In the September 24, 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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Maryland Releases Innovation Index

With last week’s release of “The Maryland Innovation and Technology Index 1999,” Maryland became the latest state to release an “S&T report card” as they are also sometimes called. Indices have become popular tools for benchmarking a state’s or region’s comparative position across several technological, economic, and social
statistical indicators. Interest in using broad metrics to assist in the definition of specific state science and technology policy has grown so rapidly that the subject was one of the most requested sessions for the upcoming SSTI annual conference.

The Maryland Index compares the state to five other East Coast states along 42 statistical indicators categorized among three groups:

For each of the 42 indicators, the report addresses why the measure was included in the Index and assesses Maryland’s performance. Because of Maryland’s proximity to Washington, DC and the federal government’s significant influence on the state’s economy and technological profile, the Index covers federal R&D investments and activities in greater detail than most other state indices completed to date. Selected indicators are:

Performance: private sector technology employment by industry and by state; growth in technology employment by industry and by state; the location quotient of Maryland high tech industries; high tech manufactured output; merchandise exports; growth in high tech services output and export receipts; new company generation; entrepreneurial dynamism; number, size, type and comparative share of initial public offerings; high tech wage growth by industry; and, personal income per capita.

Dynamics: patents issued; technology-related venture capital investments; university invention disclosures, patent applications, licenses and license revenues; university-related start-up creation by state; federal technology procurements; ATP, SBIR, and STTR awards; industry-financed R&D expenditures and doctorate-granting institutions; Maryland Industrial Partnerships Programs awards; high technology manufacturing productivity by industry and by state; technology services productivity
by state; and, capital investment in technology businesses.

Resources: R&D as a percentage of gross State Product; R&D performers and federal funding by state and agency; federal obligations for R&D performed in Maryland; distribution of federal funding by agency and share by state; state support for R&D and R&D plant; higher education quality; educational attainment technology-related employment; number of Ph.D. scientists and engineers in the workforce by state; mean wages of technology workers; number and retention of science and engineering graduate students; standardized test scores; and telecommunications infrastructure.

The Maryland index was developed by the Maryland Technology Alliance, an affiliation of private sector, academic, federal, and state government organizations, to develop a factual baseline for strategic technology planning. The Office of the State Technology Coordinator within the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) funded the initiative. The report was prepared by Marsha Schachtel, senior
fellow at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies. The Maryland Technology Alliance is now looking into the policy implications of the findings.

If you have Copies of “The Maryland Innovation and Technology Index 1999,” can be downloaded from the DBED website at: http://www.mdbusiness.state.md.us/reports/

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$15-18 Million Offered for Greenhouse Gas Reduction R&D
On September 9, the Federal Energy Technology Center (FETC) released a Request for Proposals entitled "Research and Development of Technologies for the Management of Greenhouse Gases" (Program Solicitation DE-PS26-99FT40613). Deadlines of January 3, 2000 and May 1, 2000 have been set for two separate evaluation periods.

Projects must address the objectives of the FETC’s Carbon Sequestration Program. Six topic areas are identified and described in the Request for Proposals. Selected projects may last up to 36 months. Total funding available is $15-18 million. Cost sharing, although not required, is encouraged. For more information visit the Federal Energy Technology Center's Electronic Business Center at: http://www.fetc.doe.gov/business/  and click on 1999 Solicitations under the heading, Business Opportunities. Comments and questions regarding the solicitation should be addressed electronically to Deborah J. Boggs, Contracts Specialist, at dboggs@fetc.doe.gov

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TRP Review Finds Benefits
The Undersecretary for Science and Technology of the Department of Defense (DOD) recently released A Review of the Technology Reinvestment Project, a study of 112 of the 133 technology development projects funded through the Technology Reinvestment Program (TRP). TRP projects funded under the Technology Deployment and Manufacturing Education and Training components were not included in the study.

TRP, the largest dual-use technology development effort undertaken by DOD, was managed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) from 1993 - 1997. Nearly $1 billion was awarded through three annual solicitations. While the last solicitation was held in Fiscal Year 1995, many projects are still in progress.

The study found TRP was beneficial at several levels:

* The program proved the feasibility of a new model for Defense research, development and procurement along the lines of dual-use technologies. This model has been incorporated into new DOD programs such as the Dual Use Science & Technology Program (DUS&T), Commercial Operations and Support Savings Initiative (COSSI), and Commercial technology Insertion Program (CTIP).

* The technologies developed through TRP were nearly twice as likely to be successfully transitioned into military service than projects funded under traditional R&D procurements (33 percent versus 18 percent estimated).

* 33 percent of the TRP projects have been successfully commercialized already and an additional 61 percent are expected to be introduced to the commercial market soon.

* TRP’s business-like approaches and practices for project selection and management were attractive to 93 percent of the companies/consortia involved in TRP projects.

The report concludes with several policy recommendations for DOD to consider for its dual use programs. The Appendices include a history of TRP and descriptions of the research and status of each of the 112 projects included in the review.

The study was funded by DARPA and completed by the Potomac Institute of Policy Studies. Copies of the report can be found at: http://www.potomacinstitute.org/pubs/pubs.htm

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Two Positions Available
The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology is seeking to fill two positions at its Gaithersburg headquarters. Both positions — an Evaluation Program Leader and an Evaluation Specialist — will work on MEP program evaluation, economic impact measurement, and data interpretation efforts. Resumes will be accepted until the positions are filled.

Full position descriptions are available for review on the SSTI website (follow the S&T Job Corner link at http://www.ssti.org ).

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People
The following people in the S&T field have announced or made career changes recently:

Anne Armstrong has been named CEO for the Virginia’s Center for Innovative Technology.

Joe Blanco has been appointed the Hawaii Technology Advisor.

Christopher Hagen is serving as Nevada’s Science & Technology Advisor for the next 18 months. The position will be completely funded by Bechtel Nevada, Mr. Hagen’s employer of 22 years.

Chris Hedrick has announced his resignation as the Executive Science & Technology Policy Advisor in the Washington Governor’s Office to join an Internet education company.

Tom Thornton is resigning his position as President of the Illinois Coalition to join a Midwest Venture Capital firm.

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