Fifty start-up companies applied for one of two chances to present to potential investors at the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, to be held Nov. 14-15 at Madison's Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center.

The annual conference, which has existed under different names for more than 20 years, will feature the third annual "Elevator Pitch Olympics" for companies in a seed financing stage and a separate Wisconsin Angel Network Early Stage presentation track for companies seeking angel investments beginning in the $500,000 range. About 30 companies will be selected to present in one track or the other.

The $57-billion state budget passed Oct. 23 by the Wisconsin Legislature now goes to Gov. Jim Doyle for review and possible line-item vetoes before it is signed into law. It will take time to sort through the budget's details, but the debate included these items of interest to Wisconsin's technology and research sectors:

-- Tax credits for investors in tech- based start-up companies (Act 255) were retained and expanded in some ways, but further action on the proposed Wisconsin Venture Center was set aside.
-- A new grant and loan program for biofuels and other alternative energies was earmarked for $15 million in the second year of the budget. That's about half of what Doyle wanted, but still enough to leverage Wisconsin's recent award of a $125-million federal research grant tied to production of ethanol from wood waste, plants and other non-food sources.
-- The UW System received an increase in funding that will advance plans by the UW- Milwaukee to build an engineering campus and research park, as well as improvements to the Great Lakes Water Institute.
-- The budget eliminated a recommendation to define digitally downloaded materials such as music, books and software as tangible personal property and therefore subjecting such sales to the sales tax. In addition to concerns about expanding the sales tax base, there were concerns about how the definition would apply to other digitally transmitted reports, such as legal briefs from hired counsel.
-- The budget rejected a proposal to make Wisconsin a member of the multi-state Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement, which would have adopted the identical sales tax definitions of 21 other states. The agreement defines "computer software" in a manner which overturns a Wisconsin Court of Appeals decision that clarified the exempt status of custom software. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has agreed to hear this case, WDOR v. Menasha Corporation, but is yet to rule.
-- The budget includes a proposal to create a new tax credit for 50 percent of the costs to maintain medical records in an electronic form. Total credits would be capped at $10 million, annually, beginning in 2010.
-- The budget included a provision to create a state income tax exemption for Wisconsin Hospital and Educational Facilities Authority bonds, which are issued to pay for information technology hardware or software in a health facility; this will be effective with tax year 2009.
-- Budget writers rejected a proposal to lift the moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power plants in Wisconsin.

Dr. Patricia Gruber, director of research for the Office on Naval Research, will speak at Nov. 6 at UW-Stevens Point during a one- day conference on attracting federal classified research to Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Security Research Consortium, the Marshfield Clinic and UW-Stevens Point are hosting "Resource Rendezvous," an event designed to expose academic and private-sector researchers to opportunities for federal grants and contracts.

The I-Q Corridor Investors' Symposium produced by WAN and held at UW-River Falls drew approximately 200 investors, business leaders and economic and workforce development professionals. The symposium focused on "Collaborating to Compete", how Wisconsin and Minnesota can work together as a region to compete better in a worldwide market place.

Watch the on-demand videos from the Symposium of Governor Doyle's remarks and keynote speaker, Mark Lacek, or download the program manual (2mb file).

• The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience is dedicated to developing global skills in tomorrow's technical leaders. IAESTE-Madison, a non-profit international internship exchange program, is currently seeking Madison-area companies interested in connecting international students with jobs. Internships must be in technical fields such as engineering, life sciences, math, etc. and during spring, summer and/or fall semesters of 2008. For more information contact Devon, president.iaeste.madison@gmail.co m.

• sySTEM Now! stands for strengthening our Youth in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). This consortium of businesses, concerned citizens, educational institutions and public officials is dedicated to improving the quality, quantity and diversity of youth entering the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Milwaukee. Their 4th annual conference will be held in Milwaukee on November 1.

Reader Poll is the newest feature of the WIN eNewsletter! Share your thoughts by voting and view the responses of others.

Reader Poll question of the month:

How strong of an effort are Wisconsin academic institutions making to 'grow and harvest' the next generation of entrepreneurs?

Last month we asked:
How strong of an effect will Wisconsin's new federal biofuels research center have on the state's tech-based economy?
0% said very strong / 67% said strong / 16.5% said moderate / 16.5% said weak / 0% said very weak

syStem Now! Conference, November 1, Marquette University

Resource Rendezvous: Connecting Wisconsin to Classified Research, November 6, UW- Stevens Point, This WSRC-, Marshfield Clinic- and UW-Stevens-sponsored event is designed to expose academic and private-sector researchers to opportunities for federal grants and contracts.

Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, November 14-15, Madison, WI
Mark your calendars! This year's conference features the return of the Elevator Pitch Olympics and "VentureQuest."

Wisconsin Technology Council Board of Directors meeting,
January 8, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., We Energies' headquarters, Milwaukee; Requests to host a future meeting may be directed to Ryann Petit-Frere at ryannp@wisconsintechnologyco uncil.com

Promote your community events on the Tech Council website by visiting www.wisconsintechnologyc ouncil.com/events/community

Joining your local Wisconsin Innovation Network (WIN) Chapter offers networking connections with a variety of industries and professionals in high tech, law, banking, government, public relations, manufacturing, and local entrepreneurs. Your next client/customer/partner is only "six degrees of separation" away.

Click here to join your local WIN Chapter or to learn more about us.