SSTI Digest

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, as big defense contractors closed their doors and unemployment climbed, San Diego looked as if it might not recover. Between 1990-1993 alone, nearly 60,000 high-paying jobs were lost to defense and aerospace cutbacks. Although the region had some of the ingredients to be successful (defense technologies, a strong university, medical and bioscience institutes, and a desirable climate), the players did not come together to face their economic woes. It took losing two major bids for federal R&D facilities to spur community leaders to action. Developing High-Technology Communities: San Diego, prepared by Innovation Associates for the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy, tells the San Diego story with supporting statistics of how the region turned things around through technology-based economic development. With all of the elements in place, small technology businesses emerged to become the number one job creating mechanism for the San Diego area. By 1998, San Diego had 100,000 more jobs than it had in 1990, despite the defense cutbacks just a few…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requests cooperative agreement proposals to support an intervention epidemiologic research study of HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the program is to evaluate how different levels of antiretroviral therapy affect HIV-1 infection. Eligible applicants include public and private nonprofit organizations, governments, universities, research institutions, hospitals, and Indian tribal organizations. A total of $400,000 is anticipated to fund two awards. Proposals are due by August 17, 2000. To view the complete RFP, visit: http://www.cdc.gov and click on “funding.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also seeks proposals for Injury Control Research Centers (ICRCs) to advance the prevention, treatment and control of injuries through multidisciplinary approaches. Funding will be provided to applicants in regions that do not currently have ICRCs as well as applicants in regions with centers that must re-compete for funding. Eligible applicants include nonprofit and for-profit organizations, including hospitals, universities, research institutions…

The July-August issue of Technology Review, MIT's Magazine of Innovation, includes a special report on university research. The TR University Research Scorecard, written by TR associate editor Rebecca Zacks, ranks the top U.S. universities for their performance in patent quality (called "technological strength") and licensing revenues. The results demonstrate number of patents issued does not necessarily equate to financial return to the universities. While the University of California and MIT dominate the patent quantity side of the equation, other institutions are earning more in licensing income. "Columbia, for example, ranks second in licensing income and makes nearly a quarter of its $260 million research investment back in royalties and fees, even though the school garnered only 34 patents per year on average from 1994 to 1998. Third-place Florida State University, meanwhile, rakes in an astounding 42 percent of its $112 million annual research budget through a mere 10 licenses or options deals," according to the article.  The complete article and tables can be viewed at…

According to a study by Scarborough Research, a market research firm, Salt Lake City leads the country with 73 percent of households owning a PC. San Francisco and Washington DC follow closely behind with 72 and 71 percent respectively. The average home PC penetration across the 64 metropolitan markets measured is 59 percent. The survey, which has been done since 1997, found even the lowest ranked cities were nearing 50 percent; computers are in the homes of 46 percent of 64th-ranked Charleston, West Virginia. The increasing importance of computers and the Internet also is evident. Two-thirds of all households with computers have Internet access. San Francisco, at the top of the list, has 75 percent of its homes with computers connected to the Net. The standings could change fast, however, with 19 percent of all households currently without computers planning to purchase one in the next year. The statistics and rankings for all 64 metro areas included in the study can be found at: http://www.scarborough.com/scarb2000/press/pr_hhpc_data.htm

Last week, Governor Gray Davis signed into law California’s $99.4 billion budget which provides nearly $305 million for science and technology related programs plus an additional $20 million in research and development tax credits. Specific  initiatives include: Improving access to computers and technology in the classroom such as expanding student access to advanced placement courses on-line, staff development and technical assistance, and final implementation of the Digital High School Program ($215 million); Creating three California Institutes for Science and Innovation on different University of California campuses ($75 million). The institutes will combine technological and scientific research as well as train and educate California’s future scientists and technology leaders; Supporting the New Economy Initiative for: space commerce and aeronautics; grants to match federal and private funds for the Next Generation Internet Centers; E-Commerce in Rural Economic Regions Demonstration Project; California Technology Investment Partnership Program;…

The 21st Century Workforce Commission has released its final report, A Nation of Opportunity, and recommendations for developing the nation's new high tech workforce. The report provides an analysis of how leadership in regional partnerships of education, business and government can effectively address critical shortages of skilled workers in information technology jobs. The Commission makes several recommendations for each of nine "Keys to Success" for overcoming the gap in IT workers and for increasing opportunities for changing composition of the American workforce and population. While intended to address IT, the report’s findings and recommendations have application across broader workforce issues in a knowledge-based economy. The Commission's nine "Keys to Success" are: 1. Building 21st Century Literacy 2. Exercising Leadership Through Partnerships 3. Forming Learning Linkages for Youth 4. Identifying Pathways into IT Jobs 5. Increasing Acquisition of IT Skills 6. Expanding Continuous Learning 7. Shaping a…

