SSTI Digest

Minnesota Technology, Inc. seeks candidates to fill the position of Technology Transfer Specialist. The incumbent will help bring Federal Technology Transfer activities to Minnesota companies by developing partnerships with federal labs, identifying opportunities for tech transfer activities in Minnesota companies, and assisting companies with the development of proposals, agreements and licenses. 

A number of bills to strengthen Hawaii's science and technology standing were passed during the final days of the legislative session.

President Clinton announced the award of $44 million in grants to establish 214 more Community Technology Centers in economically distressed, high-poverty communities. The centers -- to be housed in libraries, schools, community centers, community colleges, public housing facilities, & other organizations -- will make computers & the Internet available to low-income residents in urban & rural communities. Business & community partners will provide matching funds. For more information, including a list of recipients by state, see: http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/04-2000/0418.html

The Department of Education Office of Educational Technology (OET) is reviewing and revising the national educational technology plan. The revision will be completed by Fall 2000 and will include new national goals for the effective use of technology in education. The public is invited to offer opinions and recommendations through the office's web site: http://www.ed.gov/Technology

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

Technology-based businesses and investors in Alabama may be eligible for several new tax credits if legislation recently introduced passes the state legislature. The Incentives for Targeted Growth Act of 2000, Senate Bill 571, was introduced April 19 to encourage the growth and expansion of Alabama’s technology community. The bill was developed after the Alabama Commerce Commission, while developing a new economic development strategy for Alabama, found the state’s current capital investment tax credit program was not particularly attractive for research firms, start-ups, and technology-based businesses.

The National Governors' Association has released the second paper in the New Economy Series. Growing New Businesses with Seed and Venture Capital: State Experiences and Options identifies four basic strategies states pursue to increase venture investing and makes eight observations regarding best practices among state seed and venture capital financing efforts. The paper also includes several benchmarks in program design, management practices, and program results to use in analyzing a public program’s effectiveness. Three appendices complete the paper. The first appendix presents PricewaterhouseCoopers capital investment statistics by state and industry sector and the second describes four case studies of successful capital access programs. The final appendix is a matrix of the types and ranges of capital access programs offered in each state. The paper was prepared by Robert Heard, president of the National Association of Seed and Venture Funds, and John Sibert, CEO of the Global Finance Group, LLC. For more information, see: http://www.nga.gov/center/

During the National SBIR Conference this past weekend, it was announced Jon Baron will be leaving his position as SBIR/STTR Program Manager for the Department of Defense on June 1.

During the National SBIR Conference this past weekend, it was announced Jon Baron will be leaving his position as SBIR/STTR Program Manager for the Department of Defense on June 1.

Washington Governor Gary Locke has named Fred Morris as his new advisor for science and technology. Mr. Morris has been working for Battelle Memorial Institute's Northwest Research Center where he has worked at the Science and Government Center

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.

On April 19, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court cleared the way for the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund to begin operations with a unanimous ruling that the funding mechanism is constitutional. Between 1998 and 2003, the Trust, managed by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, will receive about $150 million to accelerate the use of cleaner sources of electricity and to invest in the development of the renewable energy industry in Massachusetts. In subsequent years, the Trust will receive about $20 million a year.