As the most comprehensive resource available for those involved in technology-based economic development, SSTI offers the services that are needed to help build tech-based economies. Learn more about membership...
SSTI Digest
Wisconsin Creates State Technology Council
Last Friday, Governor Tommy Thompson signed into law Senate Bill 429, establishing the Wisconsin Technology and Entrepreneurs Council (WITEC). The nonprofit corporation is to promote and support the creation, development, and retention of science-based and technology-based businesses “through the establishment and implementation of programs that focus on various elements that are important for the success of high-technology firms, such as entrepreneurs, seed and venture capital, universities and state government."
The Wisconsin Department of Commerce is required to organize and assist in maintaining WITEC, including providing a one-time grant of $50,000 for start up expenses. Commerce may provide additional funding on a matching basis. The total maximum Commerce contributions to WITEC are limited to $250,000 in any fiscal year.
Network of Incubators Proposed in Indiana
Purdue University plans to seek $15 million in matching funds from the state to establish and support five technology business incubators or regional technology centers around Indiana. The state also will be asked to provide $6.25 million in funding for administrative support over the first four years of the centers’ operations.
The focus for each center would depend on the region of the state and the potential that exists within that region. Purdue's plan calls for each regional technology center to create an advisory committee to establish criteria for use of its services and to evaluate each company's potential for growth and success. Each center would be expected to work in partnership with Purdue during the developmental years of the program.
SSTI's Latest Issue Brief: Science, Technology and the Governors
Science and technology issues are well positioned on the radar screen of many governors, based on SSTI review of more than 50 gubernatorial addresses. In SSTI's latest issue brief, Science, Technology and the Governors: Excerpts from the 2000 Gubernatorial Addresses, SSTI compiles 117 excerpts across a range of S&T concerns: new initiatives, biotechnology, university research capacity, the New Economy, e-commerce, technology-related tax credits, seed and venture capital, information technology and workforce development.
Tech Programs Among Most Innovative
Six technology-related programs are among the 96 semifinalists for the 2000 Innovations in American Government Awards. The award, which recognizes innovation and effectiveness in public sector programs, has become one of the most prestigious public-service honors in the country. Innovations in American Government was established in 1986 by the Ford Foundation and is administered by the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Announced last week, the 96 semifinalists were selected from more than 1,300 nominees across all levels of government. Twenty-five finalists will be named in late summer. The 10 top finalists each will receive $100,000; the remaining 15 will receive $20,000 a piece.
Technology-related semi-finalists include:
Useful Stats: 1999 Patents by State
In February, the US Patent and Trademark Office released a table of all patent activity in 1999 by state, and the percentage change by state over 1998 activity. Nationally, patents grew by 3.7 percent between 1998 and 1999. The ten states that showed the greatest growth in patent activity are (percentage change from 1998 is provided in parentheses): Puerto Rico (57.1%), Idaho (40.6%), South Dakota (36.8%), Kentucky (25.7%), Arkansas (22.8%), Kansas (22.5%), Wyoming (18.4 %), Iowa (13.8%), Tennessee (11.6%) , and Alabama (11.1%).
The complete table can be found on page three of the 1999 Patenting Trends paper, downloadable at: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/speeches/pattr99.pdf
Maryland’s E-Commerce/Technology Initiatives Enacted
Our thanks to SSTI Weekly Digest subscriber Chris Brantley of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers, Inc. <www.ieee.org> for the heads up on this story.
On April 25, Governor Parris Glendening signed 12 acts of the state legislature dealing with information technology and technology-based economic development. Of particular interest is HB 1209 which makes several revisions to the Maryland Science, Engineering, and Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO).
NASA Looks to Improve Cooperation with Universities
Seeking to strengthen its relationship with academia and industry, NASA Administrator Dan Goldin appointed Spence (Sam) Armstrong, Lieutenant General USAF (retired), as his Senior Advisor. Goldin directed Gen. Armstrong to give first priority to partnerships and cooperation with universities. The urgency of this priority was to establish definite plans for this enhanced relationship in time for Congressional hearings on the 2001 budget and the NASA budget call to its centers for the 2002 plan. The agency also believes closer cooperation with universities will help for recruitment of the best and brightest talent workforce now that the NASA is hiring again.
As a result, NASA is now circulating a white paper soliciting suggestions on how to implement programs of NASA/university cooperation along the following six themes:
STC Launches S&T Planning Initiative for South
The Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science is providing the Southern Technology Council (STC) $150,000 in matching funds over three years to help Southern states increase innovation-driven economic development. A major element of the initiative is annual benchmarking of each state's progress in agreed-upon categories, including: industrial composition, entrepreneurial development, globalization, and human resources.
The three-year program, Invented Here: Towards an Innovation-Driven Southern Economy, is designed to assist Southern states in leveraging scarce resources to build dynamic, sustainable economic growth.
Invented Here will help each Southern state in determining where it stands in the innovation-driven economy, developing a strategic plan, and establishing a set of benchmarks for improving its position. Specifically, Invented Here will:
State and Local S&T Update
All States
Whether or not to tax e-commerce has become a states’ rights issue. The industry-led Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce has recommended to Congress that it extend the current ban on e-commerce sales taxes for five years; the moratorium is set to expire in October, 2001. While governors in several states have been vocal in their opposition of any e-sales taxes, 42 governors have submitted a joint letter to Congress blasting the ban as a special interest tax break that interferes with state sovereignty. More information is available from the National Governors’ Association web site: http://www.nga.org/Releases/PR-12April2000Internet.asp
RFP Opens for EPSCoT Evaluation
The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) is seeking proposals to evaluate Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Technology (EPSCoT). EPSCoT was established by Congress in 1998 to improve the technological competitiveness of the states that have historically received less federal R&D funding than a majority of states.
The purpose of the current funding opportunity is to: (1) evaluate the mission of EPSCoT in terms of funded projects, and (2) assess the program's underlying concept, design, and structure. A detailed Statement of Work (SOW) will be available in the solicitation package. The period of performance will be eighteen (18) months from the date of contract award. The solicitation isopen to all qualified organizations with extensive experience in analyzing the dynamics of regional technology-based economic growth. All interested groups may submit a proposal to be considered by the agency.
People
Alan P. Balutis, a 21-year veteran with the U.S. Department of Commerce, to be director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Advanced Technology Program. Balutis has been serving as the deputy chief information officer for the Department of Commerce since 1994.
Anna Darin has been named the executive director of the Council of Development Finance Agencies (www.cdfa.org)
President Clinton has announced his nomination of Dr. Mildred S. Dresselhaus to serve as Director of Energy Research at the Department of Energy. Dr. Dresselhaus is currently a professor in the Departments of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
One NIST and 20 NIH Inventions Available for Licensing
The National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Institutes of Health have published lists of inventions that are owned by the federal government and are available for licensing. Foreign patent applications may be filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for companies and may also be available for licensing.
Both the lists and contact information are available for review on the SSTI website at: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/042800t.htm