SSTI Digest

Science policy and tech-based economic development have taken center stage in Idaho with last week’s release of the Idaho Science and Technology Strategy and the supporting new initiatives included in Governor Dirk Kempthorne’s recent budget message.

With the strong tech base in Boise, the wealth of science and technical expertise at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL), and robust state revenues, Governor Kempthorne and the 23-member Science and Technology Advisory Council he appointed believe the key elements are in place to launch a comprehensive strategy for growing and expanding the state’s tech-based economic.



The council, which includes the state’s top technology company executives, engineers, educators, and technology experts, recommended several courses of action in the Idaho Science and Technology Strategy:

Editor's Note: The third installment of SSTI's look at recent speeches and budget proposals to demonstrate the priority governors are placing on tech-based economic development and math & science education.



Georgia

Governor Roy Barnes, FY2002 Budget Address, January 11, 2001

– new and increased funding

http://www.ganet.org/governor/speech/press.cgi?prfile=PR.20010112.02

With his past efforts to strengthen the state’s position in the tech-based economy, new Texas Governor Rick Perry’s budget priorities — $251 million in new spending for college scholarships and math & science programs — should come as no surprise.



According to a recent article in the Austin American Statesman, Governor Perry’s budget recommendations will include $211 million in increased funding for college scholarships for lower-income students and $40 million for a new Master Math Teacher program to encourage more K-12 math instruction. Governor Perry cited a technically skilled workforce, built on a strong math and science education, as being needed for the state’s technology economy.



The move, consistent with Perry’s activities while serving as Lieutenant Governor, may foreshadow the Lone Star State taking a more active role in encouraging tech-based economic development.

An initiative to provide computer training to local teenagers to help jumpstart their information technology careers was launched earlier this month in Minneapolis. The Community IT Learning Center is the result of a partnership involving a North Minneapolis-based youth development organization, two local technology training companies, and Microsoft. While the training is designed to help close Minnesota’s Digital Divide 12 students at a time, the center is putting in place mechanisms to increase the impact beyond each class.

A new resource for tech-based businesses in rural Ohio, Eastern Kentucky, and West Virginia was launched last week. The Appalachian Regional Entrepreneurship Initiative (AREI) is expanding its efforts to support growth of a technology-based entrepreneurial economy in Appalachia Ohio and neighboring states through a new website, http://www.bizfirststop.com

The Maine Science and Technology Foundation has launched http://www.mainescience.org -- a single website clearinghouse for businesses, researchers, educators, students and the public looking for information on science and technology in Maine. Under the headings of Quest, Brainpower, Happenings, and Commerce, the site:

Total research and development investment in the United States was strong in 2000, and is expected to increase about five percent in 2001, according to two separate reports recently released by Battelle Memorial Institute and the National Science Foundation.



Since 1994, spending on R&D in the United States has risen sharply, from $169.2 billion to a projected $264.2 billion in 2000, according to NSF, which issued Data Brief 01-310 Sixth Year of Unprecedented R&D Growth Expected in 2000 before the end of the year. That is the greatest single increase for any six-year period in the history of collecting R&D data, NSF said.

Editor's Note: We continue our look at the priority Governors are placing on tech-based economic development and math & science education with highlights from recent speeches and budget proposals. Based on this week's announcements, it appears 2001 appears will be a third strong growth year for state and local tech-based economic development activities.

Arkansas

Governor Mike Huckabee, State of the State Address, January 9, 2001, and accompanying legislative agenda

-- new initiatives

http://www.state.ar.us/governor/state_of_state_2001/index.html

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is now accepting applications for funding through the Technology Opportunities Program (TOP). The purpose of the matching grants is to extend the benefits of advanced telecommunications technologies to all Americans, especially those in inaccessible, rural, and under-served urban communities. Entities eligible to apply include state, local, and tribal governments, colleges and universities, and non-profit entities. The deadline for submitting proposals is March 22, 2001. Congress appropriated $42.5 million for grants through TOP for Fiscal Year 2001.

Copies of the Application Kit, including the Notice and guidelines for completing an application, can be downloaded from the TOP web site: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/top/

Whether it is proposal A, proposal B, or some combination of A and B, university research and development efforts in New York stand to gain an additional $40-50 million per year for the next five years. The new funding would be in addition to the $135 million injection of state funding directed toward university research excellence through the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR). While both proposals focus heavily on university research, the initiatives vary substantially.

In December, Governor Bill Janklow created the South Dakota Math, Science and Technology Council to encourage more interest in math, science, and technology at all levels of education. The council's duties include: identifying major opportunities for coordinating math, science, technology and research efforts; promoting coordination of public and private initiatives in those areas; pursuing federal and private funding; and, identifying ways to create jobs in South Dakota in those areas.



Representation on the council is drawn from South Dakota State University, the University of South Dakota, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, the state Board of Regents, the state department of economic development, state legislators, and business representatives. The 12 members were appointed by the Governor.

NASA has selected 280 research proposals across 37 states for negotiation of Phase I contract awards for its 2000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. The total value of the awards is expected to be more than $19 million, $1 million less than a year ago. The space agency made 290 awards in the 1999 solicitation cycle.



For the 2000 competition, NASA received 1,847 proposals, 413 fewer than 1999, from small, high-technology businesses located throughout the United States.



The selected firms will be awarded fixed-price contracts worth up to $70,000 to perform a six-month Phase I feasibility study. Companies which successfully complete the Phase I activities are eligible to compete for Phase II selection the following year. NASA Phase II awards allow for a two-year, fixed-price contract of up to $600,000.