In the April 21, 2000 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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Guide Available of Best Practices in Technology Innovation Centers
Technology Innovation Centers (TICs), defined broadly to include incubators, business support programs and web services, direct providers, and facilitators/gatekeepers, can be successful instruments for technology-based economic development if done properly, according to the San Diego Regional Technology Alliance's recent report Technology Innovation Centers: A Guide to Principles and Best Practices. The report provides public and private organizations with key tools for getting their technology innovation center off to the right start.

The guide begins by identifying and explaining four basic principles for TIC development: focus on wealth generation, encourage the entrepreneurial spirit, provide value to client businesses and stakeholders, and operate the center as a business. The principles themselves reveal the transformation underway in technology-based economic development. Principle one, for instance, encourages centers shift their focus to the drivers of entrepreneurial activity, such as wealth generation, and away from the traditional measures of job creation, revitalization and capitalization. It is argued that these traditional goals of public sector programs will be realized as a secondary result of addressing the needs and drives of their entrepreneurial private businesses.

Eleven best practices of technology investment centers, listed below, receive considerable attention throughout the guide.

The guide goes into considerable detail on technology innovation center administration and management. A six-step outline for developing a value-added resource network for client businesses is found in Appendix D. As with the several of the best practices, the outline is broad enough to have application or value for several other technology-based economic development initiatives programs as well.

The guide was developed through a grant to the California Trade and Commerce Agency by the Economic Development Administration. Contact Amelia Folkes of the San Diego RTA (afolkes@sdrta.org) for more information or a copy of the report.

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Comments Sought on New DOD Challenge Program
The Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics of the Department of Defense seeks comments on the department’s design for the new Challenge program. This program, required in the FY 2000 National Defense Authorization Act, is designed to increase the adoption of innovative technologies in acquisition programs. Consistent with a 1997 Defense Science Board study, the Challenge program design team has found that there is little competitive pressure -- in fact, there are internal disincentives -- for prime contractors to adopt outside, innovative technologies into an acquisition program after award has been made. The Challenge program, then, would foster competition among alternative technological approaches and suppliers wherever possible in the development of subsystems of DOD acquisition programs and to create other incentives and opportunities for insertion of new technology throughout the acquisition cycle.

Challenge will be pilot tested in at least 20 Acquisition Category 1 or 2 programs. An initial review of the Challenge program’s effectiveness and continuation after the pilot period is scheduled to be completed in 2002 by the Offfice of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.

DOD requests comments on the following issues: (a) program implementation during the pilot period; (b) criteria for evaluating the pilot program; and (c) consideration in deciding whether and how to continue the program after the pilot period. To view the document, visit the Federal Register (web link available through SSTI’s Resources page http://www.ssti.org/resources.htm), April 12, 2000, pgs. 19744-19746.

Written comments are due by May 12, 2000 to Jon Baron, OUSD (At&L)/SABDU, 1777 North Kent Street, Suite 9100, Arlington, Virginia 22209 or via email at baronj@acq.osd.mil

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MTDC Profiled in Latest SSTI Program Brief
Established in 1978 and entirely self-supported beginning in 1988, the Massachusetts Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) has one of the longest records of success for state-sponsored venture capital corporations. SSTI has completed an eight-page profile of MTDC as the fourth in an occasional series examining the diversity of approaches to technology-based economic development.

The MTDC profile includes background on the creation of the corporation, description of MTDC activities and funds, information concerning organizational structure and staffing, a summary of accomplishments, and lessons learned over MTDC's 22 year history. Challenges, future plans, and sample success stories are also highlighted in the Program Brief.

Other SSTI Program Briefs have been prepared on the Kansas Commercialization Centers, the California Regional Technology Alliances, and the Maryland Investment Financing Programs. All four program briefs may be downloaded for free from the SSTI web site: http://www.ssti.org/Publications/online.htm

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60 Researchers Receive Presidential Honors
President Clinton has named 60 researchers as recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Established in 1996, the PECASE award is the highest honor that is given to exceptional scientists and engineers who are in the preliminary stages of their independent research careers. The award is also designed to help sustain the nation’s leading edge in scientific research.

Eight federal departments participate in the nominations process by selecting individuals who advance science and technology projects that will help to further the agencies’ missions. Nominations from all eight departments were awarded. The participating federal agencies and their number of awards are as follows:

Each award recipient receives $500,000 over a five-year period to further their study in support of important government missions.

For more information about the PECASE awards, visit: http://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/pecase/start.htm

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DOE R&D Funding Opportunities
The Department of Energy has the following solicitations, request for proposals, and funding announcements that may be of interest to the S&T community.

The Department of Energy invites applications for basic research experiments in high energy density and laser matter interaction studies at the National Laser User’s Facility (NLUF) located at the University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics (UR/LLE). Universities and other higher education institutions, private sector not-for-profit organizations, and other entities are eligible to apply. Approximately $1,400,000 in total funding is anticipated for the 2001-2002 program cycle. Multiple awards are anticipated. The deadline for applications is May 10, 2000. The full proposal can be obtained by sending an email request to janice.williams@oak.doe.gov

The Golden Colorado Field Office of the Department of Energy requests proposals for cooperative agreements to pursue scientific and engineering research and development in enabling technologies. The solicitation focuses on those areas that have the potential for cross-cutting applications in the field of energy efficiency across the transportation, industrial, and building sectors. Approximately $10.7 million in funding is anticipated. Ten to fifteen proposals will be awarded with individual awards ranging from $300,000 to $1 million. A minimum cost share requirement of 20 percent may be waived for projects involving basic and applied research. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, national laboratories, state government agencies, and individual researchers located in the United States. Notice of intent to submit an application must be e-mailed to goscience@nrel.gov. To view the complete solicitation, visit: http://www.eren.doe.gov/golden/solicitations.html

The Idaho Operations Office of the Department of Energy seeks applications for projects to verify electrical power generating potential of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). A maximum of ten $200,000 awards will be granted for Phase One definition studies. The period of Phase One is estimated to be four months in length. Eligible applicants include for profit and non-profit organizations, state and local governments, Indian tribes, and institutions of higher learning. The deadline for proposals is May 24, 2000. For more information, contact: http://www.id.doe.gov/doeid/psd/proc-div.html

The Office of Basic Science of the Department of Energy seeks proposals for collaborative partnerships between academic or industrial researchers from states eligible for the DOE Experimental Program to Stimulate Cooperative Research (EPSCoR) program and researchers at DOE’s National Laboratories, facilities, and centers. The purpose of the request is to encourage partnering that builds energy-related research programs with participation of students, postdoctoral fellows, and young faculty within EPSCoR states. Approximately $3,000,000 in total funding will be available. Individual award maximums of $150,000 per year will be granted with terms ranging from one to three years. The deadline for pre-applications is October 3, 2000 with formal applications due January 16, 2001. More information is available at: 
http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/bes/EPSCoR/APPLI1.htm

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NIH and Navy Inventions Available for Licensing
The National Institutes of Health and the Department of the Navy have published lists of six inventions and three inventions, respectively, that are owned by the federal government and are available for licensing. Foreign patent applications may be filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for companies and may also be available for licensing.

Both the lists and contact information are available for review on the SSTI website at: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/042100t.htm

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