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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GAO, COMMERCE DISAGREE ON FINDINGS,
BUT AGREE MORE INFO, DATA NEEDED ON IT LABOR
The General Accounting Office recently released its comments on a U.S. Department of Commerce study of the availability of information technology workers.
The GAO reviewed the methodology used by Commerce in preparing its 1997 report America's New Deficit: The Shortage of Information Technology Workers, and determined that there were "serious analytical and methodological weaknesses that undermine the credibility of its conclusion that a shortage of IT workers exists."
GAO states that its criticisms "should not necessarily lead to a conclusion that there is no shortage. Instead, as the Commerce report declares, additional information and data are needed to more accurately characterize the IT labor market now and in the future."
In response, the Department of Commerce observed that its report was "an initial attempt to stimulate discussion on an issue with potentially serious implications for U.S. competitiveness. It was never intended to be an exhaustive analysis of the IT labor market." Commerce argues that for GAO to reach its conclusion "without considering the stated purpose and scope of the report—as well as the totality of the information contained in the report—is unwarranted."
GAO's two major concerns were:
1. The sources of information on which the Commerce report was based.
GAO contends that the Commerce report cites only four sources of evidence to indicate a tightening labor market for IT workers. In GAO's opinion, that was an insufficient number of references.
In addition, Commerce worked with the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) in producing the report and used an ITAA survey of its members to illustrate the potential shortage of IT workers. GAO was concerned that the ITAA's survey response rate of 14 percent was inadequate to estimate the number of unfilled IT jobs. GAO suggested that a 75 percent response rate would be more indicative.
In the Department of Commerce's response to the GAO letter, Commerce took exception to the GAO's findings. Commerce notes that the sources of information in the report were more extensive than suggested by GAO. It also called the expectation of a higher response rate to the ITAA survey "unrealistic."
2. The use of available data in determining the current scale of the IT worker pool and rate of growth of the available workers.
According to GAO, Commerce based its analysis of the demand on job growth on college graduates with bachelor degrees in computer and information sciences. There are not enough workers with those degrees to fill available or future positions. However, GAO contends that while Commerce noted that other likely workers include college graduates with degrees in other fields, workers with advanced degrees or associate degrees, and those who graduated from certification programs, it did not include those workers in analysis of the supply of workers.
Commerce has responded that it acknowledged in the report that many IT workers acquire their skills through alternative education and training paths.
Both the Commerce report and the GAO comments are on the Internet as Adobe Acrobat (pdf) files. America's New Deficit: The Shortage of Information Technology Workers is available at www.ta.doc.gov/reports.htm. The GAO comments (HEHS-98-106) are available at www.gao.gov/ new.items/he98106.pdf
PROPOSALS SOUGHT FOR SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY FOCUS CENTERS
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Office of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E), and the Microelectronics Advanced Research Corp. (MARCO) are soliciting proposals for two semiconductor research centers at U.S. universities.
The Focus Center Research Program in Semiconductor Technology will "address major challenges in semiconductor technology research and development by using the United States research university system to work on long-range innovative research," according to DARPA.
Research to be funded under the program is anticipated to be very high-risk, high-payback, long-term and targeted to silicon integrated circuit (IC) technology.
Two pilot centers will be designated for research in:
*Design and test; and,
*Interconnet.
Approximately $45 million is expected to be available over the next three years to fund the centers.
Only U.S. universities and/or research institutions associated with universities will be considered for funding. Proposals may include other organizations, but those other organizations must be funded by some other means; they cannot receive funding for activities through the proposed Focus Center. Proposals are due May 8, 1998.
Additional information on this program may be retrieved via the World Wide Web at www.darpa.mil/ in the Solicitations area.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ACT MOVES FORWARD IN HOUSE
A bill that would revise Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) provisions has passed the House Subcommittee on Technology. The amended version of the Technology Transfer Commercialization Act of 1997
(H.R. 2544) now moves to the House Science Committee for further consideration.
The bill would amend the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 by revising the requirements regarding a CRADA. Specifically, the bill would repeal provisions relating to restrictions on the licensing of federally owned inventions and replace them with new provisions which, among other things, would:
*Leverage the existing technology transfer rules by allowing federal laboratories to include already existing patented inventions in a CRADA to enhance chances for commercialization;
*Revise public notification requirements to 30 days in order to be able to license federal inventions, and exempt from public notification requirements the licensing of inventions to companies participating in CRADAs;
*Authorize in some instances federal agencies to grant exclusive or partially exclusive licenses on federally owned inventions; and,
*Give first preference for the granting of such licenses to small business firms.
A copy of H.R. 2544 can be found by searching the Library of Congress’ Thomas Jefferson Legislative website at http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d105query. html
WYOMING BUSINESS COUNCIL SEEKS CONSULTANT PROPOSALS
The Wyoming Business Council, a 15-member private sector board of directors that will begin directing economic development activities in Wyoming effective July 1, 1998 is seeking proposals to assist with the transition needed to get the Council organized and operating by July 1. Proposals for consulting services must be received by the close of business, FRIDAY, APRIL 17. For a copy of the request for proposals, contact Pat Neary at 307/766-6797.
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