SSTI Digest

Several papers and report have been released recently on the Advanced Technology Program (ATP); five were published on line last week alone. Below are descriptions of selected papers and links to download full copies. Additional titles are available on the ATP web site: http://www.atp.nist.gov/atp/pubs.htm

Rosalie Ruegg has retired from her position as the Director of the Economic Assessment Office for the Advanced Technology Program in the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Our thanks to SSTI Weekly Digest subscriber Chris Brantley of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers, Inc. <www.ieee.org&gt; for the heads up on this story.

On April 25, Governor Parris Glendening signed 12 acts of the state legislature dealing with information technology and technology-based economic development. Of particular interest is HB 1209 which makes several revisions to the Maryland Science, Engineering, and Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO).

The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) is seeking proposals to evaluate Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Technology (EPSCoT). EPSCoT was established by Congress in 1998 to improve the technological competitiveness of the states that have historically received less federal R&D funding than a majority of states.

The purpose of the current funding opportunity is to: (1) evaluate the mission of EPSCoT in terms of funded projects, and (2) assess the program's underlying concept, design, and structure. A detailed Statement of Work (SOW) will be available in the solicitation package. The period of performance will be eighteen (18) months from the date of contract award. The solicitation isopen to all qualified organizations with extensive experience in analyzing the dynamics of regional technology-based economic growth. All interested groups may submit a proposal to be considered by the agency.

Alan P. Balutis, a 21-year veteran with the U.S. Department of Commerce, to be director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Advanced Technology Program. Balutis has been serving as the deputy chief information officer for the Department of Commerce since 1994.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has the following four solicitations open for research and development projects.

Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessments to Encourage Research Projects for Improvement in the Stock Conditions of the Chesapeake Bay Fisheries Deadline: April 21, 2000. Funds available: $540,000. Award Size/Duration: unspecified. Eligibility: State fishery agencies and academic and not-for-profit institutions. Contact for more information: Derek Orner at 410/267-5660 or derek.orner@noaa.gov

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:

At first glance, the Baltimore-based Abell Foundation’s quiet contribution of almost $25 million over the past ten years to support local economic development may not raise much interest from state and federal technology-based economic development professionals across the country. However, the reaction might be different after learning that most of the investment was to emerging businesses in the form of venture capital.

1999 Baldrige Winners Announced Two manufacturers and two service companies have been selected as winners of the 1999 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation's premier award for performance excellence and quality achievement. No award recipients were selected in the new education and health care categories.

The winners are: STMicroelectronics, Inc. - Region Americas (Carrollton, TX; manufacturing); BI (Minneapolis, MN.; service); The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. (Atlanta, GA; service); and Sunny Fresh Foods (Monticello, MN.; small business/ manufacturing).

David Weiss is leaving his post as Maryland State Technology Coordinator.

Dr. Lura Powell, Director of the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) since 1995, has decided to take early retirement from the National Institute of Standards & Technology and pursue career opportunities in the private sector. Because of the voluntary early retirement option deadline, Dr. Powell’s retirement was effective September 30.

Dr. Powell joined the then-National Bureau of Standards in 1972 in the Center for Analytical Chemistry and held several research and management positions before being assigned to establish the NIST Biotechnology Division in 1991. She received the Department of Commerce Gold Medal for leadership of ATP and the Silver Medal for building the NIST biotechnology research program.

Cita Furlani, who is currently serving as the Acting Deputy Director of the ATP, will take over as Acting Director of the ATP, subject to departmental approval.

With last week’s release of “The Maryland Innovation and Technology Index 1999,” Maryland became the latest state to release an “S&T report card” as they are also sometimes called. Indices have become popular tools for benchmarking a state’s or region’s comparative position across several technological, economic, and social statistical indicators. Interest in using broad metrics to assist in the definition of specific state science and technology policy has grown so rapidly that the subject was one of the most requested sessions for the upcoming SSTI annual conference. The Maryland Index compares the state to five other East Coast states along 42 statistical indicators categorized among three groups: