Take note: the Kentucky Science and Technology Council has changed its name. It is now the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation. KSTC is still non-profit. Its mission also remains the same: "...to improve the capacity of people, organizations and businesses to apply science and technology and to compete more effectively in the global marketplace." The renaming represents a shift from its origins 12 years ago as a purely advisory and advocacy organization to one that has become proactive in creating innovative initiatives and ventures.

"We’ve reinvented ourselves a couple of times over the past decade," says KSTC President, Kris Kimel, "which is what you have to do in today’s world."

The Lexington-based organization was founded in 1987 with Kimel as the president and sole administrator. KSTC now has a staff of 13 and its board of directors has grown to include 45 professionals from the business world and academia.

KSTC recently submitted to Governor Paul Patton a 10-point strategy to boost science and technology across the board in Kentucky.

"I’m familiar with the report and the work the corporation has done," Governor Patton told The Lane Report. "The strategy includes some financial needs and we will take them into consideration along with all budget requests."

"The strategy that we prepared for the governor addresses the needs to improve R &D (research and development) along with technological and entrepreneurial capacities in the state," says Kimel. "The 10 points of the plan deal with issues surrounding commercialization of technology, creation of risk capital and enterprise development, as well as math and science education. Kentucky has made some progress, but it still lags behind most states in some critical areas."

Kimel points out several findings published in the KSTC report, Kentucky’s Entrepreneurial Capacity 1998. Out of the 50 states, Kentucky ranks 28th in availability of venture capital; 46th in academic research and development; 42nd in new company formation; 45th in science and engineering graduate students and 47th in patents awarded.

Since its founding, KSTC has been responsible for bringing to the state over $60 million to support and promote science and technology.

"The corporation has helped catalyze, create and implement important programs in science and math education, manufacturing modernization, R&D and entrepreneurship," says Kimel.

A recent project of KSTC is the formation of E10, Inc., a for-profit subsidiary of KSTC. E10, Inc. will offer consulting services for businesses ranging from start-up and business strategies to market analysis and public relations.

"E10 emerged from our recognition of the need for companies to become more creative in entrepreneurship in order to cope with and prepare for the new economy," says Kimel. "We see the new economy as driven by four primary forces: knowledge, flexibility, innovation and speed. It’s presenting a whole new set of rules that companies and organizations have to play by. High-speed innovation is needed to compete."

Under the E10 umbrella, KSTC has formed E10 Ventures, LLC, an early stage venture fund. The fund is now being capitalized to the amount of $15 million, which will be available by year’s end to finance the starting and growing of innovative, technology-driven companies. Cincinnati-based Blue Chip Venture Co. Ltd., which manages a $190 million venture fund, is a special limited partner in the enterprise.

"Most of what KSTC does is in cooperation and collaboration with other organizations," says Kimel. "In today’s world it is difficult for any one business entity to have all of the knowledge and wherewithal to successfully meet its challenges."

KSTC is also headquarters for the Appalachian Rural Systemic Initiative (ARSI), a program dedicated to improving math and science education in six states of the Appalachian region. KSTC Vice President, Wimberly Royster, a former mathematics professor and vice president at the University of Kentucky, oversees ARSI.

Under the ARSI program a resource collaborative at the University of Kentucky provides continuing teacher development in science and math education for K-12 teachers in over 35 counties in Kentucky.

KSTC has been prolific in its generation and implementation of ideas.

"The whole company is structured to stimulate the creation of new ideas," says Kimel. "We understand and encourage the serendipitous nature of idea creation. You have to have a lot of ideas and 95 percent aren’t going to be very good ones. It’s that five percent of good ideas we’re after."

Work and play

When entering the KSTC office suite one is first struck by the presence of a colorful pinball machine emblazoned with the image of a fiery meteor hurling through space. Nearby on the wall a sign reads:

"Why a pinball machine? Why not?" Below that is a quote from the book Jamming, by John Kao: "...creative people run best on the high-octane fuels of play and freedom..."

On the occasion of this visit, Janet Sexton, chief financial officer of KSTC, plays tour guide. The conference room, where much of the brainstorming happens, features an expansive white-board table upon which meeting participants can write and draw using colored markers. An advisory eight-ball is on the table, a hoola-hoop against the wall and colorful candies are within reach. "We do serious business here," says Sexton, "but we make fun while doing it. We need the fun to keep us going."

A glance into the break room reveals a large white-board on the wall. Sexton explains that anyone can share a message or inspiration with the rest of the group here. Written in bright blue across the board is the message: "Remember the Beginner’s Mind!" It’s a piece of advice that has much resonance for an organization that thrives on beginning new projects and that extends help to many who are embarking on new enterprises in a new economy, not to mention the outreach to young minds learning the rudiments of science and technology.

KSTC Projects

• In cooperation with the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, KSTC established the Kentucky Technology Service, Inc. (KTS). KTS spun off from KSTCseveral years ago, becoming Kentucky’s first comprehensive modernization program for small and mid-size manufacturers. Based in Lexington, the non-profit company employs about 20 consultants, most of them engineers. With field offices across the state, KTS helps Kentucky companies to modernize and stay competitive.

• The TELEVILLAGE¨ Initiative was developed by KSTC as a means of aiding communities in reshaping themselves using advancements in information technologies. Through telecommunications this program is expanding options in healthcare, education, business development, and other community concerns.

• Activity-Centered Elementary Science (Kentucky ACES) is a comprehensive hands-on science program developed by KSTC for K-5 teachers. ACES is now a joint project of KSTC and Delta Education, Inc. and is used in over 550 schools in Kentucky.

• The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) was founded by the National Science Foundation to expand science and technology research capability. The statewide EPSCoR office is part of KSTC.

• The Partnership for Reform Initiatives in Science and Mathematics (PRISM) is a joint effort in Kentucky by KSTC and the Kentucky Department of Education. PRISM offers solutions to improve the quality of science and mathematics education for all students, K-12.

• The Gorilla Group is a networking of college students interested in pursuing entrepreneurship. The Gorilla Group project evolved at entrepreneurial workshops sponsored and conducted by KSTC.

• Enterprise Cities is a project managed by KSTC in conjunction with The League of Cities. It is funded by TVA Rural Studies. The mission is to generate more entrepreneurship and locally based companies in cities and communities. Kimel says that he anticipates the program will launch pilot projects in various cities across Kentucky by fall.

• Kentucky Strategic Technology Infrastructure (KSTI) was authorized by Kentucky legislators in 1994. The aim of KSTI is to promote joint university/business ventures by funding R&D projects, technology commercialization and business development.

• Next Generation is a KSTC initiative with funding from BellSouth. The goal is to incorporate entrepreneurial behavior in K-12 education.

Campbell Wood is a staff writer for The Lane Report.