In the June 16, 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

2000 Connecticut Legislature Focuses on Technology
The 2000 session of the Connecticut legislature proved to be an active and favorable one for the state’s technology community and Connecticut Innovations, Inc. The Connecticut Technology Council summarized the session this way, “For the first time in recent memory, the debate at the Capitol was not over whether legislation affecting tech companies would pass, but which legislation affecting tech companies would pass.”

A shift in legislature focus to broader strategic policies rather than bills that incrementally modify programs gets much of the credit, according to the Council. “The 2000 session was marked by an increased level of understanding of technology issues by the General Assembly and to their importance in the state’s cluster-based economic development strategy, ” according to the Council's summary of the session.

Bills affecting science and technology approved by the legislature include:

An Act Concerning Education Aid (Public Act 00-187) 

Internet and E-commerce Initiatives 

Public Act 00-178 permits Connecticut Innovations to provide financial aid to persons developing smart buildings, incubator facilities or other information technology intensive office and laboratory space. The act grants similar new powers to the Connecticut Development Authority, creating within the Authority a High Technology Infrastructure Fund to provide financial assistance to businesses and developers to enable the development of information technology projects.

Public Act 00-170 provides a sales tax exemption for purchases of telecommunications and cable equipment used to provide high-speed data transmission or broadband Internet services and accelerated phase out of the four percent sales tax on Internet access charges.

Biomedical Research Trust Fund

Public Act 00-216 creates the Biomedical Research Trust Fund within the Department of Public Health to provide grants to eligible institutions for biomedical research in the fields of heart disease, cancer and other tobacco related diseases. Eligible institutions are either nonprofit, tax exempt academic institutions of higher education or hospitals that conduct biomedical research. Beginning with fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Biomedical Research Trust Fund will receive $4 million from the State of Connecticut Tobacco Settlement Fund. The Biomedical Research Trust Fund may also accept gifts, grants or donations from public or private sources.

For more information on technology legislation in the state, please contact the Technology Council at (860) 289-0878 or Connecticut Innovations, Inc. at (860) 563-5851. (Editor's note: our thanks to the Connecticut Technology Council and Connecticut Innovations for providing background on the bills.)

Return to the top of this page

GAO Releases Progress Report on PNGV
A recent General Accounting Office (GAO) report on the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV), Cooperative Research: Results of US-Industry Partnership to Develop a New Generation of Vehicles (GAO/RCED-00-81), demonstrates some of the difficulties public-private research collaborations encounter when attempting to measure results or progress.

The report focuses on four areas: 

The goals established in 1993 for PNGV included increasing U.S. competitiveness in manufacturing; utilizing commercially viable innovations from research in conventional vehicles; and improving fuel efficiency to 80 miles per gallon by 2004. GAO concluded that it is too early to gauge any increase in U.S. competitiveness. However, there has been some success in implementing commercially viable, incremental improvements in existing vehicles. Much of the focus has been on attaining the 80 miles per gallon fuel efficiency.

GAO found inroads have been made in developing technologies through PNGV in the areas of fuel efficiency and manufacturing processes. The majority (84%) of the funding has been directed toward fuel efficiency and emissions reduction. The remaining funds have been dedicated to improving manufacturing through advanced materials, improving machining and processing, and manufacturing new components for use in fuel cells.

In comparing research undertaken via PNGV and that undertaken separately by the Big Three auto manufacturers, the GAO found PNGV research to be more of a long-term basic scientific nature focusing on fuel efficiency and manufacturing processes. Meanwhile, research undertaken outside of PNGV by the three manufacturers is of a proprietary nature and is focused on meeting customer desires and complying with government regulations.

For more information on this and other GAO reports, visit the GAO home page at http://www.gao.gov

Return to the top of this page

Directory of State-Assisted Venture Capital Programs Available
The Rural Policy Research Institute, a consortium of Iowa State University, the University of Missouri, and the University of Nebraska, has published a Directory of State Assisted Venture Capital Programs on-line. The 17-page directory includes five sections listing: 16 publicly funded and publicly managed venture capital funds; 31 state-assisted private venture capital funds and quasi-public venture capital funds; 22 state tax credits or incentives for individuals or businesses making venture capital investments; 58 state sponsored or assisted angel networks; and 27 state-sponsored or assisted venture capital fairs. Each list is organized by state and includes contact information. The Directory can be downloaded from:
http://www.rupri.org/front.html

(Editor's Note: our thanks to NASVF for uncovering this story)

Return to the top of this page

Funding Opportunities

Agriculture
The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service seeks proposals for its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants. Small firms with strong scientific research capabilities are encouraged to apply. It is anticipated that $5,500,000 will be awarded for Phase I proposals. Proposals must be received by August 31, 2000. More information is available at: http://www.reeusda.gov/sbir/

