SSTI Digest

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: Articulate the South's position within the innovation economy; Establish an innovation-driven strategic plan for a sustainable Southern economy; Build consensus within each of the Southern Growth's member states…

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 Arizona State legislation has been passed to provide 100 percent tax credits of up to $1,500 per year per person toward costs associated with information technology (IT) training for IT skills determined to be in short supply by the Arizona Department of Commerce. HB 2442/SB 1332 were passed with the aim of addressing the shortage of skilled IT workers. For copies of the act, visit: http://www.azleg.state.az.us/legtext/bills.htm …

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. Multiple awards are anticipated. The amount of funding available, deadline for proposals and review criteria are unknown. All requests for a copy of the solicitation…

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.

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

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.

Technology Innovation Centers (TICs), defined broadly to include incubators, business support programs and web services, direct providers, and facilitators/gatekeepers, can be successful instruments for technology-based economic development if done properly, according to the San Diego Regional Technology Alliance's recent report Technology Innovation Centers: A Guide to Principles and Best Practices. The report provides public and private organizations with key tools for getting their technology innovation center off to the right start. The guide begins by identifying and explaining four basic principles for TIC development: focus on wealth generation, encourage the entrepreneurial spirit, provide value to client businesses and stakeholders, and operate the center as a business. The principles themselves reveal the transformation underway in technology-based economic development. Principle one, for instance, encourages centers shift their focus to the drivers of entrepreneurial activity, such as wealth generation, and away from the traditional measures of job creation, revitalization and capitalization…

The Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics of the Department of Defense seeks comments on the department’s design for the new Challenge program. This program, required in the FY 2000 National Defense Authorization Act, is designed to increase the adoption of innovative technologies in acquisition programs. Consistent with a 1997 Defense Science Board study, the Challenge program design team has found that there is little competitive pressure -- in fact, there are internal disincentives -- for prime contractors to adopt outside, innovative technologies into an acquisition program after award has been made. The Challenge program, then, would foster competition among alternative technological approaches and suppliers wherever possible in the development of subsystems of DOD acquisition programs and to create other incentives and opportunities for insertion of new technology throughout the acquisition cycle. Challenge will be pilot tested in at least 20 Acquisition Category 1 or 2 programs. An initial review of the Challenge program’s effectiveness and continuation after…

Established in 1978 and entirely self-supported beginning in 1988, the Massachusetts Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) has one of the longest records of success for state-sponsored venture capital corporations. SSTI has completed an eight-page profile of MTDC as the fourth in an occasional series examining the diversity of approaches to technology-based economic development. The MTDC profile includes background on the creation of the corporation, description of MTDC activities and funds, information concerning organizational structure and staffing, a summary of accomplishments, and lessons learned over MTDC's 22 year history. Challenges, future plans, and sample success stories are also highlighted in the Program Brief. Other SSTI Program Briefs have been prepared on the Kansas Commercialization Centers, the California Regional Technology Alliances, and the Maryland Investment Financing Programs. All four program briefs may be downloaded for free from the SSTI web site: http://www.ssti.org/Publications/online.htm

President Clinton has named 60 researchers as recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Established in 1996, the PECASE award is the highest honor that is given to exceptional scientists and engineers who are in the preliminary stages of their independent research careers. The award is also designed to help sustain the nation’s leading edge in scientific research. Eight federal departments participate in the nominations process by selecting individuals who advance science and technology projects that will help to further the agencies’ missions. Nominations from all eight departments were awarded. The participating federal agencies and their number of awards are as follows: National Science Foundation (20) National Institute of Health, Department of Health and Human Services (13) Department of Energy (7) Department of Defense (6) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (5) Department of Commerce (4) Department of Agriculture (3) Department of Veterans Affairs (2) Each award recipient receives $500,000…