In the April 28, 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.

Subscription to the SSTI Weekly Digest is free. If you are reading a forwarded copy of this issue and would like to receive your own copy each week directly, please subscribe at: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/digform.htm Requests to unsubscribe should be sent to sstiwd@ssti.org

Maryland’s E-Commerce/Technology Initiatives Enacted
Our thanks to SSTI Weekly Digest subscriber Chris Brantley of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers, Inc. <www.ieee.org> for the heads up on this story.

On April 25, Governor Parris Glendening signed 12 acts of the state legislature dealing with information technology and technology-based economic development. Of particular interest is HB 1209 which makes several revisions to the Maryland Science, Engineering, and Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO).

Established in 1998, TEDCO links technology companies with Maryland universities and federal labs. The legislation: (1) authorizes TEDCO to make grants to and other direct investments in Maryland technology companies; (2) shortens the name to the Maryland Technology Development Corporation; (3) increases the size of the Board to 15 to bring additional private sector expertise; (4) permits TEDCO to protect trade secrets and other proprietary information; and (5) extends liability protection to TEDCO employees.

Also of note, HB 276 establishes a CEO Board of Advisors for E-Commerce and an eMaryland Application Service Provider Consortium to assist in Maryland's efforts to create the most advanced electronic business environment in the nation and become an international leader in the deployment of new Internet technologies. The bill also provides the consortium with a funding stream through a Information Technology Investment Fund (ITIF).

HB 794 provides a Sales and Use Tax exemption for digital telecommunications machinery and equipment that enables a television or radio station to receive or broadcast digital signals. The machinery or equipment must have been purchased to comply with federal rules for the implementation of digital television (DTV). The exemption applies to all sales from January 1, 2000 to January 1, 2008 and is expected to result in a decrease in general funds of approximately $1.7 million over a six-year period.

More information is available at: http://www.techmd.state.md.us/ or TEDCO’s website: http://www.mdtech.org/ 

Return to the top of this page

NASA Looks to Improve Cooperation with Universities
Seeking to strengthen its relationship with academia and industry, NASA Administrator Dan Goldin appointed Spence (Sam) Armstrong, Lieutenant General USAF (retired), as his Senior Advisor. Goldin directed Gen. Armstrong to give first priority to partnerships and cooperation with universities. The urgency of this priority was to establish definite plans for this enhanced relationship in time for Congressional hearings on the 2001 budget and the NASA budget call to its centers for the 2002 plan. The agency also believes closer cooperation with universities will help for recruitment of the best and brightest talent workforce now that the NASA is hiring again.

As a result, NASA is now circulating a white paper soliciting suggestions on how to implement programs of NASA/university cooperation along the following six themes:

A strategy and implementation plan will be developed by NASA based on the recommendations received. Comments should be directed to Gen. Armstrong at 202-358-1807 or spence.armstrong@hq.nasa.gov  More information, including a copy of the white paper, can be found at: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/codea/codeac/

Return to the top of this page

STC Launches S&T Planning Initiative for South
The Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science is providing the Southern Technology Council (STC) $150,000 in matching funds over three years to help Southern states increase innovation-driven economic development. A major element of the initiative is annual benchmarking of each state's progress in agreed-upon categories, including: industrial composition, entrepreneurial development, globalization, and human resources.

The three-year program, Invented Here: Towards an Innovation-Driven Southern Economy, is designed to assist Southern states in leveraging scarce resources to build dynamic, sustainable economic growth.

Invented Here will help each Southern state in determining where it stands in the innovation-driven economy, developing a strategic plan, and establishing a set of benchmarks for improving its position. Specifically, Invented Here will:

This July, the STC will convene leaders from every Southern state for discussions on what their state's needs and opportunities are in the context of the innovation economy.

The Southern Technology Council is seeking matching funds to complement Kenan Institute funding in support of Invented Here. More information can be found on the Southern Technology Council/Southern Growth Policies Board web site: http://www.southern.org 

Return to the top of this page

State and Local S&T Update

All States
Whether or not to tax e-commerce has become a states’ rights issue. The industry-led Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce has recommended to Congress that it extend the current ban on e-commerce sales taxes for five years; the moratorium is set to expire in October, 2001. While governors in several states have been vocal in their opposition of any e-sales taxes, 42 governors have submitted a joint letter to Congress blasting the ban as a special interest tax break that interferes with state sovereignty. More information is available from the National Governors’ Association web site: http://www.nga.org/Releases/PR-12April2000Internet.asp

Arizona
State legislation has been passed to provide 100 percent tax credits of up to $1,500 per year per person toward costs associated with information technology (IT) training for IT skills determined to be in short supply by the Arizona Department of Commerce. HB 2442/SB 1332 were passed with the aim of addressing the shortage of skilled IT workers. For copies of the act, visit: http://www.azleg.state.az.us/legtext/bills.htm

California
The San Diego City Council has approved the creation of a 15-member Science and Technology Commission which will focus on information technology issues. The commission will set IT policies and procedures for the city and will encourage the use of IT in many government functions such as economic development, public safety, and education. The commision also will develop a IT infrastructure plan for the city and explore pursuing federal funds, such as the Technology Opportunity Program, to address local digital divide issues.

