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SSTI Digest
E-Commerce Technology Plan Unveiled in Maryland
Governor Parris Glendening, the Speaker of the Maryland House, and the President of the Maryland Senate have proposed a 12-point technology plan with the goal of making “Maryland the leading e-commerce and digital state in the nation.” The proposals include:
Utah Sees Impact from Centers of Excellence
Spawning 132 new companies over thirteen years is just one of the impressive statistics cited in the latest annual report for the Utah Centers of Excellence Program (COEP). The 1998-1999 report highlights the program’s accomplishments and economic impact since its inception in 1986. Each year, COEP staff document the program’s contributions to the Utah economy through statistical data and anecdotal success stories.
Since 1986, COEP has awarded $30.7 million in state funding to Utah universities and colleges for applied R&D focused on the development of technologies which have the potential for economic development in the state. That funding has generated cumulative matching funds from private and federal sources of $332.7 million, resulting in a matching fund ratio of 10.8 to 1.
Additional accomplishments include:
NASA Selects STTR Phase II Winners
NASA has selected eight research proposals for negotiation of Phase II contract awards for the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. Each project may receive up to $500,000 for a two-year performance period. The program requires small businesses to conduct cooperative research and development by partnering with a research institution. A total of 23 Phase II proposals were submitted by the 1998 class of NASA STTR Phase I recipients.
Companies in the following states received NASA Phase II STTR awards: Alaska, California (3 awards), Colorado, Florida, Montana and Tennessee. Research institutions for the eight projects were located in Colorado (2), Florida, New York, Ohio, Virginia (2), and Wyoming.
Complete information on the NASA STTR and SBIR programs, including awardee information may be found at: http://sbir.hq.nasa.gov/ .
Air Force and NIH Inventions Offered for License
The Air Force and the National Institutes of Health have announced the availability of five government-owned inventions for licensing in the United States. Abstracts and/or contact information for each invention may be viewed on the following SSTI web page: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/012800t.htm
People in S&T
New York Governor Pataki has nominated Dr. Russell Bessette to serve as the Executive Director of the New York Office of Science and Technology (NYSTAR). His appointment is subject to confirmation of the New York State Senate. Dr. Russell Bessette is a clinical professor at the SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine's Department of Surgery, the Executive Director of Research at the Buffalo Technology Transfer Center at Sisters Hospital in Buffalo and a reconstructive plastic surgeon at the Head and Neck Center at Sisters Hospital.
Governor Pataki appointed Dr. Roland Schmitt, president emeritus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, as chairman of the NYSTAR advisory board.
Dr. Paul Hale has been named the Executive Director of the Vermont Technology Council. Among other tasks, Dr. Hale is working on the state’s EPSCoT award in cooperation with the Vermont EPSCoR Program.
People in S&T
New York Governor Pataki has nominated Dr. Russell Bessette to serve as the Executive Director of the New York Office of Science and Technology (NYSTAR). His appointment is subject to confirmation of the New York State Senate. Dr. Russell Bessette is a clinical professor at the SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine's Department of Surgery, the Executive Director of Research at the Buffalo Technology Transfer Center at Sisters Hospital in Buffalo and a reconstructive plastic surgeon at the Head and Neck Center at Sisters Hospital.
People in S&T
Governor Pataki appointed Dr. Roland Schmitt, president emeritus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, as chairman of the NYSTAR advisory board.
People in S&T
Dr. Paul Hale has been named the Executive Director of the Vermont Technology Council. Among other tasks, Dr. Hale is working on the state’s EPSCoT award in cooperation with the Vermont EPSCoR Program.
People in S&T
SSTI bids a warm farewell to Deb Tharp, who has accepted a full-time position with Battelle Memorial Institute in the Technology Partnership Practice group.
Tech Initiatives Proposed for New Jersey
Governor Christie Whitman has announced New Jersey Jobs for a New Economy, a multi-million dollar package of technology-related initiatives to make New Jersey more competitive in the creation of high technology jobs.
Among the plan's proposals are the following technology-related investments:
$3.5 M Offered for Rural Business Opportunity Grants
Effective Monday, January 24, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin accepting funding applications under the new Rural Business Opportunity Grants Program (RBOG). The program was authorized in the 1996 Farm Bill to fund sustainable economic development in rural communities with exceptional needs. RBOG funding may be used to support the following types of technical assistance for business development and economic development planning:
State Legislative Round Up
With the start of the new year, a number of state legislatures are reconvening. Quite a few states have significant research, science, and technology issues on their legislative calendar, including the following:
Nebraska
Governor Mike Johanns has proposed the creation of a tax credit for a variety of industries, including R&D firms, to encourage job creation, higher wages and investment in rural Nebraska. The plan would offer an income tax credit equal to five percent of the compensation paid for new employment and an additional income tax credit equal to ten percent of the new investment. While development projects in the entire state are eligible, those projects in the most distressed areas would have to meet lower investment or job creation thresholds to receive the credit.