In the June 9, 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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Maine Legislature Approves More than $69 Million for Science and Technology
The Second Session of the 119th Maine Legislature proved to be another watershed event for the state's science and technology sector. More than 20 percent of Maine's appropriated surplus budget was dedicated to increased monies for existing science and technology programs as well as substantial investment in new initiatives. The programs that the Legislature voted to fund include:

For additional information, please contact Joel Russ or Michael Ryan with the Maine Science and Technology Foundation at (207) 621-6350.

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SSTI Publishes Directory of Technology Councils
Collaboration and partnership among public, private, and non-profit entities have taken on a renewed urgency as states and localities seek quick and cost effective methods to cultivate the necessary environment to foster and support technology-based economies. SSTI’s latest publication focuses on two groups of technology-based economic development organizations that have grown in numbers alongside the New Economy: 1) regional technology councils, and 2) industry associations focused on information technology and life sciences, the industrial sectors most associated with the New Economy. As these groups have become larger and more numerous, their strength as allies in S&T policy has emerged.

The potential role for these non-governmental organizations to serve in science and technology policy formulation, program design, and service delivery is substantial — and growing. Most technology councils were created during the past five years. Collectively, the 165 councils profiled in The SSTI Directory of Technology Councils already involve more than 56,000 companies and individuals in 41 states and the District of Columbia. 

Although a few technology councils rival the large industrial trade associations in their sophisticated state and federal lobbying tactics, nearly all are organized around themes of growing local technology business communities.

The directory is intended to make the S&T policy community aware of the breadth of activity occurring. It establishes a baseline of information to encourage productive relationships among and between the councils and local, state, and federal policy makers. While some strong partnerships have been developed on the local and state level, it is in the best interest of all groups interested in the New Economy to encourage greater communication and stronger partnerships among all participants.

The SSTI Directory of Technology Councils includes contact information, web site addresses, and descriptions of council missions and member services. In addition, a ten-page introduction presents an overview of the recent growth of these councils. SSTI believes the directory is a must-have for those interested in joining, studying, or establishing technology councils.

SSTI sponsors will be receiving their complimentary copies of the Directory early next week. Digest subscribers and all others may purchase the 80-page publication from SSTI for $50 (U.S.).

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Three More S&T Papers Released in NGA Series
The National Governors’ Association has released the fourth, fifth, and sixth papers in its series on the New Economy. The latest two are touted as providing “a blueprint for replicating the economic successes of high tech meccas like California’s Silicon Valley [and] Route 128 in Massachusetts. All six papers can be downloaded from the NGA web site: http://www.nga.org. The three new papers are described briefly below.

Information Technology: Creating Real Change for Small Business, by Jeffrey W. Blodgett, Vice President for Research at the Connecticut Economic Resource Center. The paper calls on the states to streamline business licensing and permitting processes for entrepreneurs and start-up businesses. Then states are encouraged to create web-based service delivery to facilitate and expedite business growth. Blodgett reviewed states’ current web sites, finding only 16 offered visitors the ability to download business forms. Two states had electronic filing capabilities for limited forms.

Blodgett identifies several impediments to changing the current systems within states, and examples of how Pennsylvania overcame these obstacles. Best practices for one-stop business assistance are described for Kentucky, Montana, New York and Washington as well.

Using Research and Development to Grow State Economies, by Dan Berglund and Marianne Clarke, SSTI Executive Director and Research Director, respectively. The report identifies research and development (R&D) as a fundamental economic development building block in the new economy and calls on states to invest in universities and the private sector as ways to ensure that they have strong R&D bases.

The paper identifies the elements of a technology-based economy and the implications for the state’s R&D base. Sixteen specific recommendations and examples of successful state efforts are described to address the need to:

Building States Economies By Promoting University-Industry Technology Transfer, by Louis G. Tornatsky, Ph.D., senior principal associate with Battelle Memorial Institute. The author examines the importance of state universities’ patent and licensing agreements to economic development plans and provides policy makers with strategies for promoting university-industry technology transfer.

