SSTI Digest

Are you looking for funding for high-risk research? The Advanced Technology Program (ATP), part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, bridges the gap between the research lab and the marketplace stimulating prosperity through innovation. ATP’s mission is to accelerate the development of innovative technologies through partnerships with the private sector. Program Impact ATP fills a gap between invention and innovation not substantially funded by private investors. About 80 percent of ATP funded projects have brought, or are soon bringing, one or more new products or processes into the marketplace. Eighty new products or processes are in the marketplace or expected soon. ATP accelerates technology development. Approximately 86 percent of 673 organizations in 347 projects reported that they are ahead in their R&D cycle as a result of ATP funding. Fifty-three percent said that they are ahead by one to three years. ATP fosters collaboration. Almost 85 percent of ATP projects engaged in collaborations with other companies, universities, federal…

Do you have a great idea for a new industrial product or process that can help save energy, reduce emissions, and/or provide clean manufacturing? If so, then you will want to look to the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for possible financing. Several programs provide finance solutions through grants and seed money to help companies get energy ideas off the ground. Mission The EERE mission is to strengthen America’s energy security, environmental quality, and economic vitality in public-private partnerships that enhance energy efficiency and productivity; bring clean, reliable and affordable energy technologies to the marketplace; and make a difference in the everyday lives of Americans by enhancing their energy choices and their quality of life. Partnering EERE is strengthening its partnerships with other government entities and the private sector to better leverage the Federal investment in research, development and deployment (RD&D) of new technologies. These partnerships involve other components of the Department of…

The Washington Technology Center (WTC), based in Seattle, WA, is searching for a person to fill the newly created position of Manager of Statewide Programs. This person will design and develop a statewide network of programs, services and connections to serve companies and entrepreneurs across Washington State. The person stepping into this position will lead the state's efforts to drive innovation and technology into economic growth through partnerships with local technology, economic development and research organizations. The Statewide Program Manager should be someone with a technology and business background that is exceptional at: understanding the needs of companies and entrepreneurs developing innovative programs to fill those needs, attracting financing to support these new programs, and engaging others in this network. More complete information is avaiable on the WTC website: http://www.watechcenter.org The Statewide Program Manager position is posted now through October 4.

Tuesday’s primary resulted in the selection of gubernatorial candidates in nine states: Arizona, Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. As of press time, Florida’s primary results on the Democratic side were still uncertain. SSTI reviewed the candidates’ campaign websites to determine their positions on economic development and the role of science and technology in today’s economy. Conventional political wisdom would indicate that in poor economic times, a major campaign theme would be economic development. If that’s the case this year, the theme is not reflected in most candidates’ websites. Of the 20 major candidates advancing as a result of Tuesday’s election, SSTI found that only eight offered substantive discussion of issues of interest to the tech-based economic development community. The analysis reveals, however, that those advocating investments in science and technology continue to come from both parties; bipartisan support for science and technology has been a hallmark of tech-based economic development since its…

Earlier this week, the European Commission presented its strategy to respond to the March 2002 Barcelona European Council's call to raise research spending to 3 percent of the European Union's (EU) average Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2010. Today, Europe is at 1.9 percent on average across the member countries. The Communication More Research for Europe looks into Europe's under-investment in science and technology and its harmful consequences for EU competitiveness, growth and employment. R&D investment (private and public) in the U.S. now exceeds EU expenditure by more than €120 billion every year. In 2000, in the U.S. €288 billion was spent on R&D, while only €164 billion was spent in the EU. The report states Japan already has achieved the 3 percent level, with R&D expenditures accounting for 2.98 percent of its GDP in 2000. The USA is coming closer (with 2.69 percent in 2000, which has been constantly rising since 1995). In Europe, R&D intensity, at 1.93 percent in 2000, has been stagnating at under 2 percent since the beginning of the last decade, the…

Last week, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced the selection of 29 economic development projects to receive more than $3.1 million. Funding provided through USDA Rural Development's business opportunity grants and economic development loan and grant programs will assist over 455 businesses and create or save nearly 3,000 jobs, according to the grant proposals. The awards were distributed to projects in 24 states: Alabama ($450,000); California ($50,000); Colorado ($9,500);  Georgia ($50,000); Indiana ($50,000); Kansas ($200,000); Kentucky ($48,360); Louisiana ($49,790); Maine ($13,000); Maryland ($50,000); Minnesota ($250,000); Mississippi ($431,687); Missouri ($222,000); Nebraska ($300,000); North Carolina ($50,000); North Dakota ($50,000); Ohio ($50,000); Pennsylvania ($15,000); South Dakota ($200,000); Tennessee ($50,000); Texas ($413,936); Vermont ($35,538); Virginia ($49,587); and Washington ($50,000). Among the awards were several technology-based economic development initiatives and entrepreneurial assistance programs, including: Indiana Business…