Commerce
The Minority Business Development Agency seeks proposals to establish a Minority Business Capital Access Policy Institute. It is anticipated that one proposal will be funded for $350,000 in a 12-month period. Cost sharing of 15 percent of the total award is required. For-profit and non-profit organizations, state and local government entities, and American Indian Tribes are eligible to apply. Proposals are due on or before July 10, 2000. The solicitation is available at: http://www.mbda.gov/

Electronic Industries Foundation
The Electronic Industries Foundation, a philanthrophic organization, seeks proposals for TechConnect grants. These grants encourage creative teaching by supporting technology-based math and science projects in the classroom. To be eligible for funds, the school must be classified as underserved, and the primary grant applicant must be a math or science teacher or program coordinator. The average award will be $2,500. Applications are accepted continually and awards are made in the Spring and in the Fall of each year. Applicants are asked to submit a pre-application letter outlining the intent of the project. For more information, contact Marcie Vorac at (703) 907-7408.

Energy
The Department of Energy seeks applications for research and development of advanced natural gas reciprocating engines. Eligible applicants include non-profit and for-profit organizations, universities and other institutions of higher learning, and non-federal agencies and entities. Three to five cooperative agreements will be awarded with individual awards ranging from $500,000 to $10,000,000. Cost sharing requirements exist and vary based upon the proposal. Applications are due by July 31, 2000. To view the entire solicitation, visit: http://www.ch.doe.gov/business.acq

Health and Human Services
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) seeks applications for neurodevelopmental test methods research to assess the effects of prenatal or postnatal exposure to developmental toxicants. Public health agencies of the states, public and private non-profit and for profit universities, colleges, and research institutions are eligible to apply. Approximately $100,000 will be available to fund one award. Proposals are due on or before July 15, 2000. For more information, visit:http://www.cdc.gov and click on “Funding.”

National Institute for Literacy
The National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) seeks proposals to establish regional technology centers that will work to promote the literacy information and communication system (LINCS). Eligible applicants include public and private non-profit organizations with knowledge and expertise in adult education and literacy. It is anticipated that five proposals will be funded with first year funding of $150,000 per award. Applications are due July 15, 2000. The complete document is available for review at http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/grants/grants.html

Return to the top of this page

CDVCA, NASVF, STC Offer Free E-newsletters
Two venture capital associations and the Southern Technology Council are offering free electronic newsletters to the general public that may be of interest to SSTI Weekly Digest readers. Occasionally stories offered in these publications overlap with Digest articles, however, each provides additional information and perspectives for the S&T community.

The Community Development Venture Capital Alliance (CDVCA) distributed the first issue of its periodic e-mail newsletter this week, which includes updates on the organization and a discussion of the status of the Clinton Administration’ New Markets initiative and the Republican’s Renewal Communities proposal.

As the trade association of 82 community development capital funds, CDVCA promotes use of the tools of venture capital to create jobs, entrepreneurial capacity, and wealth to advance the livelihoods of low-income people and the economies of distressed communities. To subscribe please send a message to cdvca@cdvca.org. Membership information can be found at: http://www.cdvca.org

The National Association of Seed and Venture Funds (NASVF) is taking a different tack with its biweekly newsletter. Along with information about NASVF, the newsletter includes many e-clips with links to related articles published in newspapers across the country (17 in the last issue). Topics covered include not only risk capital, but often science and technology issues and public economic development policy. A useful web-based press archive was launched in their June 2 issue and is available through their home page.

NASVF is the organization of more than 85 public agencies, state-sponsored private investors, and public/private partnerships concerned with leveraging an abundance of risk capital resources to fully serve the needs of deserving entrepreneurs in the member states. To subscribe or find membership information, please visit http://www.nasvf.org

The Southern Technology Council distributes the Friday Fax, which is free as an e-mail newsletter. Similar in format to the SSTI Weekly Digest, each issue includes three or four S&T related stories, funding opportunities, reviews of new studies, and events. While topics are tailored to the interests of the 14 STC-member states and Puerto Rico, nearly all stories have relevance to a broader S&T community.

Established in 1986, the Council is an advisory body of the Southern Growth Policies Board. The Council's mission is to build a dynamic, diversified, growing, and sustainable Southern economy by serving as a value-added resource for ideas, information, analysis, and solutions in technology-driven economic development. To receive the Friday Fax, send an e-mail request to subscribe to Keecia James, STC policy analyst, at kjames@southern.org. Archived editions can be viewed on the Council’s website: http://www.southern.org/technology/tech1.html

Return to the top of this page

Two Navy Inventions For License
The inventions listed below are available for licensing by the Department of Navy.

Requests for copies of the patent application cited should be directed to James B. Bechtel, Patent Counsel, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Laboratory, Code CD222, 17320 Dahlgren Road, Building 183, Room 015, Dahlgren, VA 22448-5100, and must include the Navy Case number. Interested parties will be required to sign a Confidentiality, Non-Disclosure and Non-Use Agreement before receiving copies of requested patent applications. Mr. Bechtel's telephone number is (540) 653-8016.

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.