SSTI Digest

Roberto Salazar is leaving his post as the Director of the New Mexico Office of Science and Technology at the end of March to assume the position of State Director of the USDA's Rural Development Agency for New Mexico.

The New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program is recruiting a technology transfer and commercialization project manager with a proven track record in related disciplines from the private and/or public sector. This MEP position is located at the Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque and charged with helping local manufacturers access unique federal laboratory technologies to assist industry in the development and commercialization of new products, advanced materials, and innovative manufacturing processes.  Project manager is responsible for industry outreach, customer needs assessment, technical “sales” linking clients with laboratory resources as well as private commercialization consultants and project managing related customer activities.  Please forward resume, cover letter, salary expectations and your success stories to:  Human Resource Director, New Mexico MEP, 4501 Indian School Road, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110, F: 505-262-9691, E-mail address: hrdirector@newmexicomep.org, Web address: http://www.newmexicomep.org

Several state and regional economic development strategies have been released this summer. All recognize the important role of research, science and technology in building tech-based economies. Two states are highlighted this week. 

In the last days of a special legislative session, the New Mexico Legislature unanimously passed two technology tax credit bills. Entitled the “Technology Jobs Tax Credit Act” and the “Laboratory Partnership with Small Business Tax Credit Act,” these measures are intended to assist New Mexico’s technology-based businesses with the development of increased research investments and laboratory partnerships, especially in rural areas.

To help small businesses participate fully in the expected e-commerce revolution, Senator Bingaman (D-NM) has introduced legislation to create a national e-commerce extension program. Senators Rockefeller (D-WVa), Snowe (R-ME) and Mikulski (D-MD) are co-sponsors of the bill, S. 1494.

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.

Sigfried Hecker, the director of Los Alamos National Laboratory, announced that he is stepping aside in order to participate more closely in scientific collaboration between US and Russian researchers. Hecker has headed Los Alamos since 1986.