In the May 21, 1999 Issue:

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

NSF, EPA Looking for Sustainable Environment Technology
The Environmental Protection Agency and the National Science Foundation have announced approximately $5 million will be awarded in FY 2000 for grants to support research toward "Technology for a Sustainable Environment."

Entities eligible to submit proposals include universities and not-for-profit institutions. The agencies anticipate making 20 grant awards for the solicitation in January 2000. Proposals are due July 26, 1999.

The competition is designed to address pollution avoidance/prevention processes, methodologies, and technology research. Research proposals are invited that advance the development and use of innovative technologies and approaches directed at avoiding or minimizing the generation of pollutants at the source.

Research projects are possible in the general areas of: chemistry for pollution avoidance or prevention; engineering for pollution avoidance and prevention; chemical processes and reaction engineering; simulations, modeling, sensors, and feedback techniques for pollution avoidance and prevention; and industrial ecology.

The competition is not intended to address issues related to waste monitoring, treatment, remediation, recycling, or containment other than those aspects that pertain to in-process recycling of waste. Research in the areas of remediation and treatment of hazardous materials is supported by other program activities in both agencies.

Projects that are "on the cutting edge" or are "high-risk/ high-payoff" are encouraged. Projects also will be considered that show the potential to change research infrastructure, by developing teams, using systems approaches, introducing new ways of conducting research.

Cost sharing for the program is limited to 30 percent of all equipment expenses above $10,000 for proposals funded by NSF; EPA has no cost share requirement.

The "Technology for a Sustainable Environment" program is part of the NSF/EPA Partnership for Environmental Research, currently in its fifth year of making awards. Other research areas targeted this year include: water and watersheds; decision-making and valuation for environmental policy; and environmental statistics.

More information on the current program announcement can be found on the web at: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/1999/nsf99108/nsf99108.txt  

Return to the top of this page

Delaware Creates Biotech Institute and Passes R&D Tax Credit
Delaware increased its commitment to technology businesses recently with two new initiatives: the creation of the Delaware Biotechnology Institute and the passage of a state research and development tax credit.

Delaware Biotechnology Institute
Governor Thomas R. Carper requested $10 million in his Fiscal Year 2000 budget for the new Delaware Biotechnology Institute. The effort is described as a virtual partnership of the Delaware Economic Development Office, Delaware State University, the University of Delaware, the Delaware Technical & Community College, and the private sector.

The Biotechnology Institute builds off of industry/academia collaboration fostered through the state's Advanced Technology Center program, which first funded the Center for Agricultural Biotechnology at the University of Delaware in 1996.

R&D Tax Credit
The new Delaware Research and Development Tax Credit permits companies to claim credits against either a business' corporate income tax or, where applicable, against personal income tax for qualified research expenses conducted within Delaware. The state's total exposure in any given year for the credits is limited to $5 million. If demand exceeds the $5 million cap, receipts will be pro rated across all applicants. Unused credits may be carried forward for up to 15 years.

The first credits will be granted in December 2001 for tax year 2000 expenses.

Return to the top of this page

USDA and Commerce Announce SBIR Awards
The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Commerce have announced their selections for the 1999 Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase I competition. The following table provides the statistics by state for both agencies. Lists of the winning firms and award information may be found on the agencies' SBIR websites at the following:

USDA: http://www.reeusda.gov/crgam/sbir  

Commerce: http://ois.nist.gov/sbir  

STATE USDA

Commerce

STATE USDA Commerce
AK 1 -- MO -- 2
AZ 2 -- MT 1 --
CA 6 9 NH 1 1
CO 2 -- NJ 3 1
CT 1 1 NM 1 --
FL 1 2 NY 5 --
HI 6 -- NC 3 --
ID 2 -- OH 2 --
IN 3 -- OR 4 --
IA 1 -- PA 1 2
KS 4 -- RI -- 1
KY 2 -- SC 1 --
LA 1 -- TX 5 2
ME 3 -- VT 2 --
MD 1 3 VA 1 1
MA 5 1 WA 3 --
MI 3 -- WI 4 --
MS 1 -- WY 2 --
MO -- 2 TOTAL 84 26

Return to the top of this page

SSTI Digest Story Updates

702 Vie for TIIAP Funds
Update to SSTI Weekly Digest 1/22/99 article:

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the Department of Commerce received 702 applications for the Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP). All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands were represented in the pool of applicants.

Total funding requested by the applicants was $278 million; TIIAP has only $17 million available for awards in Fiscal Year 1999. Awards will be announced in September.

A list of all 702 applicants was posted in the Federal Register on April 30 (Vol. 64, No. 83, pages 23518-23524). More information can be found on the TIIAP website: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/tiiap/index.html

29 EPSCoT Proposals Submitted
Update to SSTI Weekly Digest 3/26/99 article:

The Technology Administration of the Department of Commerce received 29 proposals from 23 states in response to the 1999 Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Technology (EPSCoT) solicitation. Five of the proposals involve multi-state collaborations.

Interest in the program is growing. Last year, 25 EPSCoT applications were received from 18 of the 19 eligible states.

Anita Balachandra, EPSCoT Director, anticipates award announcements will be made in late August or early September.

Missouri Seed Capital Fizzles
Update to SSTI Weekly Digest 2/26/99 article:

Efforts to create a $10-million-per-year, technology-based seed capital fund in Missouri died in the state legislature after the Monsanto Co. and other businesses raised opposition to the program’s funding mechanism. The proposed legislation had called for a temporary 50-percent reduction in the state’s R&D tax credit to capitalize the seed fund.

Currently, $11.5 million or 69 percent of the R&D tax credits are captured by Monsanto, Southwestern Bell and Boeing.

Last year, Monsanto also received a $25 million tax credit from the state for a plant science research center.

Return to the top of this page

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.