2008 State New Economy Index Paints New Path for Technology-Based Economic Development (TBED) Policies  The Index, released Nov. 18 by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation and the Kauffman Foundation, employs 29 indicators to assess the extent to which the 50 state economies are structured according to the tenets of the New Economy. The report, which updates and expands on the State New Economy Index reports from 2002 and 2007, ranks the states accordingly. New York ranks 9th.

Supercomputing Centers Take Steps to Expand National Research Capacity   Earlier this year, the Council on Competitiveness released a report on the nature and extent of high-performance computing in the private sector. This investigation found that while international best-in-class firms often make use of high-performance systems to solve complex problems, leading U.S. firms and their suppliers underuse these resources.

University of Rochester's electronic imaging systems center extends its reach   The economic benefit of a program that links university scientists to New York companies doing high-tech work is on the rise. Work by the state- and industry-funded Center for Electronic Imaging Systems based at the University of Rochester gave a $134.5 million boost to companies around the state, according to the center's 2007-08 estimates.

Led by Intel, Chip Makers Cut Outlook  Intel warned that its sales could fall as much as 19 percent in the fourth quarter. Other major players in the chip industry, including Applied Materials and National Semiconductor, offered their own bleak outlooks. The gloomy forecasts suggest that the technology industry is about to enter a slump that will rival or possibly exceed the dot-com bust of 2001.

Stem cells restore hearing, vision in animals  Stem cells from tiny embryos can be used to restore lost hearing and vision in animals, researchers recently said. While there are no immediate uses for humans, they said their findings help describe some of the most basic biological processes underlying the development of hearing and sight, and may help in the development of the new field of regenerative medicine.