In the August 20, 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.

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NSTC Seeks Input for Reform of Federal S&T Policy
The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Committee on Technology has called for issue papers to identify top priorities and outline ideas for reforming federal support of science and technology. The agency is seeking papers as a contribution to the development of a long-term action plan for improving federal policies, regulations, and programs to foster science and technology innovation.

While numerous reviews and articles have been written recently about the innovation process, the NSTC Committee on Technology believes this call for papers is the first attempt to develop a specific plan for  reforming federal support of innovation and establishing national priorities for action.

Papers are to be no more than five pages and may address four specific interest areas identified in the request. NSTC would like to see papers concerning federal policy and/or regulations that:

Responses to the call for papers will be used to formulate an agenda for an NSTC workshop to be held November 30 and December 1, 1999. Subsequently, the Committee on Technology will develop a longer-term action plan for addressing specific reforms to federal policies concerning a national innovation system.

September 17, 1999 is the deadline for submitting issue papers. NSTC requests they be submitted electronically to: information@ostp.eop.gov.

Additional information, further submission requirements, and a copy of the call for papers may be obtained by sending a request to the same e-mail address.

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Michigan Commits $1 Billion to Life Sciences R&D & Biotechnology Commercialization
With a $50 million appropriation in FY 2000, the State of Michigan has made the first installment toward spending $1 billion over the next 20 years for life sciences research, development, and commercialization. The funding is derived from Michigan's tobacco settlement. Other public and private sources are expected to match much of the state's investment over the two decades.

In late July, Governor John Engler signed a bill funding a "life sciences corridor," an effort to make four Michigan research institutions -- the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, and the Van Andel Institute -- among the nation's most important for biotechnology applications.

The annual allotment will be portioned out to three program areas:

All three programs will be administered by MEDC with oversight offered by a 14-member steering committee to be appointed by the Governor.

Life Sciences was one of three industries targeted in Smart State: Michigan, released earlier this year (see article in the May 14, 1999 SSTI Weekly Digest). The other two were information technology and advanced manufacturing. More information on all of the new Michigan initiatives can be obtained from MEDC at http://medc.michigan.org/

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President Calls for Biobased Products, Bioenergy Strategy
President Clinton has issued an Executive Order to develop and promote biobased products and bioenergy as economically viable alternatives to fossil fuel-based production and energy generation. The order calls for the development of a national strategy that includes research, development, and private sector incentives to stimulate the creation and early adoption of technologies needed to make biobased products and bioenergy cost competitive.

The Executive Order specifically outlined the following three action items for the departments of Agriculture, Energy, and Treasury, and the EPA:

President Clinton's remarks may be found under What's New on the White House website http://www.whitehouse.gov/

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Markle Foundation to Donate $100 Million for Public Use of Internet
The Markle Foundation has announced plans to give away $100 million -- more than half of the Foundation's current endowment -- over the next five years for projects and programs to improve public benefit from the Internet. Recipients will include non-profit organizations as well as for-profit companies.

Awards are concentrated in four areas:

Public Engagement through Interactive Technology -- "supports research, applications, and experimentation that encourage the use of communications technology for active engagement in the pursuit of knowledge and for effective participation in democratic society."

Policy for a Networked Society -- "works to enhance the public voice in the consideration and resolution of domestic and international policies that are surfacing in this new communications environment."

Interactive Media for Children -- "is a comprehensive research effort into the cognitive, emotional, physical and developmental needs of children and the potential of interactive technologies to meet them."

Information Technologies for Better Health -- "works to give patients and doctors the ability to make use of information that can enhance health and health care." (closed until January 2000)

Grants have ranged from as little as $1,000 to $4.5 million, which was awarded to Oxygen Media for research on converging media.

More information on this opportunity may be found on the Markle Foundation's website: http://www.markle.org/index.html

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People
The following people in the S&T field have announced or made career changes over the past few months:

Phil Singerman, the head of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Adminstration, has been named president of the new Maryland Technology Economic Development Corporation.

Catherine Renault, managing director of Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology, has accepted a position with Advantage Consulting.

Cary Nourie has been named Vice President of Policy and Planning for the Illinois Coalition; he previously was with the North Carolina Governor's Washington Office.

Brent Gregory has announced his resignation as Vice President for Technology Development with Enterprise Florida to accept a position in the private sector.

Douglas Goodall has been appointed CEO of Innovation Works, the successor to the Ben Franklin Technology Center of Western Pennsylvania.

Patrick Quinlan, a former staffer for Rep. George Brown, has been selected as the ASME Fellow in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

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