Executive Order Number Eighty-Eight Recognizing And Establishing The Delaware Science And Technology Council
WHEREAS, science and technology-based research, education, business and economic development has been, and continues to be, critical to the growth and prosperity of Delaware; and
WHEREAS, the emergence of a knowledge-based economy will require participation in new areas of endeavor such as the life sciences, biotechnology, nanotechnology and alternative energy; and
WHEREAS, effective collaboration among the public, private and academic communities is a unique Delaware strength; and
WHEREAS, it is critical that Delaware use these collaborations and partnerships to create new economic opportunities for Delawareans now and in the future; and
WHEREAS, these actions will help make Delaware a leader in emerging areas such as life sciences, biotechnology, nanotechnology and alternative energy,
NOW THEREFORE, I RUTH ANN MINNER, by the power vested in me as Governor of the State of Delaware, hereby declare and order that:
1. The Delaware Science and Technology Council (the “Council”) shall be established as a statewide organization responsible to:
(a) Improve the competitive position of Delaware so that it is recognized broadly as a center of excellence in science and technology;
(b) Provide advice, guidance and advocacy on issues and opportunities in research, education, business, economic development and public policy;
(c) Develop and implement a statewide science and technology strategic plan;
(d) Foster Delaware’s uniqueness as a dynamic place for scientific and business talent by developing an innovative, entrepreneurial and business friendly environment, facilitating incubation and commercialization and encouraging collaborations within the State and the region;
(e) Identify and secure resources to support Council initiatives in cooperation with the Council on Competitiveness and other appropriate state and regional initiatives;
(f) Coordinate and foster communication between different areas of science & technology to discover unique opportunities at the interfaces of different business sectors;
(g) Identify sources of seed and venture capital;
(h) Become recognized as a reputable resource to help understand science and technology issues and opportunities and as a source of relevant information; and
(i) Provide oversight to the State’s NSF-EPSCoR office (National Science Foundation – Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) and execution of the EPSCoR RII (Research Infrastructure Initiative) grant, with the purpose of building research and development capacity.
2. Council Membership.
The Council shall have between 20 and 25 members representing leadership from the academic, public and private sectors. The Chair and Vice Chair must come from different sectors, i.e., one from the public sector and the other from the private sector or academia. The Chair, Vice Chair and Council members will be appointed by the Governor.
Designated positions on the Council will include:
(a) The Provosts of the three public institutions of higher education;
(b) The Secretary of Agriculture;
(c) A representative from the Governor’s Office;
(d) The Director of the Delaware Economic Development Office;
(e) Four members of the General Assembly, one appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Delaware State Senate, one appointed by the Minority Leader of the Delaware State Senate, one appointed by the Speaker of the Delaware House of Representatives and one appointed by the Minority Leader of the Delaware House of Representatives; and
(f) The remaining members will be public members appointed by the Governor, the majority coming from the private sector, representing (1) the critical business segments and (2) business life cycle from incubation to maturity.
All appointed members shall serve at the pleasure of the person appointing them.
3. Council sub-committees.
The Council will be served by Science and Technology Sub-Committees responsible for specific science and technology segments. The Chair and membership of each sub-committee will be drawn from the academic, public and private sectors as appropriate. Each sub-committee will be responsible to develop a strategic plan for review with the Council and each will be supported by a member of an administrative group chaired by the Director of the Delaware Biotechnology Institute. The segments to be addressed initially include human health, agriculture and natural resources, alternative energy, nanotechnology, education/work force development and oversight of the State’s NSF-EPSCoR initiative.
Approved: June 20, 2006
