SSTI Digest

As was the case in the Administration’s budget request last year, the Department of Transportation’s R&D programs have the greatest percentage growth over the previous year’s funding level at 37 percent. A record $1.28 billion, would be spent for transportation research and for the development and deployment of new technologies. This includes:

Governor Tom Vilsack has unveiled a plan to enhance Iowa’s science and technology base. In his 2001 budget proposal, the governor has proposed $10 million in state funds to create Centers of Excellence in the life sciences, information solutions, and advanced manufacturing areas. Iowa's Regent’s Universities and the Iowa Department of Economic Development will inventory current assets, evaluate the potential for critical mass commercialization of new products and processing methods, and develop a continuous cycle for Iowa's advancement in these areas.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge has proposed that 15 percent of the Commonwealth’s expected $11 billion tobacco settlement monies be directed toward health-care related research and venture capital. Pennsylvania anticipates receiving between $397 and $459 million each year for the next 25 years.

Governor Ridge recommended ten percent of the settlement be spent on broad-based health research with funding targeted to Pennsylvania health priorities and Pennsylvania researchers and organizations. The $1.1 billion funding level is comparable to the amount committed to life sciences research by Michigan from its tobacco settlement funds; a similar proposal is pending in Ohio.

Under the Governor’s plan, five percent of the settlement would be used to create a new venture capital fund, capitalized over three years, to provide early stage investments for health-care related business development in Pennsylvania.

Last week, President Clinton announced the recipients of the 1999 National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology, the nation's highest science and technology honors. The National Medal of Science, established by Congress in 1959 and administered by the National Science Foundation, honors individuals for contributions to the present state of knowledge across a variety of science frontiers. Including this year's recipients, the Medal of Science has been awarded to 374 distinguished scientists and engineers.

The National Medal of Technology, established by Congress in 1980 and administered by the Department of Commerce, recognizes technological innovation and advancement of the nation's global competitiveness, as well as ground-breaking contributions that commercialize a technology, create jobs, improve productivity, or stimulate the nation's growth and development in other ways. To date, 110 individuals and 11 companies have been honored with this award.

Dr. Mary L. Good, president-elect of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and former Under Secretary for Technology in the Department of Commerce, has received the 1999 Heinz Award in Technology, the Economy, and Employment from the Heinz Family Foundations. The Award is given in recognition for Dr. Good’s “singular vision in working to build an economy fueled by scientific knowledge and technological know-how.” In the six years the Heinz Family Foundation has recognized outstanding contributions in technology, economy and employment, Dr. Good is the first woman to receive the honor.

The South Carolina Technology Alliance has released South Carolina Technology Initiative 2000, a science and technology strategic plan outlining six specific recommendations for strengthening the state’s position in a knowledge-based economy. The plan, requested by Governor Jim Hodges in a July 1999 executive order, addresses four short-term and three long-term goals outlined by Governor Hodges to increase South Carolina’s competitive position with its neighboring states, as well as improve its global posture as a technology leader.

The recommendations focus on developing the state’s infrastructure to support technology businesses and enhance the quality of the education system. The Alliance also emphasized that, while additional public financial resources would be required to implement the plan, the most important requirements are high profile leadership by the state, and coordination and cooperation among the various state agencies, research institutions and private businesses.

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is accepting applications to support projects designed to alleviate conditions of substantial and persistent unemployment and underemployment in economically distressed areas and regions of the nation, and to address economic dislocations resulting from sudden and severe job losses. Distress may exist in a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, high levels of unemployment, low income levels, large concentrations of low-income families, significant decline in per capita income, substantial loss of population because of the lack of employment opportunities, large numbers (or high rates) of business failures, sudden major layoffs or plant closures, military base closures, natural or other major disasters, depletion of natural resources, and/or reduced tax bases. Special need criteria that is described in the announcement must be met for eligibility.

The Department of Commerce, on behalf of the Subgroup on Legal Barriers to Electronic Commerce (``Legal Barriers Subgroup'') of the U.S. Government Working Group on Electronic Commerce, requests public comments and suggestions concerning policies, laws or regulations that need to be adapted in order to eliminate barriers to and promote electronic commerce, electronic services, and electronic transactions.

President Clinton created the Working Group on November 29, 1999 (see the 12/3/99 issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest) to identify ways the federal government can increase U.S. electronic commerce activity. The Department of Commerce was given lead responsibility for the group’s work.

SSTI thanks Chris Busch, Director of the Wyoming SBIR Initiative, for forwarding the NIH information to us, and to BRTRC's Christine Villa for providing the Defense stats.

Cincinnati and St. Louis are partnering to hold a three-day symposium to examine best practices in biotechnology-based economic development. Growing the Life Science Industry will be held March 1-3 at the Kingsgate Conference Center on the University of Cincinnati Medical Campus. Speakers from a dozen states will share their regions' approaches for life science economic development.