John Alexander

Policy

Minnesota’s lifescience players deep into Fall campaign races

After surveying the chaos otherwise known as Fall elections, I can confidently conclude one thing: I don't think Democrat gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton is scoring a lot of votes from the business community, especially the important lifescience industry. So that leaves GOP nominee Tom Emmer and Independence Party favorite Tom Horner vying for lifescience votes.

Devices & Diagnostics

Medical device Launch Pad? Not so fast, says U of M tech transfer chief

Forget "One Life to Live" or "As the World Turns." If you want a real soap opera, look no farther than the University of Minnesota. One week after MedCity News first reported that University Enterprise Laboratories (UEL) and the school's medical device fellowship program were close to a deal to establish MDC Launch Pad, an incubator for companies created by the fellows, the university's top technology transfer official is opposing the project.

News

Republican novice takes on Minnesota House Tax Committee chair

One of the more intriguing races in Minnesota this fall concerns state District 40B in Bloomington, outside of the Twin Cities. There, Republican newbie Sanu Patel-Zellinger is challenging longtime Democrat incumbent Rep. Ann Lenczewski. Patel-Zellinger is unlikely to unseat Lenczewski- you don’t get re-elected five straight times without knowing what you’re doing. But Patel-Zellinger’s campaign […]

News

Minnesota legislature passes historic angel tax credit

The Minnesota House and Senate Monday overwhelmingly approved a five-year, $50 million tax credit designed to spur early-stage investment in high tech start-ups, including biotechnology and medical devices. Minutes after the House passed a jobs bill, which included the angel credits, 112-20, the Senate followed suit, 58-3. The lopsided vote capped an epic, seven-year struggle […]

News

Watered-down angel tax credit

Passing an angel investment tax credit in Minnesota is not important just for the dollar amount but to signal to investors in the Midwest, and indeed the rest of the country, that our state is a serious place to do business; that we are ready to embrace (finally) a commonly accepted way to spur investment […]

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