In the November 12, 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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S&T Programs Funded through Tobacco Settlements
Earlier this year, Michigan initiated plans to spend $1 billion over the next 20 years for life sciences research, development, and commercialization. With this commitment, Michigan became the first state to use its tobacco settlement funds to bolster technology-based economic development programs.

Other states and localities are considering using their share of the tobacco settlement funds for science and technology programs as well.

Recent proposals include:

Maryland: Governor Parris Glendening proposed that the state allocate $500 million, or $50 million per year for 10 years, to develop a statewide cancer care network, build world class clinical and research programs, construct new cancer-fighting infrastructure, and develop specific plans for cancer education, prevention, research, and treatment.

Ohio: This week, the State Senate passed legislation distributing over 12 years $443 million for a biomedical research and technology transfer fund to be administered by the Ohio Board of Regents. Governor Taft had proposed spending $1.8 billion over 25 years on biomedical research.

Oklahoma: The State Regents for Higher Education has called for spending $500 million to develop a state-of-the-art cancer research center in Oklahoma City and a satellite clinic in Tulsa.

San Diego County: The San Diego County Supervisors earmarked $100 million of the $945 million the county expects to receive from the settlement to create a world class cancer center.

Other uses for the tobacco settlement funds have been proposed, including: school construction and technology acquisition, general economic development for counties in tobacco-dependent areas, and  scholarships for college students.

More news on the settlement funds can be found at The Center for Social Gerontology’s home page: www.tcsg.org/tobacco/settlement/updates.htm

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NRC Releases First Phase of ATP Evaluation
As the first Advanced Technology Program (ATP) projects approach their 10th anniversary, many in government, industry and academia are asking the question: Is the program working?

In March 1999, the National Research Council began its contribution to the growing numbers of groups and individuals assessing the impact of the ATP. The Council's Board on Science, Technology and Economic Policy held a special symposium to review the history, operations and economic analysis of the ATP as the first step in a larger evaluation.

The Advanced Technology Program: Challenges and Opportunities is the annotated proceedings from the March 29, 1999 meeting. This report compiles a broad array of perspectives on ATP as well as what the government's role should be in supporting high-risk R&D. The various participants include venture capitalists, small high-tech business owners, Capitol Hill policy makers, and academic researchers in economics.

Copies of the report, The Advanced Technology Program: Challenges and Opportunities (ISBN 0-309-06775-8), are available from the National Academy Press, Box 285, 2101 Constitution Ave., N.W.,  Washington, D.C. 20055, (800) 624-6242.

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Research Funding Offered for Marine Sciences
Financial support for marine science programs have been announced by the National Sea Grant College Program (NSGCP). NSGCP is a network of 29 university-based programs in coastal and Great Lakes states involving more than 300 institutions nationwide in research, outreach, and education.

Businesses, individuals, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations are eligible for funding consideration for the two opportunities described below. Collaboration with Sea Grant university investigators is preferred, but not required.

Application of Marine Biotechnology to Assess the Health of Coastal Ecosystems: Request for Proposals for FY 2000. Approximately $1.5 million is available in FY 2000 (with equal funding anticipated in FY 2001) to support innovative research, education and outreach projects that develop and utilize molecular and cellular biology and its applications to assess the levels and effects of contaminants and pathogens on the health of the coastal ecosystem. Proposals may request up to $300,000 per year for a maximum of 2 years; each selected project must provide non-federal match equal to at least 50 percent of the federal grant amount.

Preliminary proposals must be received before 5:00 pm on December 1 by the nearest state Sea Grant College Program or the National Sea Grant College Office. Contact: Dr. Linda Kupfer, NSGCP, at  (301)713-2435.

National Marine Fisheries Program: Request for Proposals for FY 2000. Preliminary proposals are being accepted to support projects that address critical and high priority problems related to fisheries habitat in U.S. coastal and Great Lakes waters. Funding availability, grant size, matching requirements, and deadlines are the same as described in the above opportunity. Preference, however, will be given to proposals that involve multiple investigators and various federal agencies, and that focus on regional and national issues with broad application. Contact: Dr. Emory Anderson at (301) 713-2435.

More information on the National Sea Grant College Program can be found on the Web at: http://www.nsgo.seagrant.org/

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DOE Funding Opportunities
Last week, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced two funding opportunities of possible interest to members of the science and technology community. Solicitations and more detailed information for each of the following announcements can be found at their respective Internet links.

1) The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy will be soliciting applications for grants and cooperative agreements for public outreach, information dissemination, training and related technical assistance activities involving renewable energy and energy efficiency. A total of between $7.5 and $10.5 million is to be distributed to selected applicants for projects with 6 to 36 month durations. Application due dates will vary by program area. A formal solicitation (#DE-PS01-00EE10722) will be released in mid-November. For more information see: http://www.pr.doe.gov/solicit.html

2) The Office of Power Technologies is offering competitive funding for research and development projects that support the DOE Hydrogen Program. Applications are due by December 15, 1999. This announcement is supplemental to the larger, Broad Based Solicitation for Submission of Financial Assistance Applications Involving Research, Development and Demonstration (DE-PS36-00GO10482). All terms and conditions for the larger program apply. For more information see: http://www.eren.doe.gov/golden/solicitations.html

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Congressional Science Fellowships Available
The American Institute of Physics (AIP) and the American Physical Society (APS) are offering qualified scientists the opportunity to spend a year on Capitol Hill as Congressional Science Fellows. The fellowships provide a mechanism for scientists to make a unique, personal contribution to national R&D policy by applying their knowledge to science-related policy matters while working as a staffer for a Member of Congress or congressional committee.

The two programs are now accepting applications for the 2000-2001 Fellowships. The application deadline is January 15, 2000. Further information on the programs, qualification requirements, and how to apply can be found on the AIP web site at: http://www.aip.org/pubinfo/ or the APS web site at: http://www.aps.org/public_affairs/fellow.html

Since 1973, APS has been one of the 20 to 30 professional scientific and engineering societies that sponsor Fellows annually under a program organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). AIP has participated in the program since 1988. Two other AIP Member Societies, the American Geophysical Union and the Optical Society of America, also participate in the Fellowship program. (For information on the AGU program, see http://www.agu.org/sci_soc/policy/congress_fellow.html   and for the OSA
program, see http://www.osa.org/aboutosa/policy/news/intro.htm .)

In 1973, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers International became the first engineering society to offer a Fellows Program. Prospective candidates can find more information on the ASME program at http://www.asme.org/gric/fedfellow.html

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USDA Offers 50 Biotech, Ag-Related Inventions for Licensing
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has published a list of 50 inventions that are owned by the federal government and are available for licensing. Foreign patents are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for U.S. companies and also may be available for licensing.
A list of all 50 inventions may be viewed at http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/111299t.htm

Technical and licensing information on these inventions may be obtained by writing to June Blalock, Technology Licensing Coordinator, USDA, ARS, Office of Technology Transfer, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Room 4-1158, Beltsville, MD 20705-5131; Telephone: 301-504-5989 or Fax: 301-504-5060.

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