SSTI Digest

Maine lawmakers have passed an R&D investment package to increase the state's research and development capacity. The package includes a $20 million bond issue that must be approved by the voters in November. The bond initiative would provide: $13.5 million to the University of Maine System for capital improvements and equipment purchases to support activities in the target areas of biotechnology, advanced technologies for forestry and agriculture, software engineering and development, advanced materials engineering and development, and marine biology; $3 million to the Maine Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF) to invest in a Marine Technology Fund; $1.5 million to MSTF for a Research Challenge Grants program for research institutions in the for-profit, not-for profit or academic sectors; and, $2 million to the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development toward the development and construction of the Gulf of Maine Aquarium Research Facility. "Through a broad coalition of organizations across the state, we were able to obtain bipartisan…

The State of Tennessee has created a private, not-for-profit corporation--- the Tennessee Technology Development Corporation---to stimulate economic development through Tennessee's science and technology resources. The corporation's responsibilities include: Promoting Tennessee's science and technology resources Coordinating the state's assistance to technology-based firms in Tennessee Assisting in the creation and financing of new technology-based businesses Coordinating the State's participation in major technology-based activities and proposals The corporation is seeking an Executive Director who will be responsible for: Management of the corporation's activities, including the activities of its board of directors Development of the corporation's strategic directions and priorities, short and long-term Support capitalizing the corporation by assisting the board of directors in the development and execution of a fund raising plan to match state resources invested in the corporation Creation and management of a technology investment fund A…

The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and its nationwide network of centers are stepping up efforts to help smaller manufacturers avoid being bitten by the "millennium bug." The Stamford, Conn.-based GartnerGroup, a leading authority on information technology issues, has reported that as of 1997, 88 percent of all companies with fewer than 2,000 employees had not yet started Year 2000 remediation projects. "Many companies that are addressing problems with their computer systems may be overlooking potential problems embedded in other systems such as machine controllers and telecommunications," said Kevin Carr, director of the NIST MEP. MEP centers nationwide will be conducting seminars to raise smaller manufacturers' awareness and understanding of the problem and helping client manufacturers assess their systems to determine if they have problems. If needed, MEP centers also will help smaller companies plan remediation. Carr has asked each center to designate at least one person as a Year 2000 "champion" to help coordinate center activities and services. A self-…

Dr. Eugene Wong has been named assistant director for engineering at the National Science Foundation. As the head of NSF's engineering directorate, he will oversee a $320 million annual budget. His most recent position was with a start-up California company. Durand Smith, the director of the New Mexico Department of Economic Development's Science and Technology Division, has returned to the private sector. Marsha Oldakowski is serving as acting director of the division. Patrick Neary, executive director of Wyoming's Science, Technology & Energy Authority, has also returned to the private sector. Jeff Suddeth is serving as interim director. Bill Eads, the Tennessee governor's science and technology advisor, has announced his retirement.

Dr. Eugene Wong has been named assistant director for engineering at the National Science Foundation. As the head of NSF's engineering directorate, he will oversee a $320 million annual budget. His most recent position was with a start-up California company.

Durand Smith, the director of the New Mexico Department of Economic Development's Science and Technology Division, has returned to the private sector. Marsha Oldakowski is serving as acting director of the division.

Patrick Neary, executive director of Wyoming's Science, Technology & Energy Authority, has also returned to the private sector. Jeff Suddeth is serving as interim director.

Bill Eads, the Tennessee governor's science and technology advisor, has announced his retirement.

Continuing to solicit input for the National Science Policy Study, Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) held an April 22 House Science Committee hearing on "The Irreplaceable Federal Role in Funding Basic Research." This was the fifth hearing Ehlers has held as he gathers information to complete the National Science Policy Study. Rep. Ehlers was appointed by House Speaker Newt Gingrich to head up the Science Committee's effort to design a new science and technology policy that can be used to plan for the future, set priorities for research, and build sustainable support for scientific research. (See the 11/14/97 issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest at www.ssti.org for related information.) The purpose of the hearing was to examine ways to strike a funding balance among researchers in government, academia, and industry. The hearing explored the nature of basic research today and the economic rationale for making it a priority of the federal government. House Science Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-WI) offered the criteria by which he believes scientific programs should be…

The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) has announced the launch of the Oklahoma Technology Commercialization Center (Tech Center).   The purpose of the Tech Center is to grow high-wage, high-growth technology sectors in Oklahoma by actively contributing to the start-up and development of new companies and spurring innovation across existing companies. The Center assesses companies' needs, guides them through the technology commercialization process, and provides directly, or by referrals, specialized business development services, access to early stage risk financing, and help in transferring technology. OCAST has contracted with the Oklahoma Technology Development Corporation (OTDC) to start-up and manage the Tech Center. OTDC is now seeking qualified candidates for the position of Executive Director of the Tech Center. The Executive Director will have overall leadership and management responsibility for the Tech Center and its branch offices. Candidates must have a minimum of 15 years progressive management experience with 10 years experience as a seasoned professional operating in an advanced technology…

Northwestern University invites nominations and applications for the new position of Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives. The person who fills this position will develop and implement initiatives that will enhance the University=s research enterprise. Reporting to the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, the Associate VP will: Coordinate overall strategy and management of faculty initiated start-ups; Develop cross-campus, inter-school initiatives for university investment; Provide leadership for the development, implementation, and communication of policies and programs affecting research and commercialization; and, Work closely with faculty and directors of University Research Centers in shaping research priorities. A more detailed job description and instructions for applying can be viewed on SSTI's webpage at www.ssti.org.

When the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program was reauthorized in 1982, Congress mandated that the General Accounting Office (GAO) report on certain aspects of the program. GAO has now issued the final report, Federal Research: Observations on the Small Business Innovation Research Program, under that charge. A major finding of the report was that agencies are using different interpretations of the extramural budget definition which may lead to incorrect calculations of the amount to be set aside for SBIR projects. Only two of the five agencies reviewed by GAO had conducted audits of their extramural research budgets to determine appropriate levels. To ensure that SBIR funding levels are correct, GAO recommends that SBA provide additional guidance to the participating agencies on how to calculate their extramural budgets. Other findings include: There was an increase in the number of multiple award winners from 10 companies in 1989 to 17 companies in FY 1996 (where multiple award winners was defined as Phase I award recipients that also received 15 or more…