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SSTI Digest
South Carolina S&T Plan Unveiled
The South Carolina Technology Alliance has released South Carolina Technology Initiative 2000, a science and technology strategic plan outlining six specific recommendations for strengthening the state’s position in a knowledge-based economy. The plan, requested by Governor Jim Hodges in a July 1999 executive order, addresses four short-term and three long-term goals outlined by Governor Hodges to increase South Carolina’s competitive position with its neighboring states, as well as improve its global posture as a technology leader.
The recommendations focus on developing the state’s infrastructure to support technology businesses and enhance the quality of the education system. The Alliance also emphasized that, while additional public financial resources would be required to implement the plan, the most important requirements are high profile leadership by the state, and coordination and cooperation among the various state agencies, research institutions and private businesses.
EDA Offers Funds for Distressed Areas
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is accepting applications to support projects designed to alleviate conditions of substantial and persistent unemployment and underemployment in economically distressed areas and regions of the nation, and to address economic dislocations resulting from sudden and severe job losses. Distress may exist in a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, high levels of unemployment, low income levels, large concentrations of low-income families, significant decline in per capita income, substantial loss of population because of the lack of employment opportunities, large numbers (or high rates) of business failures, sudden major layoffs or plant closures, military base closures, natural or other major disasters, depletion of natural resources, and/or reduced tax bases. Special need criteria that is described in the announcement must be met for eligibility.
Identifying E-Commerce Barriers
The Department of Commerce, on behalf of the Subgroup on Legal Barriers to Electronic Commerce (``Legal Barriers Subgroup'') of the U.S. Government Working Group on Electronic Commerce, requests public comments and suggestions concerning policies, laws or regulations that need to be adapted in order to eliminate barriers to and promote electronic commerce, electronic services, and electronic transactions.
President Clinton created the Working Group on November 29, 1999 (see the 12/3/99 issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest) to identify ways the federal government can increase U.S. electronic commerce activity. The Department of Commerce was given lead responsibility for the group’s work.
Defense and NIH Pick SBIR Phase I Awards
SSTI thanks Chris Busch, Director of the Wyoming SBIR Initiative, for forwarding the NIH information to us, and to BRTRC's Christine Villa for providing the Defense stats.
Best Practices for Biotech Assistance to be Explored
Cincinnati and St. Louis are partnering to hold a three-day symposium to examine best practices in biotechnology-based economic development. Growing the Life Science Industry will be held March 1-3 at the Kingsgate Conference Center on the University of Cincinnati Medical Campus. Speakers from a dozen states will share their regions' approaches for life science economic development.
The event is sponsored by BIO/START, the Ohio Department of Development, the Nidus Center for Scientific Enterprise, and the Cincinnati and St. Louis Chambers of Commerce. For more information, contact BIO/START President, Patricia Snider, at psnider@biostart.org or by phone at (513) 475-6610, ext. 2007.
Tackling the Digital Divide. . . and S&T Worker Preparedness
Activities to address the digital divide and the S&T workforce shortage have increased recently. The following are a sampling of efforts underway to understand and address the growing inequalities in technology access and assimilation.
Washington Governor Gary Locke has proposed a legislative package that would speed the placement of advanced telecommunications services in rural areas by streamlining regulation, promoting infrastructure investment, and encouraging competition. The five-part package would:
Tackling the Digital Divide. . . and S&T Worker Preparedness
The National Academy Foundation, a New York-based nonprofit organization, and President Clinton have announced the selection of 12 public high schools to pilot the Academy of Information Technology program. The program is intended to prepare predominantly at-risk high school students for careers in information technology fields. The program will provide a ninth-through-twelfth-grade curriculum with opportunities to partner with community colleges, universities, and businesses. The 12 schools were selected from among nearly 100 applicants. The pilot sites were chosen for demonstrating leadership and flexibility; a commitment to career education; an ability to secure mentors, internships, and teacher training from local business partners; and a baseline of technological capabilities that will be enhanced through NAF program grants.
E-Commerce Technology Plan Unveiled in Maryland
Governor Parris Glendening, the Speaker of the Maryland House, and the President of the Maryland Senate have proposed a 12-point technology plan with the goal of making “Maryland the leading e-commerce and digital state in the nation.” The proposals include:
Utah Sees Impact from Centers of Excellence
Spawning 132 new companies over thirteen years is just one of the impressive statistics cited in the latest annual report for the Utah Centers of Excellence Program (COEP). The 1998-1999 report highlights the program’s accomplishments and economic impact since its inception in 1986. Each year, COEP staff document the program’s contributions to the Utah economy through statistical data and anecdotal success stories.
Since 1986, COEP has awarded $30.7 million in state funding to Utah universities and colleges for applied R&D focused on the development of technologies which have the potential for economic development in the state. That funding has generated cumulative matching funds from private and federal sources of $332.7 million, resulting in a matching fund ratio of 10.8 to 1.
Additional accomplishments include:
NASA Selects STTR Phase II Winners
NASA has selected eight research proposals for negotiation of Phase II contract awards for the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. Each project may receive up to $500,000 for a two-year performance period. The program requires small businesses to conduct cooperative research and development by partnering with a research institution. A total of 23 Phase II proposals were submitted by the 1998 class of NASA STTR Phase I recipients.
Companies in the following states received NASA Phase II STTR awards: Alaska, California (3 awards), Colorado, Florida, Montana and Tennessee. Research institutions for the eight projects were located in Colorado (2), Florida, New York, Ohio, Virginia (2), and Wyoming.
Complete information on the NASA STTR and SBIR programs, including awardee information may be found at: http://sbir.hq.nasa.gov/ .
Air Force and NIH Inventions Offered for License
The Air Force and the National Institutes of Health have announced the availability of five government-owned inventions for licensing in the United States. Abstracts and/or contact information for each invention may be viewed on the following SSTI web page: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/012800t.htm
People in S&T
New York Governor Pataki has nominated Dr. Russell Bessette to serve as the Executive Director of the New York Office of Science and Technology (NYSTAR). His appointment is subject to confirmation of the New York State Senate. Dr. Russell Bessette is a clinical professor at the SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine's Department of Surgery, the Executive Director of Research at the Buffalo Technology Transfer Center at Sisters Hospital in Buffalo and a reconstructive plastic surgeon at the Head and Neck Center at Sisters Hospital.
Governor Pataki appointed Dr. Roland Schmitt, president emeritus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, as chairman of the NYSTAR advisory board.
Dr. Paul Hale has been named the Executive Director of the Vermont Technology Council. Among other tasks, Dr. Hale is working on the state’s EPSCoT award in cooperation with the Vermont EPSCoR Program.