In an effort to provide quality, high-speed telecommunications services throughout the state, North Dakota has committed $3 million for the first phase of a broadband telecommunications network that is expected to cost the state $20 million when completed. When the first phase is finished later this year, 218 locations in 64 communities will be connected. “When complete, North Dakota’s network will provide the greatest universal access to high-speed telecommunication services of any rural state in the nation,” according to a Governor’s Office press release. The initiative has three goals: To design and implement a network that meets the needs of government and education To reduce telecommunicate rates by aggregating public demand To promote economic development by making broadband service more widely available The first 218 locations to be connected include state and local government agencies, colleges, and local schools. While the network is initially intended for public sector use, businesses and individuals are expected to eventually be able to buy access. …

Public and private sources in the United States invest approximately $45 billion each year into medical research, but attempts to measure the return on that investment have been few. Exceptional Returns: The Economic Value of America’s Investment in Medical Research presents a preview of the findings of nine economists from the University of Chicago, Harvard University, Yale University, Stanford University and Columbia University. The paper’s release is timed to be of value for the 2001 budget debates in Congress. In summary, the economists found: “Increases in life expectancy in just the decades of the 1970s and the 1980s were worth $57 trillion to Americans – a figure six times larger than the entire output of tangible goods and services last year. The gains associated with the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease alone totaled $31 trillion. Improvements in health account for almost one-half of the actual gain in American living standards in the past 50 years. Medical research that reduced deaths from cancer by just one-fifth would be worth $10 trillion to Americans…

The Federal Railroad Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation is soliciting proposal concept papers for research projects, technology advancements and/or demonstrations directed at enhancing the deployment of high-speed rail service. Technologies which are high-priority research candidates for evaluation include: 1) grade crossing hazard mitigation systems, 2) innovative, low cost technologies to improve track and structures, 3) advance train control systems, 4) and non-electric locomotives and passenger equipments systems. Any individual or organization may submit a proposal concept paper. A total of $4.3 million in project funding is anticipated in FY 2000; additional funding may be available in FY 2001. Awards are expected to range from $25,000 to $500,000. The solicitation can be found by going to: www.eps.gov , selecting “EPS for Vendors,” selecting “DOT Offices” and clicking on “Federal Railroad Administration Posted Dates.” Return to the top of this page

Our Digest archives are back on-line! The Calendar of Events and S&T Resources have also been updated. We apologize for the problems many of you encountered trying to use the site during the past two weeks.

The Angel Capital Electronic Network (ACE-Net) will be privatized by September 1, 2000. The Internet-based listing service for growing companies and angel investors has been run by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy. A privatization team representing ACE-Net regional partner organizations finalized plans in May for making the transition from the SBA. Job descriptions of future staff positions are being drafted. The privatized ACE-Net is expected to provide additional services to registered angel investors, such as educational tools, research, and training. When launched in September 1995, ACE-Net was to be early entry into web-based investor-business matching for capital. Unfortunately, the effort was hampered by federal bureaucracy and regulations, according to ACE-Net supporters. One of ACE-Net’s accomplishments has been to help streamline investment offerings across state lines, greatly reducing the regulatory burden of securities filing. To date, 40 states have amended their securities laws to allow streamlined, web-based equity…

Increasing globalization of research and development (R&D) and the prolific growth of information technology (IT) are major elements in a "science and engineering enterprise that is in transition," the National Science Board (NSB) reports in Science and Engineering Indicators 2000. The new S&E Indicators report emphasizes a changing context for the National Science Foundation, and for science and engineering, generally. According to Science Board chair Eamon Kelly, there has been rapid worldwide growth and emphasis in science and technology, heightened by broad collaboration among nations. Recognizing the trend, the NSB devoted portions of each of the nine chapters in the new S&E Indicators to international comparisons and global patterns in science, engineering, education and technology. The report describes growing evidence of how fundamental science has contributed to a stronger U.S. economy, and how IT has had a major impact on all facets of society. It also says that the impact is unequal within many segments of the national economy and in education, leaving…