National Science & Technology Group Selects Overland Park, Kan., for Annual Conference

TOPEKA, Kan., Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (KTEC) is proud to announce that the State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI), the leading national organization dedicated to improving the economy through science and technology, has selected Overland Park, Kan., as the location for its 13th annual conference. This annual conference has grown to become the nation's premiere event for the promotion of technology-based economic development and will be October 20-22, 2009 at the Overland Park Sheraton Hotel.

Overland Park was selected as the conference site after a national competitive bid process. Key in winning the bid was the efforts of KTEC in demonstrating regional commitments to technology innovation, commercialization and entrepreneurship in spurring economic growth throughout the state.

"We are thrilled that SSTI selected Overland Park as the host site for the 2009 conference," said Tracy Taylor, President and CEO of KTEC. "We look forward to showcasing Kansas and the innovative approaches to tech based economic development that KTEC has led and implemented."

The annual SSTI conference attracts more than 350 business leaders and entrepreneurs from across the world to learn from the nation's leading practitioners in technology-based economic development. Previous conference topics have addressed: university commercialization, manufacturing excellence, angel and venture capital needs, business incubators, globalization, and public-private sector collaboration.

Representatives from SSTI made a site visit to Overland Park during the fall of 2007, touring potential facilities and meeting with regional economic development leaders to discuss potential topics, speakers and logistics. Previous SSTI conference locations have included: Cleveland, Baltimore, Oklahoma City, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Seattle and Chicago.

"KTEC's cutting-edge initiatives and history of success in positively impacting the Kansas economy made Overland Park a natural choice to showcase KTEC's successful strategies before a national and international audience," said Dan Berglund, President and CEO of SSTI. "Kansas has a vibrant technology community that boasts innovative programs, such as the Kansas Bioscience Authority, KTEC PIPELINE and the 'Come Home to Kansas' initiative."

More information about SSTI's annual conference is available at: http://www.ssti.org/conference08.htm

About SSTI: The State Science Technology Institute is a national nonprofit organization that leads, supports and strengthens efforts to improve state and regional economies through science, technology and innovation. http://www.ssti.org

About KTEC: Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (KTEC) is a private/public partnership, created by the State to support technology-based economic development in Kansas. Central to this mission, KTEC serves as steward of the state's commercialization "value chain," which works to transform scientific discoveries into market-driven businesses. http://www.ktec.com