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BILL REINTRODUCED TO DOUBLE CIVILIAN R&D

BILL REINTRODUCED TO DOUBLE CIVILIAN R&D Senators Bill Frist (R- TN) and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) introduced legislation to nearly double civilian and pre-competitive research over the next 11 years. S. 296, titled the Federal Research Investment Act , was cosponsored by 18 other Democrats and Republicans. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation for consideration.

A similar bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent last session; the House did not act on the bill before adjourning.

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POSITION DESCRIPTION

Technology 2020, a public-private partnership, is seeking a Director of New Business Development. Technology 2020is supported by a number of large corporate "technology partners" in the Knoxville/Oak Ridge Area of east Tennessee. Technology 2020's primary objective is to leverage talent and reputation of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and grow new technology businesses that will create new jobs and help diversify the economy of the region. Oak Ridge is the nation's largest multi-disciplinary laboratory and is a primary source for technology commercialization.

The Director of New Business Development will have a pivotal role in Technology 2020's success in identifying and creating new businesses in the region. Reporting to the President and CEO, the ideal candidate will blend a broad knowledge of business and finance with excellent personal skills and a strategic mindset regarding new ventures. The focus of the Director's work will be to identify or create new businesses in the area and help grow these new ventures.

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SENATORS FRIST AND ROCKEFELLER INTRODUCE BILL TO DOUBLE CIVILIAN R&D SPENDING

On June 25, Senators Bill Frist (R-TN) and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) introduced a new bill, the Federal Research Investment Act (S. 2217). The purpose of the bill is to provide for the continuation of federal research investment in a fiscally sustainable way.

The Act is intended to encourage as an overall goal, the doubling of the annual authorized amount of federal funding for basic scientific, medical, and pre-competitive engineering research over the next twelve years. The bill also sets a minimum level of investment in order to maintain the high priority that science, engineering, and technology had previously been afforded in the federal budget.

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Tennessee Creates New Organization to Lead S&T Efforts

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:

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People

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

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