NYSTAR Completes First Strategic Plan

With significant emphasis on academic research and commercialization, the New York Office of Science, Technology, and Academic Research (NYSTAR) has provided Governor George Pataki its first strategic plan. The $130 million NYSTAR, which absorbed the functions of the NY State Science and Technology Foundation, was formed in 1999 as a result of the state’s Jobs 2000 legislation (see the 12/3/99 issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest). 

The plan calls for several new academic initiatives: 

• the establishment of several “world-class” Strategically Targeted Academic Research (STAR) Centers by the “dynamic combination of state-of-the-art facilities, cutting edge technology, and the world’s most sought after academic and scientific talent;” 
• two grant programs to support new facilities and intellectual infrastructure development within the STAR centers; 
• a competitive program to expand the collaborative research activities of some of the state’s 14 existing Centers of Advanced Technology (CATs); 
• a technology transfer incentives program to support the efforts of NY colleges and universities to commercialize innovations; 
• a closed, Internet-based database of New York’s academic and business researchers; and, 
• exploration of the feasibility of establishing a state-based version of the federal Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). 

In addition, the STAR centers, CATs, and other New York research facilities will be linked through the state’s fiber-optic network, permitting absolute, real-time multitasking, video and audio conferencing, and document sharing. 

NYSTAR also will create new programs and policies to facilitate technology transfer and business commercialization, including: 

• establishing a science and technology law center to assist entrepreneurs, small and start-up technology companies with low-cost legal consultation and services related to patenting, licensing, incorporation, business planning, etc., and 
• recommending improvements for New York’s policies and legislation regarding royalties and licensing fees. 

The plan includes eligibility, program details and timeline for targeted implementation for each of the new programs. Copies can be downloaded from NYSTAR’s new web site: http://www.nystar.state.ny.us