EXECUTIVE ORDER 08-02

WHEREAS, in order to stay competitive in the world marketplace, the State of Kansas must develop an innovation-based economy; and

WHEREAS, the following seven key industry clusters within the Kansas economy show exciting possibilities for future economic growth:  animal health, human health, plant sciences, manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, and energy (“key industry clusters”); and

WHEREAS, achieving an innovation-based economy means Kansas must place more emphasis on education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as increased investment in higher education, including skilled workforce training at community and vocational colleges; and

WHEREAS, Kansas must enhance investment in research and development activities within the key industry clusters; and

WHEREAS, Kansas must ensure it has a skilled workforce by adopting policies to attract and retain workers, including highly trained immigrants and its own educated youth.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Kansas, I hereby create the Kansas Innovation Consortium (“KIC”) with the following purposes and charges:

1. Advise the Governor and the Legislature on strategies for creating an innovation-based economy in Kansas.
2. Develop market opportunities for Kansas businesses in the key industry clusters.
3. Attract and grow capital investment in Kansas.
4. Evaluate ideas for growing more technology-based jobs in Kansas and recruiting and retaining workers for those jobs.
5. Identify resources needed by businesses in the key industry clusters to support research and development.
6. Recommend priorities for funding research in the key industry clusters.
7. Identify fields in which to recruit prominent research scientists and scholars.
8. Foster communication among industry, K-12 and higher education in order to encourage education priorities for increasing proficiency in science, technology, engineering and math and to satisfy workforce recruitment and training needs within the key industry clusters.
9. Define and develop metrics for measuring innovation progress in Kansas.
10. The KIC shall be comprised of ten members appointed by the Governor, with one representative from each of the key industry clusters and three at-large members representing the Kansas workforce as determined by the Governor:
    1. Animal Health
    2. Human Health
    3. Plant Sciences
    4. Manufacturing
    5. Agriculture
    6. Logistics
    7. Energy
11. Members of the KIC shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor, who shall act as co-chair.
12. The KIC will invite representatives or staff from the following agencies or institutions to participate in meetings and provide requested information when appropriate:
    1. The President of Kansas Bioscience Authority, or designee;
    2. The President of Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation, or designee;
    3. The co-chairs of the Governor’s Economic Growth Subcabinet, or their designees;
    4. The Presidents of the following major state research institutions, or their designees:  The University of Kansas, Kansas State University and Wichita State University;
    5. The Commissioner of Education, or designee;
    6. A representative of Kansas community colleges;
    7. A representative of the Kansas Board of Regents; and
    8. The Chair of the Post Secondary Technical Education Authority, or designee.
13. The KIC shall meet quarterly, as determined by the Governor, to carry out the duties outlined in this executive order.
14. The KIC shall continue in existence until its objectives are achieved, but not later than December 31, 2010.
15. Members of the KIC shall not receive compensation, subsistence, allowance or associated expenses.  Officers or employees of state agencies who are invited to participate in the KIC as part of their duties shall be authorized to claim subsistence, mileage or associated expenses as permitted by law.

This document shall be filed with the Secretary of State as Executive Order No. 08-02 and shall become effective immediately.