SSTI Digest

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 $500,000 for distance learning programs to provide expert teacher training $4.5 million in additional funds for the Yamacraw Mission, the centerpiece of the state's tech-based economic development strategy Indiana Governor Frank O’Bannon, State of the State Address, January 17, 2001 – new initiatives and new funding, reauthorization of existing efforts http://www.state.in.us/gov/state/2001/2001sos.htm $50 million school readiness program with several initiatives, including a middle school summer math program and 500 master reading and math teachers in the selected schools $30 million quality teaching initiative to…

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. In the fall of 1999, Perry established the state’s Advisory Council on the Digital Economy. This past October, the Council released Bringing…

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. Upon completing the first round of semester-long classes, students will receive A+ Certification, the first step to an IT career as hardware technicians. The training will be provided at no expense to the students, and the program will pick up the fees for the students to receive A+ Certification. Students receiving certification will receive an after-school and summer internship with a Minneapolis company and earn a minimum of $10 per hour, possibly up to $20 per hour. Students will also have the option of pursuing additional certification levels.…

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 Business First Stop enables users to locate information and resources, seek out other area entrepreneurs, identify and solve problems, and find out about relevant area events. Contact information for business services and assistance in the areas of finance, management, business tools, marketing, and government can be found on the site for each state. Listings of informational sessions on financial, international trade, internet/e-commerce, management, sales and marketing, and technology topics comprise part of the Ohio information. In addition, AREI will assist businesses to take advantage of newly available venture capital funding through the Appalachian Ohio Development Fund. Based at Ohio University, AREI also supports…

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: provides the latest science and technology news in Maine; offers an inventory of high technology resources including databases of research capabilities and results; identifies research grant opportunities; lists sources of business financing; lists technology-intensive businesses in the state and showcases some of their successes; contains links to job opportunities in science and technology positions; identifies educational institutions in Maine that offer courses in science and technology-related subjects; and,  provides links to science resources for teachers and educational information for students. The idea for a science and technology information clearinghouse originated in 1997 when a special commission reviewed the state’s high…

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. Battelle-R&D Magazine’s research and development forecast predicts that $277 billion will be spent on R&D in 2001. U.S. R&D investments remain largely driven by industry, which is anticipated to spend $190 billion this year, a 6.5 percent increase over the previous twelve months. Battelle cautioned that the unpredictable state of the dot-com world and stock market fluctuations could affect its forecast. Spending…

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 a new Arkansas Biosciences Institute to foster biotechnology development and research  the establishment of a chief information officer for the state and an advisory council a new Arkansas Technology Infrastructure Fund so high-speed connectivity is accessible to every Arkansan a new Arkansas Venture Capital Fund, combining many existing state economic development programs into a single incentive program passage of a Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, providing legal recognition by the…

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/ To give potential applicants an opportunity to find out more about applying for grant funds, TOP will hold Technical Assistance Workshops February 2, in Washington, DC; February 6, in Denver, Colorado; and February 8, in Saint Louis, Missouri. Online registration for the workshops is now available at http…

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. Generating Employment through New York Science (GEN-NY-SIS, for short), targets biotechnology and was unveiled by Senator Majority Leader Joseph Bruno in the middle of December. The five-year plan calls for $225 million in new public programs and $45 million in tax credits directed toward biotechnology and life science research and commercialization. Industry and federal funding is expected to match the state's investment, which would be allocated as follows: $147 million for basic research matching grants to assist universities and institutions in attracting and retaining…

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. Many states have established S&T councils to spearhead strategic planning or policy development for tech-based economic development (recent Digest articles on other state's councils are listed in the 2000 index: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Indices/…

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. The accompanying table presents the distribution of proposals, awards, and firms by state. A list of companies selected for the program can be found at http://sbir.nasa.gov

An increasingly recognized and critical component of building a tech-based economy is the integration of university or college research and training capabilities into the local economic development strategy. While considerable attention is paid to the regional impact of large research institutions, not every community is home to an MIT, University of Texas, or Stanford. Cities like Erie, Pennsylvania, – home to several small institutions of higher learning – are providing useful examples of alternative approaches for businesses and the community to benefit from the intellectual resources and talent available through area colleges and universities. Ten years of planning and cooperation among Erie’s business, community and academic leaders, in partnership with the state, resulted in the proposal for a Research and Economic Development Center (REDC) at Penn State Erie to serve as a hub for regional economic development. Last week, Governor Tom Ridge delivered $30 million -- the largest-ever state capital investment in Erie County history -- to construct the…