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In the October 24, 1997 Issue:

NEW MICROELECTRONICS PROGRAM BEING PLANNED

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), in cooperation with members of the semiconductor industry and the U.S. Department of Defense, is launching a new initiative to expand certain long range applied microelectronics research at U.S. universities.

This planned new initiative, the Focus Center Research Program, is being structured to utilize long range innovative applied research to meet industry needs. The envisioned Centers will:

Concentrate attention and resources on those areas of microelectronics research that must be addressed to maintain the historic productivity growth curve of the industry;

Strengthen the university research infrastructure and expand its capabilities in silicon related research;

It is contemplated that individual Focus Centers will be virtual (or distributed), in that they will typically consist of multiple universities. This will allow for harnessing the expertise of a number of institutions in order to build the overall capability in a particular technology area. Each Center will address one of the major technology focus areas of the National Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (NTRS).

Funding for each of the Focus Centers is targeted to be approximately $10 million/year when the Center is fully operational. If the concept proves to be successful, up to six centers will be funded for a total annual funding level of $60 million.

Detailed solicitation procedures are currently being developed. It is anticipated that the selection of universities will be made on an open competitive basis. In addition to technical merit, a key criterion for selection will be the willingness to collaborate with or sub-contract to other universities.

Solicitation documents will be issued by the Microelectronics Advanced Research Corporation (MARCO), a non-profit research management organization that will be responsible for the program. Solicitation schedules will be made available through the MARCO Web site at http://marco.fcrp.org . Interested parties are encouraged to regularly check this site for further announcements.

NSF FUNDS THREE EARTHQUAKE RESEARCH CENTERS

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has selected three centers to conduct and coordinate earthquake engineering research for the nation. The contracts call for NSF to invest $2 million a year for five years in each of the three centers for a total of $30 million.

NSF selected the three centers for their individual and complementary strengths. The University of California at Berkeley's Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center will develop technologies to reduce urban earthquake losses.

The second center, the University of Illinois Mid-America Earthquake Center at the Urbana-Champaign campus, will emphasize reducing potential earthquake losses in the central and eastern U.S. by concentrating on problems associated with low-frequency seismic events.

Finally, the State University of New York at Buffalo's Center for Advanced Technologies in Earthquake Loss-Reduction will focus on the application of advanced and emerging technologies to reduce earthquake losses. Improved performance loss assessment of buildings and civil infrastructure will be explored, as well as rehabilitation of critical facilities, and emergency response and recovery.

Each of the centers will form a consortium of public and private institutions committed to integrated research and education activities. To date, 22 other institutions have been designated to be involved with the centers.

For more information on the three NSF funded Earthquake Engineering Research Centers, contact the following public affairs officers:

Jesus Mena, UC Berkeley: jmj@pio.urel.berkeley.edu

James Kloeppel, University of Illinois: kloeppel@uiuc.edu

Donald Goralski, SUNY Buffalo: goralski@acsu.buffalo.edu

 

DOE SEEKING GEOTHERMAL RESERVOIR TECHNOLOGY

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Idaho Operations Office (ID) is seeking applications for research, development and demonstration (field testing) in the area of Geothermal Reservoir Technology.

The objective of this solicitation is to support research, development and demonstration in the earth science and reservoir engineering aspects of hydrothermal resources. The research in this program is intended to combine laboratory and analytical investigations with equipment development and field testing to evaluate the utility of various analytical techniques.

Projects are sought in three interrelated research areas: 1) Exploration Technology B research to provide better tools, methods and data for resource identification; 2) Production and Injection Technology Bresearch to reduce the risks associated with reservoir performance and to gain a better understanding of the effects of fluid injection into producing reservoirs; 3) and Advanced Brine Chemistry Technology B research to predict the chemical interaction of geothermal fluids and injectate with rocks, wells, and surface pipes.

DOE anticipates awarding several financial assistance grants/cooperative agreements. Applications identifying a project period for two years or less may be eligible for DOE funding of up to $700,000 for the entire project period. Projects for longer than two years may not exceed $400,000 per year of DOE funding.

This solicitation will remain open for two years. Applications may be submitted at any time during the open two year solicitation period, October 1, 1997, through September 30, 1999. For further information contact: Carol Bruns, Contract Specialist, telephone 208/ 526-1534, fax 208/526-5548, e-mail brunscl@inel.gov

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

October 29, 1997

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers will sponsor Accessing Technology in Rhode Island.  The briefing will provide information on state and federal technology resources available to assist businesses. For more information contact Reese Meisinger at 202/785-3756 or meisingerr@asme.org

October 29 - 30, 1997

The National Technology Transfer Center is hosting a training course entitled Technology Assessment in Ridgecrest, CA. For more information call 800-678-6882, or visit http://www.nttc.edu

November 10-11, 1997

The Red Herring magazine is presenting a venture capital conference entitled Venture Market East in Cambridge, MA. For more information, contact Tom Geck at 415/659-2871 or visit www.herring.com/events

November 11-12, 1997

The Mid-Atlantic Venture Association and the Greater Philadelphia Venture Group is hosting the 1997 Mid-Atlantic Venture Fair in Vienna, VA. For more information call 410/560-5855 or visit www.mava.org.

November 12-15, 1997

The National Business Incubation Association is sponsoring its annual Fall Training Institute entitled Incubating Successful Companies in Birmingham, AL. The program will offer two simultaneous workshops: Incubator Development A-Z: 60 Steps to Breakeven and Orchestrating Client Assistance: Keys to Effective Business Development. For more information, contact NBIA at 614/593-4331 or visit http://www.nbia.org.

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