- OSTP Releases Report on Federal R&D Spending by State
- OCAST Committee Issues Recommendations to Energize Economy
- Funding Opportunities
- NRC Reviews PNGV
- Rural Entrepreneurship Conference Scheduled
- USDA and NASA Inventions Available
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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OSTP Releases Report on Federal R&D Spending by State
The most comprehensive accounting of federal R&D investment in each state was released by the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy last Friday. Discovery and Innovation: Federal Research and Development Activities in the Fifty States, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico offers a wealth of information on federal research activity and investment in each state.The 700-page on-line publication provides a level of detail for federal research and development in each state that was not easily accessible before. For example, the individual state profiles, ranging in length from six to 32 pages, provide the following information:
- A summary snap shot of federal funding within the state, by agency, the state’s rank among states, and the percentage of federal spending within the state that is related to R&D.
- Descriptions of each federal R&D unit within the state, including a discussion of the facilities’ activities, missions, total spending allocations, and number of employees.
- A section identifying recipients of federal R&D grants, including institutions of higher education and non-academic institutions. Each state’s profile includes a table presenting the distribution of federal R&D funds by agency and educational institution.
- A brief discussion of other federal R&D activities in the state, typically identifying private recipients of large R&D grants, contracts or cooperative agreements.
Each state chapter is downloaded as a separate PDF file, allowing researchers and state and local S&T policymakers to view and print only the desired profiles.
For ease of understanding each state’s position in relation to other states, SSTI has compiled the state rankings presented in the report’s summary tables into a single table on the accompanying web page: http://www.ssti.org/062300t2.htm The rankings are for: 1998 population; total federal R&D obligations; R&D as a percent of all non-entitlement, non-mandatory federal expenditures in the state; and, R&D per capita.
Prepared by RAND, the report presents several limitation in assessing federal R&D investment by state. Most significant are 1) a lack of information for 10 of the 24 agencies with R&D obligations; and, 2) variations across federal agencies as to what constitutes research and development versus science and technology. The difference is greatest between the Department of Defense and the non-military government sector. Definitional inconsistencies within some agencies also presented a challenge.
Additional useful information is contained in the Introduction and Appendices.
- The National Science Foundation annually collects information on federal R&D obligations for the 14 agencies with the greatest expenditures for R&D. RAND derived estimates for the additional 10 agencies based on the NSF work. A table presenting the derivation of federal R&D funding by state and agency for years 1993 through 1998 (Appendix C).
- Government-wide and DOD definitions of R&D (Appendix B), an agency-by-agency list of in-house R&D activities (Appendix D), a glossary of terms and a list of agency acronyms (both separate PDF files from the Introduction).
- A description of RaDiUS, a database of research and development activity in the U.S. federal government (1993 - present) that is managed by the S&T Policy Institute. Individual research project activity aggregated in each state profile can be obtained through RaDiUS. (Appendix A).
The report can be accessed or ordered from http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1194/
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OCAST Committee Recommendations to Energize Economy
Oklahomans need “to make fundamental changes in the way we see ourselves and the way we do things...to prevent us from slipping farther and farther behind, languishing on the sidelines of the New Economy,” according to a 14-member committee of public and private sector leaders.Co-chaired by the State Treasurer and the Governor’s Chief of Staff, the committee was formed by the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) to study publicly-funded seed and venture capital initiatives around the country and make recommendations for Oklahoma. The committee found that “unless Oklahomans address some core perception and infrastructure issues, the existence of adequate and growing investment capital is impossible.”
The committee identified five strategic directions to pursue:
- Energize private, academic and government leaders to explain how and why Oklahoma can and should fit into the New Economy and articulate the strategy to get there
- Educate, inform, and build a network that increases quality deal flow
- Maximize and enhance existing state venture capital resources
- Accelerate organizational development and training of investor networks, and
- Execute a strong, rapid push for institutional/pension funds investment in alternative investments
The report does not present a plan for a new program, but the committee hopes the “report will serve as the starting point for a statewide, private-sector led effort wherein business, government, and academia come together, leave their ‘turf’ at the door, articulate a common vision, and team together to make the vision a reality.”
For more information or to obtain a copy of the report, contact Sheri Stickley at 405/524-1357 ext. 239.
