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.
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NSF Announces Phase I and Phase II SBIR Awards
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a full list of its FY 1997 Phase I and Phase II award winners for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
The SBIR program provides funding directly to small businesses to conduct research and development for new products, processes and procedures. The following table lists the number of projects funded, by state, for both Phase I and Phase II.
State
# of Phase I Awards
# of Phase II Awards
Alabama
1
1
Alaska
2
1
Arkansas
1
Arizona
8
2
California
37
31
Colorado
12
5
Connecticut
9
5
Delaware
2
1
Florida
2
Georgia
1
Hawaii
1
Illinois
10
1
Indiana
1
3
Kansas
1
Kentucky
1
Louisiana
1
1
Maine
1
Maryland
8
3
Massachusetts
23
18
Michigan
4
2
Minnesota
4
2
Montana
1
Nebraska
1
Nevada
1
New Hampshire
3
1
New Hampshire
3
1
New Jersey
10
8
New Mexico
3
3
New York
9
10
North Carolina
2
1
Ohio
10
4
Oklahoma
3
Oregon
5
2
Pennsylvania
6
2
Rhode Island
1
South Dakota
3
2
Tennessee
1
6
Texas
11
1
Utah
1
1
Vermont
2
Virginia
8
6
Washington
4
3
Wisconsin
1
Wyoming
2
1
Total
215
130
In addition, NSF announced there were nine STTR Phase 1 award winners and six STTR Phase II award winners in FY97.
A complete listing of the successful SBIR and STTR proposals is available from SSTI at 614/421-SSTI (7784).
DOE to Fund R&D for Fuel Cells, Direct Injection Engines, & Fuels
The U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) plans to issue a solicitation for financial assistance applications for research and development on automotive fuel cells, direct injection engines, and fuels. The initiative is in support of the government/automotive industry Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV).
DOE is interested in receiving proposals in three topic areas:
Topic 1 includes research on proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) fuel cells for transportation and buildings;
Topic 2 includes research in (1) compression-ignition direct injection engines (CIDI), (2) spark-ignition direct injection engines (SIDI), and (3) innovative concepts;
Topic 3 includes research on fuels and lubricants.
DOE anticipates that approximately 25 cooperative agreements will result from this solicitation.
Under Topic 1 there will be approximately 12 awards, with periods of performance ranging from 18 to 30 months and total estimated DOE funding of $10 million to $30 million.
Under Topic 2 there will be approximately five awards, with periods of performance of 30 months and total estimated DOE funding of $40 million.
Under Topic 3 there will be approximately eight awards with periods of performance of 36 months and total estimated DOE funding of $10 million.
The solicitation will be available on or about July 1, 1998 on the DOE Chicago Internet Home Page at
http://www.ch.doe.gov/business/ACQ.htm under the heading "Current Acquisition Activities," Solicitation No. DE-SC02-98EE50526. The pre-solicitation notification is currently posted at that site.
Applications will be due August 17, 1998. The cooperative agreements are expected to be awarded on or about March 1, 1999.
Further information regarding the content of the solicitation can be obtained by contacting John O'Keefe, DOE Chicago via e-mail at john.o'keefe@ch.doe.gov.
SBA, Industry Agree to Promote Loans For Solar Energy, Conservation Businesses
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and a solar energy trade group (Solar Energy Industries Association or SEIA) have agreed to work together to promote an SBA loan program that finances small solar energy projects and other energy conservation businesses.
The partnership calls for a joint effort to publicize the terms and availability of SBA's Energy Loans to small businesses in the solar industry. The agreement also calls on SEIA to help train Small Business Development Center personnel on issues specific to the solar energy business.
The Energy Loan program is an SBA 7(a) guaranteed small business loan that recognizes the lending risks associated with alternative energy products. That recognition is built into the credit evaluation standards that are applied to loan applicants. SBA has guaranteed 360 loans totaling $57 million since the program began.
The program allows SBA to guarantee up to $750,000 for small businesses involved with photovoltaic cells and related equipment, solar thermal energy products and other alternative energy products and services that help conserve the nation's energy resources. Loan proceeds can be used to acquire land for facility construction, buildings, machinery, equipment, fixtures, inventory and working capital. Up to 30 percent of loan proceeds can be used for research and development if the business plan shows strong repayment ability or if a product already being marketed needs further development.
More information about the program is available from the SBA field offices.
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