SSTI Digest

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. In addition, Governor Vilsack has appointed a technology advisor and three industry-specific technology advisors in the areas of life sciences, information solutions, and advanced manufacturing. The four advisors will be responsible for formulating industry-driven technology strategies designed to further the life science, advanced manufacturing, and information solutions areas. In addition, a three-year economic development investment plan is to be designed to strengthen Iowa’s technological presence in each of these three focus 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. More information can be found at: http://db.state.pa.us/ctc/data/20000126.000.htm

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. The recipients are: 1999 National Medal of Science Awardees David Baltimore, Nobel Laureate and Professor of…

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 award comes with a $250,000 stipend. According to an Arkansas newspaper, Dr. Good may donate some of the money to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where she is currently the interim dean of the College of Information Science and Systems Engineering. Dr. Good also presently serves as the managing member of Venture Capital Investors LLC, an investors’ group in Little Rock, Arkansas, her home state. More information on the Heinz Award may be found at: http://www.awards.heinz…

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 six recommendations are: Create the position of South Carolina Secretary of Technology, reporting…

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. EDA has a total of $360,550,000 available to fund projects in FY 2000 across several programs. More than half of the funds are allotted to the Public Works and Economic Development Assistance Program…

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. The agency has identified a dozen questions for public response or input. Comments are requested by March 17, 2000. (See the February 1, 2000 Federal Register, pages 4801-4803). According to the Register announcement, comments will be accepted via the Web at http://www.ecommerce.gov   Alternatively, electronic submissions may be sent as documents attached to E-mail messages addressed to ebarriers@ita.…

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. The Department of Defense has posted the abstracts for 370 projects selected to receive Phase I funding under the 99.2 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program solicitation. The awards, selected from a total of 2,778 proposals, were distributed to companies in 31 states. The accompanying table http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/020400t.htm presents the distribution of proposals and awards by state. Abstracts for each 99.2 Phase I award may be found at: http://www.sbirsttr.com/   The department's first 2000 SBIR Phase I solicitation is currently open; proposals are due March 1. More information on this opportunity may be found at: http://www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/sbir/00/dod_sttr00.htm . The National Institutes of Health has compiled state statistics for the 1999 SBIR and STTR solicitations. Figures are provided for both Phase I and Phase II competitions. The information is available for review on the accompanying…

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. The event is sponsored by BIO/START, the Ohio Department of Development, the Nidus Center for Scientific Enterprise, and the Cincinnati and St. Louis Chambers of Commerce. For more information, contact BIO/START President, Patricia Snider, at psnider@biostart.org or by phone at (513) 475-6610, ext. 2007.

Activities to address the digital divide and the S&T workforce shortage have increased recently. The following are a sampling of efforts underway to understand and address the growing inequalities in technology access and assimilation. Washington Governor Gary Locke has proposed a legislative package that would speed the placement of advanced telecommunications services in rural areas by streamlining regulation, promoting infrastructure investment, and encouraging competition. The five-part package would: Authorize public utility districts and rural port districts to provide wholesale telecommunications services in their districts; Link the state's 68 library districts to the K-20 Internet network; Establish alternative forms of regulation for local telephone companies; Streamline local governments' regulations to speed infrastructure deployment; and, Revamp universal service funding so rural areas can continue to receive affordable phone service in a competitive environment.  For more information, contact Governor Locke’s communications office at 360-902-…

The National Academy Foundation, a New York-based nonprofit organization, and President Clinton have announced the selection of 12 public high schools to pilot the Academy of Information Technology program. The program is intended to prepare predominantly at-risk high school students for careers in information technology fields. The program will provide a ninth-through-twelfth-grade curriculum with opportunities to partner with community colleges, universities, and businesses. The 12 schools were selected from among nearly 100 applicants. The pilot sites were chosen for demonstrating leadership and flexibility; a commitment to career education; an ability to secure mentors, internships, and teacher training from local business partners; and a baseline of technological capabilities that will be enhanced through NAF program grants. The schools are located in: Yonkers, New York; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Prince George's County, Maryland; Baltimore, Maryland; Waco, Texas; San Jose, California; Chula Vista, California; Broward County, Florida; Pittsfield, Massachusetts; Omaha, Nebraska; Allentown, Pennsylvania;…

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: Establishing a CEO Board of Advisors for e-commerce to advise the governor on their vision of the future of the Internet and to make recommendations to improve Maryland’s status as an e-commerce leader. Expanding government services on-line with a goal of having 80% of government services available on-line by 2004. Adopting the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, which provide legal recognition to contracts approved by both parties on-line, as well as electronic signatures and electronic records Additional points include regulating unsolicited e-mail, expanding anti-child pornography laws to the Internet, enabling law enforcement to seize child pornography materials, prohibiting unauthorized access to computers, and protecting citizens from computer crimes. For more details…