Section 8320 - Applicant Evaluation(a) Following the submittal, the application will be reviewed by a Review Committee based on a scoring mechanism described below evaluating each of the "Evaluated Criteria" specifically listed as follows:(1) Identified commercial market focus and plan(2) The Applicant's management structure and plan(3) The Applicant's management team's experience(4) Proximity to a "state of the art" technology center(5) Job development and business creation(6) Planning and local incentives(7) Sustainability of services and management(8) Community engagement and support(b) Each Review Committee member shall individually score each Applicant based on the Evaluated Criteria set forth in subsection (a) above considering the following factors described below for each Evaluated Criteria and awarding the following points for each Evaluated Criteria based on a scale of 1-5 ("5" meaning "Outstanding", "4" meaning "Above Average", "3" meaning "Average", "2" meaning "Below Average" and "1" meaning "Needs Work"). The points awarded to each Evaluated Criteria will then be tallied (with a maximum score of 40 points (8 Evaluated Criteria x 5)) and averaged to reflect the average score of the Review Committee. Each Applicant will then be compared to one another and ranked. (1) Identified commercial market focus and plan(A) Review Committee member shall consider:(i) Commercial market focus; and(ii) Description of Applicant's specific assets in the proposed iHub market (e.g. natural assets, which include but are not limited to access to local universities and colleges, technology based start-up community, labs, business support, local funding etc., within the region that support the proposed market).(2) The Applicant's management structure and plan (A) Review Committee members shall consider whether:(i) The Applicant clearly defines who will act as the iHub coordinator and specifically identifies responsibilities; and(ii) The Applicant clearly explains how the day-to-day operations and communications will be addressed.(3) The Applicant's management team's experience (A) Review Committee members shall consider: (i) The Applicant's management team and its experience, including each one's capabilities, education (including, but not limited to, demonstrated experience with incubation programs, technology transfer and licensing and intellectual property management) and proposed objectives.(4) Proximity to a state of the art technology center (A) Review Committee members shall consider whether:(i) The Applicant's region is anchored by an existing or planned state of the art technology center;(B) If a state of the art technology center exists, Review Committee shall consider the following questions:(i) Does the Applicant list the features that are currently available?(ii) How much work space is available?(iii) Does the available work space provide sufficient space for start-up companies?(C) If a state of the art technology center is planned:(i) What is the timeframe for the state of the art technology center to come into existence?(ii) What features will the state of the art technology center have?(5) Job development and business creation (A) Review Committee shall consider whether: (i) the number of jobs that will be created within the proposed iHub is exponential considered to the status quo (i.e. economic impact of proposed iHub);(ii) The Applicant plans to enhance job development in the region;(iii) The Applicant is focused on business creation;(iv) The Applicant has adequately addressed how to support new businesses; and(v) The Applicant has sufficiently described the economic impact of the proposed iHub.(6) Planning and local incentives (A) Review Committee shall consider whether: (i) The Applicant has identified and, where applicable, applied for local, state and federal tax incentives;(ii) The Applicant has identified land use and development incentives; and(iii) Local government has plans to introduce incentives to benefit the proposed iHub.(7) Sustainability of services and management (A) Review Committee shall consider whether: (i) Financial support exists for the proposed iHub;(ii) Person or persons are available to seek and apply for innovation and economic development or research grants to raise capital for the proposed iHub; and(iii) There is a plan to have members of the proposed iHub stay connected and informed about its progress through regular meetings or other communication methods.(8) Community engagement and support (A) Review Committee shall consider whether the Applicant has local government, community and non-profit support for the proposed iHub (i.e. letters of support).(c) Based on the cumulative scores of each Applicant, the Review Committee will make a recommendation to GO-Biz, who is then charged with making final designations.(d) GO-Biz, with a recommendation from the Review Committee, shall evaluate Applicant based on the following factors: (1) Statement of purpose;(2) Focus area of the iHub which must include industry sectors or other targeted areas for development and growth;(3) Statement of cooperation;(4) Articulation of organizational experience including capability statements, related programs as well as any additional critical factors for achieving the proposed objectives along with the following:(A) Experience with technology transfer/licensing; and(B) Demonstrated experience with intellectual property management.(5) iHub management structure;(7) Goals and metrics to be achieved with the certification of the iHub;(8) Commercial market focus and plan;(9) Proposed iHub regional assets and resources available to support and guide emerging companies.(10) Experience with innovation programs;(11) iHub's physical boundary;(12) Evidence of community engagement and support; and(13) The process described for collaborating with education institutions within the iHub's physical boundaries to develop training programs that lead to industry-recognized credentialing.(e) GO-Biz will issue a notice specifying the conditions the Applicant must satisfy in order to obtain final designation. If the specified conditions are not met within the specified period in the letter of conditional designation, the Applicant will lose its designation.(f) The Applicant with a conditional designation is not considered an official iHub until all conditions have been met.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 10, § 8320
1. New section filed 3-22-2017; operative 3-22-2017 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2017, No. 13). Note: Authority cited: Sections 12099.3 and 12099.4, Government Code. Sections 12099.3 and 12099.4, Government Code.
1. New section filed 3-22-2017; operative 3/22/2017 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2017, No. 13).