In an address today before an impressive gathering of technology leaders, Governor David A. Paterson outlined the five core elements of the state’s economic development strategy, which he labeled the “5 I’s: Infrastructure, Intellectual Capital, International Efforts, Investment Strategies, and Innovation.”

Governor Paterson’s address concentrated on the importance of “Innovation” to the future of New York State.   During the speech, the Governor announced a $100 million Innovation Economy Matching Grant program to strengthen applications by New York universities, institutions and companies in competing for science and technology funding under various federal stimulus programs. The proposal would provide a 10% match to applications involving funding which benefit strategic industry sectors and builds off the state’s research strengths.

To link to Governor Paterson’s white paper click here. 
Governor’s Speech http://www.ny.gov/governor/keydocs/speech_0608091.html 
Governor’s Press Release http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/press_0608091.html 
Video of the Governor’s Speech: http://www.ny.gov/governor/

Task Force Will Bring Together State Leaders in Industry and Higher Education to Generate Ideas on the Future of New York State’s Economy

http://www.ny.gov/governor/press/press_0514091.html

For a copy of Executive Order No. 19, visit   
http://www.ny.gov/governor/executive_orders/exeorders/eo_19.html.

A $1.5 million grant from the state agency in charge of energy research will help the University at Buffalo establish a program to help students, inventors and others to turn clean energy ideas into profitable businesses. The grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, one of four to be awarded for similar programs across the state, was announced as part of the American Solar Energy Society’s annual conference at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.

More HERE

The New York Power Authority is helping to build a solar energy array on University at Buffalo’s North campus. The project would generate 1.1 megawatts of power to four campus housing complexes, a total of 735 apartments housing some 2,000 students. UB President John Simpson said, “This represents a tremendous project for UB and the progress we are making.” He also cited data from American Solar Energy Society, which hosts its annual solar conference in Buffalo May 11 to 16, referring to the solar installation as the largest on any campus in the state, and among the largest in the U.S.

Full Story:
http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2009/05/04/daily59.html

The Business Review reports that NYS is prepared to give out $120 million for upstate development.

Applications for the money, called the upstate regional blueprint fund, will be posted at www.nylovesbiz.com on May 11. Applications are due June 15.

The fund aims to help finance business investments, infrastructure upgrades and redevelopment of downtowns across upstate.

Click HERE for more detail.

The Center for an Urban Future (CUF) has published a Report (April 2009) entitled Central New York’s New Workforce. 

CUF’s ”survey of the region’s businesses finds that 40 percent employ workers with limited English proficiency; upgrading their language skills will be key for local businesses and the area’s future economic growth.”

http://www.nycfuture.org/images_pdfs/pdfs/
CentralNewYorksNewWorkforce.pdf

The biopharmaceutical sector is an important source of employment and output in the U.S. economy.  Nationally, the sector supported a total of 3.2 million jobs and $626.6 billion in output in 2006.  The sector also invested $44.9 billion in research and development conducted within the U.S. that year.

In New York, the sector supported a total of 215,729 jobs and $44.6 billion in output.  Sector companies also invested $1.8 billion in research and development in New York in 2006.  The fact sheets below present an analysis of the impact of the biopharmaceutical sector on the economy of New York in 2006.

VIEW NEW YORK FACT SHEET

VIEW NEW YORK – NORTHERN NEW JERSEY – LONG ISLAND FACT SHEET

View U.S. Report
View Executive Summary
View U.S. Fact Sheet

“New York lost more than 10,000 private-sector jobs between March of 2008 and March of 2009. Of the major industries measured, only the taxpayer subsidized educational and health services sector showed a substantial job gain. The state’s critical financial activities sector lost more than 30,000 jobs during the same period.”

The full report is downloadable HERE.

Also available is the Monthly Economic Snapshot of Upstate New York.

http://www.webscalers.com/index.html

http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2009/03/30/daily6.html