intellectual property.” The goal is to prepare a new generation of technology entrepreneurs who have an advanced understanding of technology, a fundamental understanding of commercial functions and analytics, and practical experience in the process of innovation and technological commercialization.

Syracuse University has incorporated entrepreneurial learning into many of its schools – The Kauffman Initiative on Entrepreneurship at the School of Information Studies, the Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship at the Whitman School of Management, Maxwell School of Public Policy, and the Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship at the Newhouse School, and the Center for Advanced Technology at the L.C. Smith School of Engineering.

At Clarkson University, The Shipley Center for Innovation  accelerates the commercialization of discovery-driven Clarkson innovations into the marketplace. The Center fosters and accelerates the exchange of ideas between the various schools on campus and industry to prepare and educate the faculty and students for the entrepreneurial workplace.  As a center of technology, engineering, applied science and education, Clarkson University is well suited to reach these objectives.

Advocates for experiential learning cite the opportunities for both students and technology commercialization that are promoted through this learning style.  New York State is well positioned to cite its ability to meet the demand for human capital to its list of competitive advantages.

In December 2010, New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg launched Applied Sciences NYC, an initiative to partner with a top institution to develop a new or expanded applied sciences and engineering campus in New York City. The city would supply land, Roosevelt Island in the East River, up to $100 million capital, and the support of their administration. The institution would supply the plan and do the work of carrying the project out.

Real world experience is the cornerstone of the program, students work closely with industry. Each semester, students are put into teams that pair with real companies on projects called Cooperative Masters Projects. These projects involve developing a technical opportunity or solving a challenge for the partner company. This spring of 2013, the program began a  “beta” class, eight full-time students, paired with a mix of companies such as start-up Tapestry, the nonprofit Robin Hood Foundation, and industry giant Google.

Students take technical and business classes Monday through Thursday but Friday is reserved for an interdisciplinary practicum, Entrepreneurial Life. Practicums are led by guest practitioners, entrepreneurs, designers, artists, and lawyers to give students a broad and first-hand understanding of success in the business world.

Instructors include Cornell University professors as well as interested professionals from other universities or industry. Considerations given to practical experience and professors are also encouraged to take time off to work on commercial or nonprofit projects. Instead of traditional office hours, or even offices, professors and students have a desk with low dividers in an open air area to encourage constant interaction. Conference rooms are available if needed. In a first of its kind arrangement, the United States Commerce Department has stationed a patent officer on the program’s premises to assist with patent applications and commercial strategies.

While the development of the Roosevelt Island campus is still underway, Google donated space in its Chelsea building for the program to use until then. The donation allocates a total of 22,000 square feet on an upper floor to the school with the option to expand into an additional 36,000 square feet over three years. Cornell is responsible for the costs of operating there and must be moved out of the space in five and a half years.

The Roosevelt Island campus is an important part of the Cornell NYC Tech venture. The proposed campus was approved by Manhattan’s Community Board 8 and recently the New York City Planning Commission gave their approval as well. The campus will be built in two phases, with the first phase beginning in 2014 and an overall completion date of 2037.

Phase One includes academic and residential buildings, as well as co-location buildings, specifically designed to be leased by tech startups and other organizations working with the Cornell Tech faculty and students. When the first phase is completed in 2017, students and faculty will move from their location in in the Google building to the newly built facilities. Phase Two includes several more buildings with the goal of a campus in harmony with its surroundings.

The tech campus hopes to be a model of sustainable development and energy efficiency. The first academic building has a net-zero energy goal, producing as much energy as it consumes. Plans are being considered to utilize solar power as well as geothermal energy and collaboration with companies currently experimenting with submerging turbines in the East River to generate energy from the current.

The vision and goals of the Cornell NYC Tech are far-reaching, but the potential benefits for innovation are dramatic. Institutions throughout the world will watch with interest to see how the program fares.

This month’s legislative update comes from the Syracuse University Office of Office of Government and Community Relations with thanks to Diana Napolitano.

The budget was relatively good to higher education, adding $70M in new funds for higher ed. Opportunity programs were increased by about 3%, reversing a five-year trend of cuts, and stagnation. Other programs pertaining to higher education were fully funded, such as the Centers for Advanced Technology, and direct institutional “Bundy” Aid.

Economic Development

On the economic development front, a third round of Regional Economic Development Councils received $150M in capital funding and $70M in tax credits, but the final budget agreement rejected the Governor’s proposed $720M in “transformational projects”.

