In the November 2, 2001 Issue:

Federal Funding Opportunities

Foundation Funding Opportunities

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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New Reports Gauge State Fiscal Outlook, National Economy
Two reports released during this past week examine state fiscal conditions for FY 2002 and a slowing national economy following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.

State Fiscal Outlook for FY 2002: October Update
State Fiscal Outlook for FY 2002 offers a look at the fiscal condition of all 50 states, based on information collected from legislative fiscal directors in mid to late October. A comprehensive survey conducted by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the report covers the revenue and expenditure situation through the beginning of FY 2002, state plans to address budget shortfalls and the budget forecast for the remaining fiscal year.

Some highlights included in the report:

Unlike the following report, State Fiscal Outlook for FY 2002 does not speculate on the effects that the September 11 terrorist attacks will have on the economy. Similar to the following report, however, State Fiscal Outlook for FY 2002 uses tables to show a comparison of states in many of the bulleted areas above. The report is available through NCSL: http://www.ncsl.org/programs/fiscal/sfo2001.htm

The Outlook for State Tax Revenues
Commissioned by the National Governors Association (NGA) and authored by Mark Zandi of Economy.com, The Outlook for State Tax Revenues reports that before the terrorist attacks, state and local tax revenue growth already was at the slowest rate since records started being kept in the 1950s. The study concludes those revenues are expected to be flat this fiscal year and may "very well turn down for the first time on record."

Working under several different assumptions, the report outlines a "baseline outlook" predicting that the U.S. economy will suffer through a recession that will extend at least through the end of 2001. Eleven states already are said to be in recession, and 68 metro areas are projected to have employment declines of up to 2.4 percent in 2002.

An alternative outlook assumes there are no further substantive terrorist attacks but that it takes longer for a sense of personal safety to be re-established. A second alternative is based on the assumption that no defining event in the U.S military effort may contain global terrorism and that additional terrorist attacks continue.

The Outlook for State Tax Revenues was delivered last Thursday to the U.S. Senate to help Congress understand the stress state budgets are experiencing. The report offers several tables, including a state-by-state comparison of and percent change of gross state product between August 1 and October 1, and is available online: http://www.nga.org/nga/newsRoom/

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Foundations as Partners in TBED Strategies
Philanthropic individuals and foundations are increasingly vital contributors for tech-based economic development, particularly for "big-ticket" initiatives. Most gifts, such as that covered in the second item below, are tied to a specific relationship with a university or field of research, working independently of the strategies or programs developed by state or local tech-based economic development organizations. The continuing work of the Heinz Endowments in Pittsburgh and single large donations, such as the $1 billion Stowers gift announced last Spring (see the May 18, 2001 issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest), are noticeable exceptions.

The series of sizable gifts made by the Lilly Endowment, including the latest donation described below, also are an exception in that they collectively could influence the state's S&T strategy where single gifts would have less of an impact.

Purdue Gets $26 M from Lilly for TBED
The Lilly Endowment has awarded Purdue University a grant of almost $26 million for its new Discovery Park, a complex for advanced interdisciplinary research, education, and entrepreneurship. The gift brings the Lilly Endowment's total recent donations toward improving Indiana's competitive position in research and tech-based economic development to more than $250 million. In September, Pervasive Technology Labs at Indiana University received a $30 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to launch three new laboratories dedicated to researching diverse aspects of computing (see also the Oct. 15, 1999 edition of the SSTI Weekly Digest)

Purdue will leverage the new grant and state funding with existing university funds, private donations and federal research support to create the $100 million park. Initial plans for the 40-acre site on the west edge of campus call for centers to house research in nanotechnology, bioscience/engineering and e-enterprises. Groundbreaking on the first of those buildings, the $51 million Birck Nanotechnology Center, occured in September.

The park also will include an entrepreneurship center to help transfer research findings into products and services. It will be the home of:

More information on Discovery Park is available at here

$600 Million Donation to CalTech Targets Research, Technology
The California Institute of Technology has received two gifts totaling $600 million, half from Intel cofounder Gordon Moore and his wife Betty and half from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Together they are the largest donation ever to an institution of higher learning. Moore said the gift is intended to allow Caltech to continue to do what it does best — collaborative work between disciplines — and to keep Caltech on the forefront of science and technology. The foundation's grants of $300 million over a 10-year period and the Moore's $300 million gift over five years are for educational and scientific programs to be mutually agreed upon. More information is available at: http://pr.caltech.edu/media/Press_Releases/PR12193.html

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Maine Studying Impact of Public R&D Investment
Nearly every state legislature annually appropriates some level of funding to support research and development activities in the state's nonprofit, university, and industrial research communities. Few, though, have developed long-term, systematic attempts to measure the impact of those investments. Following a nearly ten-fold increase in the state's investment in research and development over the past six years, Maine legislators requested that the Maine Science & Technology Foundation (MSTF) conduct such an impact assessment.

