Copyright State Science & Technology Institute 2002. Information in this issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest was prepared under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration. Redistribution to all others interested in tech-based economic development is strongly encouraged — please cite the State Science & Technology Institute whenever portions are reproduced or redirected. Any opinions expressed in the Digest do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Subscription to the SSTI Weekly Digest is free. If you are reading a forwarded copy of this issue and would like to receive your own copy each week directly, please subscribe at: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/digform.htm Requests to unsubscribe should be sent to sstiwd@ssti.org
NEW YORK SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM FUNDING RESTORED
New York Governor George Pataki amended his proposed FY 1997-98 budget to restore funding for the state's technology programs. Pataki's revised budget calls for more than $20 million for technology programs, almost twice what was originally submitted to the legislature in January.The new request calls for more than $16 million for university-industry projects, including Centers for Advanced Technology (CATs). Funding was also restored for the Industrial Technology Extension Service (ITES) and the Technology Development Organizations (TDOs) which operate New York's Manufacturing Extension Program (MEP). ITES and the TDOs had been eliminated from the Governor's Executive Budget.
Under New York law, the governor submits his proposed state budget at the start of the legislative session, but has an additional 30 days to amend the budget before its consideration by the legislature. Even if the legislature accepts the governor's amendments, the $20.4 million proposal would be a 10 percent decrease from FY 1996-97 funding for similar programs. In recent years, however, the New York legislature has appropriated more for technology programs than was requested in the Executive Budget. New York's fiscal year begins April 1.
ATP WINNERS SELECTED
The National Institute of Standards and Technology announced the winners of the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) 1996 General Competition. Eight research projects, in the areas of electronics, biotechnology, energy and polymer recycling, were selected for funding. The selected projects came from California (4), Colorado (2), Connecticut and Ohio. More than 300 proposals were submitted for the competition.If carried through to completion, the eight projects will be valued at $36.9 million, with approximately $17.6 million in funding from private industry and $19.3 million in ATP funding. The awards are contingent on the signing of formal agreements between NIST and the project proposers.
Additional information on the 1996 ATP competition is available on the ATP home page, http://www.atp.nist. gov or call 301/ 975-2763.
RESULTS IN FROM MANUFACTURERS ECONOMIC GROWTH SURVEY
Results are in from a new nationwide survey of 2,000 manufacturing executives conducted by the National Association of Manufacturing (NAM). Nearly two-thirds of the respondents to the 1997 Survey on Economic Growth believe that a lack of skilled workers is hindering their ability to grow. Sixty-four percent of those surveyed report that a significant number of their entry level employees do not have the skills needed to help increase productivity and growth.NAM also reports that 65 percent of the respondents invest between one and five percent of annual payroll in worker education and training. Eleven percent invested between six and ten percent of payroll while twenty-two percent spend less than one percent of annual payroll on worker development.
When asked what three federal government initiatives have the greatest positive impact on their companies, the respondents indicated comprehensive regulatory reform (54 percent) and less restrictive monetary policy (54 percent). The top vote-getter (57 percent) was "Other" than the nine choices provided in the survey. "Measures to increase the rate of technological advance" received 19 percent of the vote and was ranked as the least important of the options given.
Respondents were asked to identify three tax incentives that would be most beneficial to companies. The three cited the most were: cut the capital gains tax (60 percent); restore the investment tax credit (52 percent); and eliminate double taxation of corporate dividends (36 percent.) Of the nine options "increase and make permanent the R&D tax credit" was the sixth most popular choice with 31 percent.
NAM has 14,000 member companies and subsidiaries, including 10,000 small manufacturers.
Copies of the survey are available by calling Phyllis Rogers at NAM, 202/637-3096.
PANEL MEMBERS SOUGHT
Nominations of individuals to serve on the Sea Grant Review panel are being solicited. The panel advises the National Sea Grant College Program on the operations of the program, including review of applications or proposals for grants and contracts and the designation and operation of sea grant colleges and sea grant regional consortia.Resumes should be sent to Dr. Ronald Baird, National Sea Grant College Program, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 11716, Silver Spring, MD 20910 by March 26. A copy of the full Federal Register notice describing the panel can be obtained by calling SSTI at 614/421-SSTI (7784).
PRABHAKAR TO LEAVE NIST
Arati Prabhakar, director of the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), announced this week that she will be leaving NIST to become senior vice president and chief technology officer of the Raychem Corporation, Menlo Park, Calif.Robert Hebner, who has been NIST acting director since late January 1997 when Prabhakar began maternity leave, will continue to serve as acting director. Hebner became acting deputy director of NIST in 1996, where he has been responsible for the day-to-day operation of the agency and for long-range planning and policy development.
State Science & Technology Institute
5015 Pine Creek Drive
Westerville, OH 43081
Phone: (614) 901-1690
Fax: (614) 901-1696
Email: ssti@ssti.org© 2002 State Science and Technology Institute. All rights reserved.