Additionally, the Legislature modified the Governor’s proposed Innovation Hotspots and Incubators program, combining them into one program, funded at $1.25M (growing to $5 million). Incubators will receive operating support, in a program managed by ESDC. There appears to be no limit on how many entities may be designated as a New York State Incubator.  Support per incubator has yet to be determined; each grant must be matched $2 for every $1 in state support.  All grant funds must go directly to the operations.  No state funds may be used for overhead and indirect costs. Qualified incubators—virtual or physical—will be able to apply to be one of 10 ESDC-designated “Hot Spots”—one per region. There will be five hotspots named in 2013-14, and five named in 2014-15. Being a hotspot will entitle the incubator’s tenants to tax breaks.

To be designated as a New York State Incubator or Innovation Hot Spot, an entity must:

•  Have been in existence for at least three fiscal years (or demonstrate continued staffing, program, and purpose if the governing entity has changed);
•  Be connected to regional sources of innovation and expertise;
•  Demonstrate that it creates jobs and incubates businesses with higher than average success rates; and
•  Provide a strategic plan for continuing success for at least three fiscal years after designation.

Additionally, the legislature agreed to fund the Innovation Venture Capital Fund at $50M. The Fund will help new and existing businesses in New York State develop ideas and research into products to market. The funds will be distributed according to a plan developed by ESDC and approved by the Budget Director, President of the Senate, Speaker of the Assembly, and the minority leaders of the Senate and Assembly. To be eligible for funding, an applicant must: (1) be located or agree to relocate to New York; (2) be in seed-, early-, or venture-stage of development; and (3) have the potential to generate additional economic activity in New York State. ESDC is responsible for creating rules for evaluating applications. Details on how the fund will be set up, and eligibility requirements, are still being worked out.

Employers

For employers, the cost of doing business will increase as minimum wage rises via a three-year phase-in to $9/hour. The first increase to $8 per hour will become effective on December 31, 2013. A year later, it will increase to $8.75 and then, by December 31, 2015, it will increase to $9 per hour. As in the past, the new minimum wage requirement exempts student workers that attend the college or university where they are working. It is projected that this labor cost increase will have a direct and indirect impact of close to $1B a year on commercial and non-profit entities. However, businesses will receive a tax credit for hiring young students. There will also be a tax credit for hiring unemployed veterans.

Community and Workforce Development

“Next Generation Jobs Linkage Program”: This program for community college vocational programs requires evidence of student success in finding jobs by partnering with employers. The requirement is incentive funding based on student success measures.

The Community schools program is funded at $15M.

SUNY and CUNY

The Enacted Budget includes an additional $30.8 million in funding for SUNY and CUNY community colleges. This equates to a $150 per full-time student equivalent increase. It also calls for the third round of SUNY 2020 and launches CUNY 2020—competitive grants for projects that connect economic development and academic excellence. The Budget requires SUNY to establish a remedial program modeled after the CUNY Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP).  The SUNY program will be called the Graduation, Achievement and Placement Program (GAP).  SUNY and CUNY also received $1.7 million each to support these remedial programs.

Marketed and recognized by many East Coast and Mid-Atlantic venture funds as the place to discover new Upstate NY technology companies, the SmartStart UNYTECH Venture Forum is being held in Albany May 15th and 16th. Each year the forum recognizes standout company presentations with Best Business Presentation, Most Promising Technology and Most Likely to be Funded awards. The forum displays promising early-stage companies from all of New York and beyond. It allows companies to meet with VC funds, seed investment funds, angel groups and investors to explain their technologies as well as introduce their company’s teams and plans for succeeding in the marketplace. Upcoming companies are also given exposure to experienced entrepreneurs for their potential involvement.

Wednesday and Thursday, May 15th and 16th 2013
The Desmond Hotel
660 Albany Shaker Road 
Albany, NY 12211

For questions contact: Elena D’Agnese

SUNY-ESF is holding a Biotechnology Symposium on May 16th and 17th in Syracuse. The goal of the symposium is to bring together representatives from industry representatives, scientists, academics and students, as well as other professionals interested in biotechnology in order to develop collaborations and relationships to further advance the field.There will be a poster show by students as well as exhibits from sponsors and industry for attendees to check out. Presentations cover a variety of topics and concurrent sessions in specific topics are scheduled. Online registration is open through May 13th for professionals and students and onsite registration will also be available at the Gateway Center.

Sessions Include: 

• Drug Delivery/Nanotechnology
• Fermentation
• Tissue Engineering
• Biomaterials
• Bioenergy
• Biopharmaceuticals and more

Thursday and Friday, May 16th and 17th, 2013
SUNY-ESF Gateway Center
1 Forestry Drive
Syracuse, NY 13210

Three webcasts will be offered in May and June.  The first one is Wednesday, May 8th.  Jack Rudnick will discuss industry working with universities.  Don’t miss these informative sessions offered through the ESD/NYSTAR sponsored NYS Science & Technology Law Center.

June 19, 12 – 1