SSTI Digest

Many states have made substantial strides in preparing students for college-level education, but widespread gains in the proportion of Americans going to college have not been made, according to Measuring Up 2002, a report released by the independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. The report finds that overall college opportunity in America also is at a standstill, remaining unevenly and unfairly distributed. Following up on the previous, first-of-its-kind Measuring Up 2000, the new report measures the nation and each state's performance in providing education and training beyond high school by updating each state's performance and comparing each state's 2002 results with its results two years ago. In Measuring Up 2002, each state's higher education performance is evaluated by using "A" through "F" grades in five key areas of higher education performance — preparation, participation, affordability, completion, and benefits. All grades are based on each state's index score in 34 quantitative indicators weighted by their "importance to…

The federal laboratories and research facilities associated with nine federal agencies can serve as a treasure chest of technologies for commercialization, according to Intellectual Property: Federal Agency Efforts in Transferring and Reporting New Technology (GAO-03-47). The recent report by the General Accounting Office (GAO) discloses that in fiscal year 2001, nine federal agencies created 3,676 new inventions, issued 1,585 patents and received $74.5 million in licensing revenues. Agencies included in the report were: the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Air Force, Army, Department of Energy (DOE), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Navy, and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). These agencies differ greatly in their approaches concerning what they will patent, the types of licensing agreements they will enter, and how they report their output. Some of the agencies have decentralized their technology transfer programs while others have centralized. While only one in nine…

In an era of tight public budgets, sources of seed funding for early stage and developmental research projects with potential for commercialization is getting harder to come by. Many state initiatives to support these endeavors are subject to the same budget cuts as other areas, and small firms' interests in the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program are increasing pressure for these already competitive grants. Using at least $15 million of a $20 million gift from the co-founder and chairman of Sycamore Networks, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has taken matters into its own hands for its faculity and students by launching Ignition and Innovation Program Grants through the new Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation. The $15 million is expected to be allocated to dozens of different projects over a five-year period. The center recently announced nine awards to receive the first $1.25 million from the Ignition and Innovation Program Grants. Ignition grants provide seed funding of up to $50,000. Targeting risky, unprecedented technological…

Each year, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program is one of the most competitive for companies seeking federal research funding. The FY 2002 Phase I solicitation proved to be no different as the agency made only 12 award recommendations from the pool of 202 proposals submitted — an award percentage of only 5.94 percent. Joe Henebury, DOT SBIR Program Manager, provided the 2002 award and proposal statistics by state to the Idaho SBIR Competition News, an e-publication of the SBIR outreach activity conducted by the National Science Foundation-Idaho EPSCoR Project. Dr. Chris Busch, serving as consultant to the University of Idaho EPSCoR Program, prepares the bi-weekly e-newsletter. As a service to our readers, SSTI has re-published as a webpage the statistical table included in the November 8 issue of the Idaho SBIR Competition News. Presenting the number of proposals submitted, awards received and conversion percentage by state, the chart is available at: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/111502t2.htm Idaho small businesses or…

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced it intends to have almost $200,000 in fiscal year 2003 funds for new awards under the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) Program. Nominations to honor individuals and institutions are invited for the 2003 competition of these annual awards. The PAESMEM Program, administered on behalf of the White House by NSF, seeks to identify outstanding mentoring efforts or programs designed to enhance the participation of groups underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The awardees serve as exemplars to their colleagues and are leaders in the national effort to more fully develop U.S. human resources in the above fields. Approximately 20 grant awards of $10,000 each are expected to be split evenly among individuals and institutions. Beyond the grant award, each awardee will be invited to Washington, D.C., for an awards ceremony, recognition events, and meetings with leaders in federal sector education and research, and focused workshops addressing effective…

Bill Richardson, Governor-elect of New Mexico, has named Rick Homans as secretary of the state's Economic Development Department. Fritz Bittenbender will become president of the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Association in December. The New Hampshire High Technology Council has announced Paul Houle is the new president and chief executive officer and Mary Collins will serve as executive vice president and chief operating officer. Gary Mahn, director of the Idaho Department of Commerce, has announced he will resign from the position at the end of the year. Pam McDonough, director of the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs for the past four years, has been appointed to the Illinois Labor Relations Board by outgoing Governor George Ryan. Joseph Hannon will serve as the department's director for the remainder of Ryan's term, which ends in January. Carla Patterson is the new director of the Nebraska Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Cian Robinson, executive director of Infotech Niagara, has left the position to consult privately. Carolyn…

Bill Richardson, Governor-elect of New Mexico, has named Rick Homans as secretary of the state's Economic Development Department.

Fritz Bittenbender will become president of the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Association in December.

The New Hampshire High Technology Council has announced Paul Houle is the new president and chief executive officer and Mary Collins will serve as executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Gary Mahn, director of the Idaho Department of Commerce, has announced he will resign from the position at the end of the year.

Pam McDonough, director of the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs for the past four years, has been appointed to the Illinois Labor Relations Board by outgoing Governor George Ryan. Joseph Hannon will serve as the department's director for the remainder of Ryan's term, which ends in January.

Carla Patterson is the new director of the Nebraska Manufacturing Extension Partnership.