The report outlines seven strategies for promoting transfer, including:

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Two Reports Released on Digital Economy
Vice President Gore announced the release of Digital Economy 2000, the Commerce Department's third annual report on the information-technology (IT) revolution and its impact on the economy. The Department found while IT industries only represent 8.3 percent of the U.S. economy, they accounted for approximately 30 percent of the country's economic growth since 1995. Nearly one-third of all company-funded R&D investments in 1998 were made by IT industries. IT also accounts for at least half of the recent acceleration in U.S. productivity growth. IT employment doubled to 1.6 million during the six-year period of 1992 - 1998. The full report can be downloaded from: http://www.esa.doc.gov/de2000.pdf

Independently, the Center for Research in Electronic Commerce at the University of Texas -- Austin released a Internet Economy Indicators study looking at the impact of the Internet on job growth and revenues for four segments of the Internet Economy: Internet Infrastructure, Internet Network Applications Infrastructure, Internet Intermediaries and Internet Commerce. The study was based on a survey of more than 2,000 U.S. companies that generated all or some of their revenues from products and services related directly to the Internet. The results include:

The study can be downloaded from http://www.internetindicators.com

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Federal R&D Funding Opportunities

Energy
The Office of Fusion Energy Sciences seeks applications for theoretical research in magnetic fusion energy sciences. Colleges and universities, non-profit organizations, for-profit commercial organizations, state and local governments, and unaffiliated individuals may submit grant applications. It is anticipated that a total of $7,600,000 will be awarded to multiple proposals. A letter of intent is due June 15, 2000 with applications due July 20, 2000. To view the complete solicitation, visit: http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html

Environmental Protection Agency
The National Center for Environmental Research seeks applications to support research to develop innovative and credible statistical, computational, and predictive approaches for assessing risks from mixtures of chemicals. Academic institutions, non-profits, and state and local governments are eligible to apply. Up to $5 million in funding is expected with individual awards of $250,000 per year for up to 3 years. Applications are due July 10, 2000. For more information, visit: 
http://es.epa.gov/ncerqa/rfa/

The National Center for Environmental Research also seeks proposals for research that identifies determinants of regulated entities’ environmental behavior and assesses the influence of various governmental interventions on this behavior. Academic institutions, non-profits, and state and local governments are eligible to apply. Awards will range from $50,000 to $200,000 per year with project durations from 1 to 3 years. A total of $1 million in funding is anticipated. Proposals are due July 24, 2000. To view the solicitation, visit: http://es.epa.gov/ncerqa/rfa/

The National Center for Environmental Research requests applications for research that will improve the ability of water systems operators to manage water supplies that minimize or prevent health risks proposed by contaminants in drinking water. In addition, research on the current contaminate candidate list (CCL) and potential and future CCL’s is requested. Academic institutions, non-profits, and state and local governments are eligible for funding. Approximately $8 million will be 
awarded to fund multiple projects at $175,000 per year for up to three years. Applications are due on or before July 31, 2000. The solicitation can be obtained at: http://es.epa.gov/ncerqa/rfa/

Justice
The Office of Justice Programs seeks cooperative agreement proposals for the development of communications interoperability and information sharing technologies that address gaps in the regional communications needs of public safety agencies. It is anticipated that $450,000 will be available to fund one to two proposals. Complete proposals are due June 27, 2000. More information can be obtained at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/funding.htm

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Air Force and NIH Inventions Available
The Air Force and the National Institutes of Health have published lists of 69 and 3 inventions, respectively, that are available for license. A list of the patents, invention titles, and, in the case of NIH, summary descriptions can be found on the SSTI Website: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/060900t.htm

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SSTI News: A Note from the Executive Director
We try hard to be objective in the SSTI Weekly Digest and to present information without editorializing. This is one of the rare instances that we will not even attempt to be objective. We have several items involving SSTI to report:

As a result of Chris’ career change, he has resigned as president of SSTI and as a member of the SSTI board of trustees. Start-up of the Institute was the result of many individuals, but foremost among those was Chris. His vision, energy, and support were critical both to the creation and continued viability of SSTI. SSTI staff thank Chris for his hard work through the years not only on behalf of SSTI, but also in the area of state-federal partnerships in science and technology.

We wish Chris the best of luck in his new position and welcome Walt and Cathy to the SSTI team.

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