The new Arizona Technology Council (ATC) has announced its vision and mission as a non-profit association committed to growing member companies and the technology industry in Central and Northern Arizona. ATC, formed in cooperation with the Arizona Department of Commerce, Southern Arizona Tech Council, various organizations and technology trade associations, will be led by former Phoenix mayor and ATC Chairman Paul Johnson, an appointed executive committee and a board of directors comprised of a cross-section of academic, private and public sector professionals. An advisory board of civic leaders, technology industry executives and service providers to the technology industry has been formed to help interconnect the technology industry with the community. ATC's vision is to help the state become recognized as a top-tier center for technology-based industries and businesses with an education system that produces a best-of-class technology workforce; a private sector that innovates and delivers breakthrough technology products, solutions and services separately and in partnership with the state-…

When budgets tighten for state and local governments, as they have in nearly every corner of the country, legislatures and political leaders look for areas to reduce spending. Having a strong documented record of the positive impact of your technology-based economic development efforts and investments can help protect vital programs from the axe. And, regardless of the fiscal environment, regular assessment and program evaluation also are good practices for honing your activities to maximize their benefits and payoffs. But how do you start? What measures really matter? And how do you use the data once gathered? SSTI's sixth annual conference, Building Tech-based Economies: From Policy to Practice, includes several sessions to help address the critical need for accurate and impartial program impact assessments that can stand up to political opponents or axe-wielding budget analysts. A few session highlights include: Measuring and Monitoring the Knowledge Economy — Dr. Ken Poole, Executive Director of widely respected ACCRA, will lead this intensive, 3.5-hour…

Many areas of the country are experiencing a brain drain, an outmigration of recent college graduates leading to a decline in the available labor pool of entry level workers, young entrepreneurs and future civic leaders. A new initiative, however, hopes to reverse that trend in Northeastern Pennsylvania by strengthening the social, networking and professional relationships among young skilled workers in the Wilkes-Barre region. Professionals Organized and Working to Enrich the Region (POWER) held its first meeting last week. Managed by the Great Valley Technology Alliance, POWER's organizational and promotional costs are covered by a $42,000 grant from the state's Stay and Invent the Future Initiative, run by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. According to a recent article in the Wilkes Barre Times Leader, POWER marketing efforts will be directed toward 21- to 40-year-olds in the area. Activities will include community service projects, mixers and cultural events.

Federal research facilities can be a bit intimidating for a small- or medium-sized technology firm. But if a business is looking for solutions to technical problems, new technologies to commercialize or adopt, a research partner, or funding to perfect some technology, the vast resources of the nation's 700+ federal research laboratories could hold the key to commercial success. Fortunately, since 1974, the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC) provides an affordable, easy-to-access gateway to a nationwide network of federal laboratories. The FLC is the nation's leading source for maximizing collaborative research for transferring technologies and facilitating technical cooperation between the federal laboratories, industry, academia, state and local governments, and federal agencies. FLC services include: FLC Technology Locator — This serves as a point of entry to federal laboratory expertise and technology. Potential partners are put in contact with a federal laboratory with expertise in a specific field. Find-a-lab online locator — This locator allows…

The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) is a nationwide network of not-for-profit centers in more than 400 locations nationwide. Their sole purpose is to provide the 357,000 small and mid-sized manufacturers in the U.S. help to succeed in a global economy. MEP centers are linked together through the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology — making it possible for even the smallest firms to tap into the expertise of knowledgeable manufacturing and business specialists throughout the U.S. MEP centers help manufacturers with such issues as process improvement; quality management systems; business management systems; human resource development; market development; materials engineering; plant layout; product development; energy audits; environmental studies; financial planning; CAD/CAM/CAE; and electronic commerce/EDI. Starting in October 2002, MEP will roll out 360vu, a new brand of strategic management services designed exclusively for small and mid-sized manufacturers. 360vu services are delivered by manufacturing and management experts who work with the…

The interim director for Cleveland's new Industrial Technology Institute will be Charles Alexander, dean of the College of Engineering at Cleveland State University. Anne Armstrong, who in July resigned as president of Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology, is returning to Federal Computer Week as its publisher. Armstrong was with the weekly publication prior to joining CIT. Michael Finney, vice president for Emerging Business with the Michigan Economic Development Corp (MEDC), is leaving MEDC to become the first president and CEO for the Greater Rochester Enterprise in New York. Otto Loewer is leaving his position as dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas to become the founding director of the university's new Economic Development Institute. Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for the past five-and-a-half years, Sam McCullough is resigning effective October 25. Doug Rothwell, President and CEO of MEDC, has announced his resignation with the end of Governor John Engler's term in December.…