MSTF has until July 2006 to answer three questions posed by the state legislature:

Last week, MSTF released a report for the initial phase of the project. The study, prepared by researchers from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Pennsylvania State University, provides suggestions for an analytical framework to conduct the five-year assessment as well as an initial evaluation of the state's R&D support. The appendices include five case studies examining five of the larger R&D investments the state has made recently in the Maine Technology Institute, advanced engineered wood composites, biomedical research, aquaculture, and the small enterprise growth fund.

The review team commends Maine for the comprehensive package of public programs implemented to foster R&D investment and technology commercialization, but also makes recommendations for further enhancements. Recommendations for improvement included: strengthening linkages among state programs and existing industry clusters; improving marketing and outreach efforts among the private tech community; and, facilitating commercialization of technologies resulting from university-based research.

The full report can be downloaded from the MSTF website: http://www.mstf.org

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Federal Funding Opportunities

 Department of the Air Force
The 325th CONS/LGCB is seeking sources capable of performing scientific, engineering and manpower assistance in the area of airbase science support and technology development for Air Expeditionary Forces Technologies Division (ML)-MLQ. The contemplated services include all areas and aspects of technology development, planning, program management, technical editing, construction, instrumentation, testing, repairing, evaluation, managing, briefing, and reporting of Physical and Biological science and engineering R&D for Airbase Science Support and Technology Development activities. Submissions must provide evidence of similar past or present performance to include the names and telephone numbers of references. Contractors must identify their business type in relation to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code. Responses should be sent by November 30, 2001, to Ms. Alyce Molt, Contract Specialist, at alyce.molt@tyndall.af.mil and Mr. Paul Sheppard at paul.sheppard@tyndall.af.mil. More information is available through the Federal Register: 

Department of the Army
The U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command, Armament research, Development and Engineering Center (TACOM-ARDEC) is currently seeking sources that are capable of fabricating prototype High Aspect Ratio (HAR) MEMS Devices. The devices will be used to sense aeroballistic environments (high acceleration and centrifugal forces) within a small-caliber munitions. Parts, including substrates, devices, and assemblies using microfabrication and replication materials will be fabricated and fully evaluated for performance, failure modes, and applicability to DOD systems. Respondents to this market survey must have the capability of handling classified drawings, electronic files, or hardware. Interested companies should respond by providing the Government a brief summary of the company's capabilities pertaining to High-Aspect Ratio MEMS fabrication; description of existing, qualified, and operating facilities, personnel, and related fabricating experience; and estimated minimum and maximum monthly production quantities. Information should be submitted within 15 days to: U.S. ARMY TACOM/ARDEC, Attn: Anna Yim, AMSTA-AQ-APD, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000. More information is available at here. 

National Institutes of Health
Through the Minority Institutions' Drug Abuse Research Development Program (MIDARP), the National Institute on Drug Abuse seeks proposals from minority institutions with limited sponsored research experience in the biomedical, social, and behavioral sciences to conduct research in drug abuse and addiction. Academic institutions applying for this award must demonstrate eligibility through (a) minority status and (b) research capacity development need. Up to $350,000 in direct costs per year may be requested for project periods ranging from three to five years. Application receipt dates are: February 21 and August 21, 2002. The full MIDARP announcement (PAR-02-016) is available at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-02-016.html

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the availability of FY 2002 funds for research grant applications on mining occupational safety and health. Applications are sought for research focused on mining safety related to: (1) hearing loss (2) particulate dust exposure, (3) ground failure, (4) large equipment operation (5) diesel exhaust exposure and (6) chemical hazards in mines. Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign, public and private nonprofit and for-profit organizations and by governments and their agencies. Approximately $900,000 is available in FY 2002 to fund 5-7 awards under this announcement. The maximum award size is $150,000 direct cost per year for up to four years. Optional letters of intent should be submitted by November 7, 2001; full proposals are due December 27, 2001. The full announcement is available at:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OH-02-005.html