Officials at the University of California – Los Angeles report the university has reached its goal of raising $1.2 billion in private donations two years ahead of schedule. Nearly half of the funds will go toward medical sciences facilities and research. Some of the balance will support graduate research and faculty enhancement at the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, which exceeded its individual fundraising goal for the campaign. As a result of the early finish, the school is seeking to raise an additional $400 million for interdisciplinary studies in life sciences and information technology.

Delaware
The Delaware Economic Development Office Department and the Delaware Advanced Technology Centers are hosting Problems, Solutions and Innovations, a regional technology transfer conference on May 3 at the University of Delaware, Newark Campus. The day-long event is designed for researchers and professionals in biotechnology, advanced materials, and information technology to identify problems, solutions and opportunities for innovation through a series of workshops and networking sessions. Participants who submit problems, such as new business start-up, capital acquisition, intellectual property protection or sales and marketing generation, before the conference will be matched with contacts from industry, academia or government, who may help to identify a solution. More information, including registration cam be found at: http://www.state.de.us/dedo/psi.htm

Idaho
Over the next five years, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Lab contractor Bechtel BWXT Idaho (BBWI) promises to help create 3,000 new private sector Idaho jobs that are not dependent on the Lab. BBWI’s economic development efforts are supported by a $1.4 million annual budget of non-federal funding. While much of these resources will be used to support and augment local economic development organizations, BBWI is willing to invest directly in new companies.

Kansas
HB 2688, the Kansas Capital Formation Act, has passed the Kansas House of Representatives by a vote of 92-13. The bill offers tax incentives for the creation of Capital Formation Companies to enhance the development of seed and venture capital in Kansas and support the modernization and expansion of the state's economy. The bill is now being considered in the Senate where passage is in jeopardy, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal. Among the bill's opponents is Lt. Gov. Gary Sherrer, who heads the Department of Commerce and Housing, which would administer the program.

New York
Governor George Pataki is not letting the state legislature's decision not to fund his plan for a Hudson River research center stop the planning process. Using $1 million in discretionary funding, the Governor announced the creation of a task force and advisory council for the Henry Hudson Institute for Riverine and Estuarine Research. Governor Pataki likens the proposed center to a Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for rivers.

Ohio
Senate Bill 286 has been introduced to improve the commercialization prospects of research developed at state colleges and universities. The bill would make it easier for a college or university employee to have a financial interest in companies based on research they developed.

Return to the top of this page

RFP Opens for EPSCoT Evaluation
The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) is seeking proposals to evaluate Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Technology (EPSCoT). EPSCoT was established by Congress in 1998 to improve the technological competitiveness of the states that have historically received less federal R&D funding than a majority of states.

The purpose of the current funding opportunity is to: (1) evaluate the mission of EPSCoT in terms of funded projects, and (2) assess the program's underlying concept, design, and structure. A detailed Statement of Work (SOW) will be available in the solicitation package. The period of performance will be eighteen (18) months from the date of contract award. The solicitation isopen to all qualified organizations with extensive experience in analyzing the dynamics of regional technology-based economic growth. All interested groups may submit a proposal to be considered by the agency.

Multiple awards are anticipated. The amount of funding available, deadline for proposals and review criteria are unknown. All requests for a copy of the solicitation must be submitted in writing to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) from Romena Moy at: NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 3572, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-3572.

Return to the top of this page

People

Alan P. Balutis, a 21-year veteran with the U.S. Department of Commerce, to be director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Advanced Technology Program. Balutis has been serving as the deputy chief information officer for the Department of Commerce since 1994.

Anna Darin has been named the executive director of the Council of Development Finance Agencies (www.cdfa.org) 

President Clinton has announced his nomination of Dr. Mildred S. Dresselhaus to serve as Director of Energy Research at the Department of Energy. Dr. Dresselhaus is currently a professor in the Departments of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Return to the top of this page

One NIST and 20 NIH Inventions Available for Licensing
The National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Institutes of Health have published lists of inventions 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/042800t.htm

Return to the top of this page

State Science & Technology Institute
5015 Pine Creek Drive
Westerville, OH 43081
Phone: (614) 901-1690
Fax: (614) 901-1696
Email: ssti@ssti.org

  © 2002 State Science and Technology Institute. All rights reserved.