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Funding Opportunities
Education
The National Research and Development Center seeks applications for the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Education Program. This program supports national research and development centers that conduct research into gifted student educational programs. One new center proposal will be funded at $1.75 million per year for a maximum of five years. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, state educational agencies, or a combination of these entities. Proposals are due August 1, 2000. For more information, please visit http://www.ed.gov/news.htmlEnergy
The Golden Field Office seeks applications for the NICE3 program. Funded proposals will achieve cleaner production in the U.S. manufacturing and industrial sectors through the adoption of energy efficient and cleaner production techniques. DOE anticipates funding up to 15 grants with total project funding of $4,000,000. A 50 percent cost share is required. Eligible applicants include state agencies in partnership with industrial partners, territories of the U.S., and Indian tribes. Proposals are due August 11, 2000. For more information, visit: http://www.oit.doe.gov/nice3/The Golden Field Office is also requesting proposals for the Inventions and Innovation Program to encourage the development and commercialization of energy-saving inventions. Thirty grants will be awarded with total project funding estimated at $2,500,000. Eligible applicants include U.S. individuals, small businesses, and institution of higher learning. Proposals are due August 11, 2000. To view the complete document, visit: http://www.oit.doe.gov/inventions/
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Idaho Operations Office, is seeking applications for cost-shared research and development of technologies which will reduce energy consumption, enhance economic competitiveness, and reduce environmental impacts of the Steel Industry. The deadline for applications is September 14, 2000. Approximately $5,000,000 to $10,000,000 in federal funds is expected to be available to fund the first year of selected research efforts. DOE anticipates making two to five cooperative agreement awards each with a duration of five years or less. Collaborations between industry, university, and National Laboratory participants are encouraged. The solicitation is available at the following address: http://www.id.doe.gov/doeid/psd/proc-div.html.
The National Energy Technology Laboratory seeks cost-shared research and development applications for identification and demonstration of preferred upstream management practices (PUMP) for the oil industry. The program will sponsor three to seven projects with total project values estimated at $500,000 to $1,000,000 each. A minimum 50 percent cost-share is required. Eligible applicants include individuals, corporations, nonprofit organizations, small and disadvantaged businesses, educational institutions, state or local governments, Indian tribes, and other entities. Proposals must be submitted by August 9, 2000. For more information, visit: http://www.netl.doe.gov/business/solicit/
Health & Human Services
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention seek proposals to develop a model system for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of data on genetic tests. Eligible applicants include public and private non-profit organizations, government entities, universities, and Indian tribes and governments. Approximately $200,000 is
available to fund one award. Proposals are due by August 4, 2000. More information is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/Merrill Lynch Forum
The Merrill Lynch Forum Innovation Grants Competition seeks to stimulate inventiveness by challenging Ph.D.s in the sciences, liberal arts, and engineering disciplines to examine their best research in light of real world applications. The goal is to foster a greater awareness of market opportunities while highlighting the wealth of intellectual capital being developed at the world’s institutions of higher learning. Eligible grant applicants must have defended their doctoral dissertations between January 1, 1998 and December 15, 2000. A total of $180,000 will be awarded to 18 winners. Proposals are due December 15, 2000. For more information on the program, visit: http://www.ml.com/innovations/Return to the top of this page
NRC Reviews PNGV
The Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) remains in the news this week as the National Research Council released a report calling the program "an unqualified success." The report is the sixth completed by NRC since the inception of PNGV in 1993. For more information or to order a copy of the report, visit: http://books.nap.edu/catalog/9873.htmlReturn to the top of this page
Rural Entrepreneurship Conference Scheduled
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is sponsoring a three-day conference on the critical importance of entrepreneurship in creating more and better jobs in rural America, September 17-19 in Batavia, Ohio (just 30 minutes from the Cincinnati airport).With the governors of three Appalachian states, the ARC federal co-chairman, and national experts on entrepreneurship as participants, the conference will examine best practices in the field of rural entrepreneurship, the impact of ARC's Entrepreneurship Initiative in Appalachia, and application of these strategies to rural communities throughout the United States.
Since 1998, ARC has launched over 100 projects to support entrepreneurs in the 13-state Appalachian Region. The projects are supporting development of more homegrown businesses in four ways:
- Improving access to private investment for local businesses through the development of new venture capital funds and micro-credit debt funds;
- Educating current and future entrepreneurs through new training programs in middle schools, high schools, and community colleges;
- Strengthening local economies by identifying and capitalizing on particular industries in which communities have a competitive advantage; and,
- Nurturing new businesses by creating and maintaining business incubators throughout the Appalachian Region.
Besides creating an anticipated 1,300 new jobs, these projects are also designed to help communities develop a culture of entrepreneurship and encourage residents to develop the skills they need to become economically independent.
The conference will focus on:
- Strengthening the support infrastructure for rural entrepreneurs;
- Identifying new investment opportunities for private, philanthropic, and public-sector partners; and
- Providing new directions for successful rural entrepreneurship programs.
Conference brochures and online registration will be available in mid-July. For additional information, contact Deann Reed Greathouse, ARC, 202/884-7786, or email entrepreneurship@arc.gov
For additional information on ARC's Entrepreneurship Initiative, visit:
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USDA and NASA Inventions Available For License
The US Department of Agriculture and NASA have published lists of four and fourteen inventions, respectively, that are available for license. SSTI has reproduced the lists and contact information on the following web page: http://www.ssti.org/062300t.htmReturn to the top of this page
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