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SSTI Digest

$10 M Research Fund, Loan Forgiveness Program Among New Tech Initiatives in Arkansas

The State of Arkansas has enacted several initiatives this year to assist science, technology, and research within the state. The two largest efforts are a $10 million research fund and a loan forgiveness program.



Arkansas Research Matching Fund

In an effort to improve the state’s national ranking of 49th place in research performance, the Arkansas General Assembly created the Arkansas Research Matching Fund. The $10 million fund will be administered by the

Arkansas Science & Technology Authority, the state’s lead agency for R&D funding and technology-based economic development. (URL: http://www.state.ar.us/asta/ ) The $10 million appropriation is to fund the program for the next two years.

Small Manufacturing Week Proclaimed; Summit Planned

President Clinton has declared September 19 through September 25 Small Manufacturing Week to recognize the economic contributions and national importance of America’s 385,000 small and medium-sized manufacturers.

Editor’s Note

In the coming days, Congress will be acting on appropriations bills for the coming fiscal year. The consequences for science and technology are profound.

No Science, No Surplus: by D. Allan Bromley

America is on a roll. We’re balancing the federal budget, reforming welfare and making retirement secure. Sound like a breakthrough in fiscal management? Not exactly. Our awesome economic success can be traced directly to our past investments in science. The problem is, this year’s federal budget for science is a disaster,

and it compromises our nation’s economic and social progress.

Remarks on R&D Funding: by John Podesta

....This morning, I'd like to explain why we believe that continued federal investments in research and development are so important, and why we're so troubled by the Republican attack on our science and technology budgets. We should all be working toward bipartisan progress -- not playing politics with an issue so fundamentally crucial to our nation's future.

Statement on Podesta Remarks: by James Sensenbrenner, Jr.

I am encouraged by the Administration’s sudden interest in science funding. Over the last seven years, overall science budgets, which include both defense and civilian R&D, when indexed for inflation, have been flat or decreasing. Science needs a boost.

Venture Capital Explodes During 2nd Quarter of `99

Buoyed by a strong national economy, venture capital firms have invested at an all-time during the 2nd quarter of 1999, according to the latest quarterly survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers. At $7.61 billion for the quarter, venture capital investments were more than double the total reported only one year ago. The current survey reflects the investment activity of 684 venture capital firms.

$50 Million Research & Technology Fund Underway In Indiana

Last week, Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon named the Board of Directors to oversee the design and administration of the new 21st Century Research & Technology Fund. By law, the Lieutenant Governor serves as chairman for the board.

EPA Makes 48 SBIR Phase I Awards

Small companies' interests in developing environmental technologies appear to growing. Between 1998 and 1999, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) saw a 64 percent increase in the number of SBIR Phase I proposals submitted. The number of awards made by the agency was unable to keep pace, growing by only 30 percent. As a result, EPA was able to fund less than 9 percent of the 535 SBIR Phase I proposals received in 1999. In 1998, more than 11 percent of the proposals were funded.

Taratec Corp. To Prepare National S&T Indicators

Taratec Corporation of Columbus, Ohio has been awarded a $44,500 contract from the Department of Commerce's Office of Technology Policy (OTP) to prepare a report of science & technology indicators for all 50 states. The indicators are intended to assist Commerce in evaluating the impact and outcome of projects funded by the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Technology (EPSCoT) as well as other OTP programmatic improvements.

Correction

The September 3, 1999 issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest contained some errors in the SBIR tables. The correct information is below. Revised tables are available for review on our website at:  http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/090399t.htm

Commerce Responds to Sensenbrenner on ATP

U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary William Daley has labeled as Amisleading@ a press release issued by the House Science Committee regarding the proposal review and selection criteria of the Advanced Technology Program (ATP). [See August 27, 1999 issue of SSTI Weekly Digest.] In the release, Rep. Sensenbrenner, the Chairman of the Committee, questioned the program's commitment to ensuring federal grants were not displacing private capital.

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