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 LINKS CENTERS AND SMALL BUSINESS
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has created a program to encourage partner-ships between small firms and existing NSF engineering centers.
In an important change in policy for NSF, it will now provide funding to support research and development collaborations between university researchers and small businesses. NSF acknowledges that "past NSF programs directed at partnering with the States...have focused on university centered research, with industrial firms playing only advisory roles." NSF anticipates that this new initiative will help decrease the time-to-market for developing technologies and increase the economic benefits arising from new technologies. As an added benefit, the program will support efforts to produce engineering graduates who are familiar with industrial practices and problems.
Any State/Industry University Cooperative Research Center (S/IUCRC), Engineering Research Center (ERC), and Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) supported by NSF in FY 1998 or FY 1999 is eligible to apply. Proposals must feature:
- University investigators in the centers working collaboratively and productively with small firms in joint R&D;
- The R&D activities enhancing technology innovation;
- Each R&D effort being an outgrowth of prior research conducted at a center or of new ideas originating at the small firm that are relevant to the center's research objectives.
A small firm participating under this funding opportunity must meet the same criteria as those given for the SBIR/STTR program.
Funds totaling approximately $3 million are being made available for this initiative. One-time awards will be made for 12 to 36 months' duration for a maximum budget of $250,000.
The first round of proposals is due June 15. Subsequent due dates are September 15 and December 15. Optional Letters of Intent are due two months before the proposal due date. Additional information on this program is available by calling SSTI at 614/421-SSTI (7784).
USDA ANNOUNCES SBIR PHASE I AWARDS FOR FY98
The U.S. Department of Agriculture selected 77 proposals from 34 states under its FY 1998 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. Award winners are from the following states:
State# of
Awards
State# of
AwardsAlabama 1 Mississippi 1 Arizona 1 Nebraska 1 California 6 New Jersey 1 Colorado 3 New York 1 Connecticut 1 North Carolina 3 Delaware 1 North Dakota 2 Florida 2 Ohio 1 Hawaii 5 Oklahoma 2 Idaho 2 Oregon 3 Indiana 3 Pennsylvania 2 Kansas 3 South Carolina 2 Lousiana 1 Texas 3 Maine 1 Vermont 3 Maryland 2 Virginia 4 Massachusetts 1 Washington 2 Michigan 6 Wisconsin 3 Minnesota 3 Wyoming 1 The SBIR program at USDA is administered by the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES). A complete listing of the projects is available on the CREES home page at www.reeusda.gov/crgam/sbir/98win.htm
MAINE LEGISLATORS PASS R&D INITIATIVES
Maine lawmakers have passed an R&D investment package to increase the state's research and development capacity. The package includes a $20 million bond issue that must be approved by the voters in November.
The bond initiative would provide:
- $13.5 million to the University of Maine System for capital improvements and equipment purchases to support activities in the target areas of biotechnology, advanced technologies for forestry and agriculture, software engineering and development, advanced materials engineering and development, and marine biology;
- $3 million to the Maine Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF) to invest in a Marine Technology Fund;
- $1.5 million to MSTF for a Research Challenge Grants program for research institutions in the for-profit, not-for profit or academic sectors; and,
- $2 million to the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development toward the development and construction of the Gulf of Maine Aquarium Research Facility.
"Through a broad coalition of organizations across the state, we were able to obtain bipartisan support for these initiatives within the Maine legislature. And we look forward to continuing that work with our partners to get the message out to Maine voters that the R&D bond issue will help create more high-skilled, high-wage jobs and a stronger Maine economy," said Joel Russ, MSTF's Executive Director.
In addition to the bond initiative, the legislature approved $475,000 in supplemental funding for MSTF, including one-time funding for commercialization activities and ongoing support for the Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
Also, the cap for the Maine Seed Capital Tax Credit Program will be raised from $5 million to $7 million over the next two years to stimulate additional private sector investments.
Finally, Maine lawmakers created the Joint Select Committee on Research and Development to monitor the R&D investments and oversee the implementation of the state science and technology plan, "Answering the Call for an Entrepreneurial State."
Additional information on these initiatives is available from MSTF by contacting Robin McGlauflin at 207/621-6350.
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