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also seeks proposals for research grant applications that investigate the etiology of and prevention and intervention strategies for occupational hearing loss through population-based or laboratory research that is focused on changes in hearing due to: (1) exposure to noise or (2) exposure to noise and chemicals. Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign, public and private nonprofit and for-profit organizations and by governments and their agencies. Approximately $1 million is available in FY 2002 to fund 4-5 awards of up to $200,000 direct cost per year for laboratory-based studies and $400,000 direct cost per year for population-based studies. Optional letters of intent should be submitted by November 7, 2001; full proposals are due December 27, 2001. The full announcement is available at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OH-02-003.html

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases collaboratively seek proposals to support research focused on the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Up to ten awards will be made for research in the areas of health and hazard surveillance, basic etiologic and medical evaluation, biomechanical and mechanobiological studies, diagnosis and treatment of MSDs, and the development and evaluation of new and existing interventions aimed at prevention. Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign, public and private nonprofit and for-profit organizations and by governments and their agencies. Maximum award sizes are $250,000 direct cost per year for laboratory-based studies and $500,000 direct cost for population-based studies. Optional letters of intent should be submitted by February 14, 2002; full proposals are due March 14, 2002. The full solicitation is available at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OH-02-004.html

Three institutes are jointing seeking proposals to support studies that will address methodological and technical issues associated with the use of rapidly developing neuroimaging technology in assessing brain and behavioral development in child and adolescent populations, particularly those exposed to drugs of abuse or those with developmental or acquired communication disorders. Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign, for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of state and local governments, and eligible agencies of the federal government. As much as $2 million in FY 2002 may be available to fund 12 to 15 new and/or competitive continuation grants. Optional letters of intent should be submitted by February 19, 2002; full proposals are due March 19, 2002. The full announcement is available from: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DA-02-001.html

National Science Foundation
In a break from previous formal solicitations, the Engineering Education Programs of the Division of Engineering Education and Centers welcomes unsolicited proposals from university faculty with cutting edge new ideas for undergraduate engineering education improvements. The goal is to increase the quantity and quality of U.S. citizens who earn BS degrees in engineering. Two proposal review cycles exist; the deadline for proposals to be considered in the Spring cycle is January 9, 2002. More information is available from Sue Kemnitzer at skemnitz@nsf.gov and online at: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/progdesc/2001/eng/pdeng0101.html

The Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences invited proposals for the Instrumentation for Materials Research (IMR) Program. In FY 2002, IMR anticipates making 35-40 awards for the acquisition or development of research instruments that will provide new capability and/or advance current capability to: (1) discover fundamental phenomena in materials; (2) synthesize, process, and/or characterize the composition, structure, properties, and performance of materials; and (3) improve the quality, expand the scope, and foster and enable the integration of research and education in research-intensive environments. Full proposals are due January 10, 2002. There are two maximum levels of funding: PhD granting institutions may receive $100,000 and non-PhD granting institutions may seek up to $50,000. The full solicitation is available at http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?nsf02009

The FY 2002 solicitation for proposals in the crosscutting Biocomplexity in the Environment: Integrated Research and Education in Environmental Systems Program opened last week. Deadlines vary for the five topical research areas identified in the program announcement: Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems; Coupled Biogeochemical Cycles; Genome-Enabled Environmental Science & Engineering; Instrumentation Development for Environmental Activities; and, Materials Use: Science, Engineering, & Society. No eligibility limitation are defined in the solicitation. The agency anticipates having $37.5 million available to award in FY 2002. Forty or fifty awards may be made, of which approximately 20-25 will be for research projects and 20-25 will be for exploratory, conference, or planning activities. More information is available at http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?nsf02010

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Foundation Opportunities

National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance
Through June of 2002, NCIIA will award approximately $2 million in grants for the creation of programs and courses that promote E-Teams — groups of students working with faculty and mentoring professionals who join together to pursue the development of an idea, product, or invention, or to solve a problem in a way that has the promise of creating a licensable technology, product, or developing an enterprise that will generate jobs and social benefits. Two types of grants with an application deadline of December 15, 2001, are offered below. More information on both is available through NCIIA: http://www.nciia.org/grants/index.html

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Lymphoma Research Foundation of America
The Lymphoma Research Foundation of America (LRFA) was formed to promote and support high quality research resulting in safer, more effective treatments and the ultimate cure for lymphoma. Under its Research Grant Program, LRFA is accepting applications for the Fellowship Research Grant and the Junior Faculty Research Grant for funding year July 2002 - June 2003. Applications are due by November 15, 2001. More information is available at: http://www.lymphoma.org/pages/grants.html 

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