SSTI Digest

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. The Department of Defense has posted the abstracts for 370 projects selected to receive Phase I funding under the 99.2 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program solicitation. The awards, selected from a total of 2,778 proposals, were distributed to companies in 31 states. The accompanying table http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/020400t.htm presents the distribution of proposals and awards by state. Abstracts for each 99.2 Phase I award may be found at: http://www.sbirsttr.com/   The department's first 2000 SBIR Phase I solicitation is currently open; proposals are due March 1. More information on this opportunity may be found at: http://www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/sbir/00/dod_sttr00.htm . The National Institutes of Health has compiled state statistics for the 1999 SBIR and STTR solicitations. Figures are provided for both Phase I and Phase II competitions. The information is available for review on the accompanying…

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.

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: Authorize public utility districts and rural port districts to provide wholesale telecommunications services in their districts; Link the state's 68 library districts to the K-20 Internet network; Establish alternative forms of regulation for local telephone companies; Streamline local governments' regulations to speed infrastructure deployment; and, Revamp universal service funding so rural areas can continue to receive affordable phone service in a competitive environment.  For more information, contact Governor Locke’s communications office at 360-902-…

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. The schools are located in: Yonkers, New York; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Prince George's County, Maryland; Baltimore, Maryland; Waco, Texas; San Jose, California; Chula Vista, California; Broward County, Florida; Pittsfield, Massachusetts; Omaha, Nebraska; Allentown, Pennsylvania;…

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: Establishing a CEO Board of Advisors for e-commerce to advise the governor on their vision of the future of the Internet and to make recommendations to improve Maryland’s status as an e-commerce leader. Expanding government services on-line with a goal of having 80% of government services available on-line by 2004. Adopting the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, which provide legal recognition to contracts approved by both parties on-line, as well as electronic signatures and electronic records Additional points include regulating unsolicited e-mail, expanding anti-child pornography laws to the Internet, enabling law enforcement to seize child pornography materials, prohibiting unauthorized access to computers, and protecting citizens from computer crimes. For more details…

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: Faculty at the participating Centers of Excellence have filed for 101 patents, resulting in 175 licensing agreements with businesses; 985 companies have been assisted through the centers;  The 132 technology companies created through…

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/ .

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  

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. SSTI bids a warm farewell to Deb Tharp, who has accepted a full-time position with Battelle Memorial Institute in the Technology Partnership Practice group.

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.