In the December 17, 1999 Issue:
- Mass. Tech. Collaborative Releases 3rd Innovation Index
- Transportation Offers Grants, Requests Input for Research
- Colorado S&T Commission Created
- Biomass Research RFP Opens
- Housing Technology Funds Available
- NASA Inventions Available for Licensing
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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Mass. Tech. Collaborative Releases 3rd Innovation Index
The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) has released its third annual Index of the Massachusetts Innovation Economy. The report tracks and explores the implications of 30 performance indicators on the long-term growth and stability of the Massachusetts economy. When statistics are available, Massachusetts is compared to its “leading competitor states” of California, Colorado, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Texas.
This year’s report includes a special analysis of electronic commerce in Massachusetts. The section highlights policy implications of e-commerce and proposes several recommendations for industry, academia, and government.
After preparing the Index for three years, MTC offers two new sections which demonstrate the relationship or relevance of the Index to state science, technology and development policies. “Lessons from the Index” highlights the strengths and weaknesses found through the process. “Implications for Action” focuses on three concerns for future policy development:
- a continued shortfall of skilled workers in the face of an extremely tight labor market;
- a constraint on the ability of young, entrepreneurial companies to grow into mature, larger businesses; and
- the challenges to the state’s R&D base posed by federal policies and funding decisions.
The MTC Index reports indicators from primary and secondary sources in nine key industry clusters, which represent 24 percent of the state’s non-government employment and 35 percent of private-sector payroll. One measure, Mutual Fund Exports, was dropped from last year’s study.
For each indicator, MTC explains the significance of the measure, graphically presents the data, describes the state’s performance, and interprets the implications of the indicator’s trends for the Massachusetts economy.
Copies of 1999 Index of the Massachusetts Innovation Economy, a 56-page, full-color report, may be obtained from MTC via their website: http://www.mtpc.org or by calling 508/870-0312.
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Transportation Offers Grants, Requests Input for Research
The Federal Highway Administration has requested grant applications and research recommendations for the Transportation and Community and System Preservation Pilot (TCSP) Program. Proposals will be accepted for FY 2001 projects to develop, implement and evaluate transportation strategies which improve the efficiency of transportation systems, reduce environmental impacts of transportation, reduce the need for costly future public infrastructure investments, ensure efficient access to jobs, services and centers of trade, and examine development patterns which achieve these goals.
Entities eligible for funding consideration are limited to: states, local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, tribal governments, and other local and regional public agencies. Public-private partnerships are encouraged.
The Federal Highway Administration also requests that any interested parties submit recommendations for the FY 2001 TCSP research program. The goal of the TCSP research component is to build a knowledge base of related work to enable the development, through transportation activities, of livable communities which meet current and long-term environmental, social equity and economic goals. Applied research activities that may be a part of a grant proposal could benefit the research program. Limited TCSP funding will be available to support research.
Recommendations for FY 2001 research activities should address the following areas: evaluate the results of current community preservation practices, such as green corridors, smart growth strategies, higher density developments, land use controls, etc., develop needed transportation-related tools and methodologies to support decision makers in efforts to balancing economic, social equity and environmental goals by taking a longer term view.
Proposals and research recommendations are due by January 31. The agency anticipates having $25 million available for TCSP. For more information, visit http://tcsp-fhwa.volpe.dot.gov/
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Colorado S&T Commission Created
Colorado Governor Bill Owen has appointed 55 technology executives and public officials to serve on the Governor’s Commission on Science and Technology. The Commission’s purpose is to issue a set of recommendations by late-2000 focused on enhancing Colorado's business climate and creating the technological infrastructure necessary to foster statewide growth of the high technology industry.
Specifically, the group is tasked to:
- review Colorado's current tax, regulatory, and Internet policies and offer the Governor a set of recommendations to pursue as a basis for developing state-level governmental policies.
- assess Colorado's ability to benefit from national and global growth opportunities presented by the explosion in information technology, and to make recommendations designed to leverage public investment by creating more opportunities and incentives to foster the location and growth of high technology businesses throughout the state
- address the shortage of a qualified high technology workforce and to make recommendations on what industry, educators, and government can do to nurture interest in high technology careers, and to develop a highly educated technology workforce in Colorado.
Marc Holtzman, the Governor’s Secretary of Technology, and Lewis Wilks, President of Qwest Communications, Inc., co-chair the Commission. Staff support for the Commission will be provided by the Governor’s Office of Innovation and Technology, which is also leading the state’s electronic government re-engineering project, New Century Colorado.
For more information, visit: http://www.state.co.us/govoit/index.htm
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The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fuels Development has issued Supplemental Announcement 04 to provide financial assistance in support of the DOE Biomass Program. The agency anticipates making several cooperative agreements in FY 2000 for 12-month research and development projects advancing new technologies that will increase the efficiency or lower the cost of producing and converting biomass to transportation fuels.
Three specific interest areas are identified for the solicitation: biomass feedstock collection and storage; conversion technologies; and, pretreatment fundamentals.
The deadline for submitting proposals is January 31, 2000.
Interested parties must use information from the DOE Broad Based Solicitation (DE-PS36-00GO10482) as well as the Supplemental Announcement 04 when applying. For more information on these solicitations, visit http://www.eren.doe.gov/golden/solicitations.html
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Housing Technology Funds Available
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is offering approximately $1 million in financial assistance for the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing Cooperative Research Program (PATH CoRP). PATH encourages the development of innovative housing components and systems, designs, and production methods as well as projects that reduce the amount of time needed to move quality technologies to the market place.
PATH CoRP is seeking proposals in support of the four PATH program goals:
- Reduce the monthly cost of new housing by 20 percent (mandatory for all funded projects)
- Cut the environmental impact and energy use of new housing by 50 percent or more and reduce the energy use in at least 15 million existing homes by 30 percent or more.
- Improve durability and reduce maintenance costs by 50 percent.
- Reduce by at least 10 percent the risk of loss of life, injury, and property destruction from natural hazards and reduce by at least 20 percent residential construction work illnesses and injuries.
Funded proposals must demonstrate that the innovation has the potential to address at least one PATH Goal in addition to the first, mandatory goal.
Project proposals will be accepted in seven areas of interest outlined in the funding announcement. Research projects must be designed to produce at least one tangible result that can be implemented into a new product addressing the PATH goals within an 18 month period.
The PATH CoRP program is open to participation by for-profit or non-profit industry organizations and industry-led teams of organizations. A university, state or local government, or federal government laboratory is not eligible to submit a proposal nor may they administer a project. Any of these entities may participate on a project team, however.
The deadline for proposals is February 7, 2000. The program anticipates awarding 5-10 cooperative agreements ranging from $50,000 - $200,000. Projects may last up to 36 months. A minimum cost-share of 30 percent is required. At least 20 percent of the cost-share must be in cash.
For more information, visit http://www.pathnet.org
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NASA Inventions Available for Licensing
NASA has identified ten government-owned inventions that have been filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and are available for licensing. Invention titles and contact information may be viewed at: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/121799t.htm
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