SSTI Digest

Curious who will shape technological innovation in 21st century? Technology Review magazine has developed for the first time a list of the top 100 innovators under the age of 35. The list, nicknamed the TR100, was compiled by a panel of 24 judges including 3 Nobel laureates, 2 university presidents, and representatives of scientific and research organizations, businesses, venture capitalists, and the media. Apart from who the TR100 are and their expertise, the project led the panel judges and Technology Review writers to recognize two emerging themes: the increasing scale of technology collaborations and the growing ease with which innovators move between academia and the private sector. Both trends tie in closely with many of the activities or aspirations of state science and technology programs. In many cases for the TR 100, the traditional role of university-industry partnerships have evolved into more fluid and much more dynamic relationships than those of recent history. Creating environments within academic institutions, nonprofit research…

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) unveiled a new Internet webpage which provides public access to the Department's vast amount of material on agricultural biotechnology issues. Several USDA agencies have a role in biotechnology. The Agricultural Research Service, the Economic Research Service, and the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service conduct or fund agricultural biotechnology research. The Foreign Agricultural Service addresses trade issues related to biotechnology. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Food Safety Inspection Service, and the Agricultural Marketing Service have regulatory functions involving biotechnology.  Links to many of the other government agencies involved in biotechnology are provided. The web address is: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/biotechnology/ . The USDA site provides information on the agricultural side of biotechnology, complementing the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), which provides access to information on medical and health…

Venture capital investments for the third quarter of 1999 (3Q 1999) passed $9 billion, pushing the year’s total already above $21 billion, according to the latest PricewaterhouseCoopers Money Tree™ Survey. For comparison, investments reported for all of 1998 were under $14 billion. The $9.04 billion results for 3Q 1999 surpass the previous record of $7.64 billion set in the second quarter of 1999. Third quarter investments in 1999 were 138 percent higher than those reported in the third quarter of 1998. The number of companies receiving funds grew to 993 — compared to 707 companies one year earlier.  Average deal size per company also grew to $9.1 million from $5.4 million. Technology companies continue to dominate the portfolios of the survey’s 504 responding venture capital firms. Investments in Internet-based companies jumped almost five-fold from third quarter 1998 to $5.2 billion in 3Q 1999 — or 57 percent of the quarter’s total. The number of Internet-based companies rose from 162 in the third quarter of 1998 to 473…

The Manufacturing Modernization Forum (ModForum), located near Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a trade association for groups who help smaller manufacturers improve their productivity and performance. The not-for-profit organization seeks applications from qualified candidates to fill the position of President/CEO. Resumes will be accepted until November 24. More information may be found at the S&T Job Corner on the SSTI website (http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm ) or by contacting: Cindy Stotesbery, ModForum President Search, Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership, 2601 Crossroads #145, Madison, WI 53718, Phone: 608-240-1740.

Since running the article on federal and congressional fellow programs in last week’s Digest, SSTI has learned of two more opportunities and resources for helping to influence or improve development of public policy in science and technology issues: American Chemical Society offers a Congressional Fellow Program and a Science Policy Fellowship Program for experienced chemical scientists. More information may be obtained through the ACS website: http://www.acs.org/government or by contacting Dr. Annette Rosenblum at a_rosenblum@acs.org In addition to offering their own fellowships, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) maintains a website: http://fellowships.aaas.org/  with reference material, resources and links for several different types of fellowships and internship opportunities.

Earlier this year, Michigan initiated plans to spend $1 billion over the next 20 years for life sciences research, development, and commercialization. With this commitment, Michigan became the first state to use its tobacco settlement funds to bolster technology-based economic development programs. Other states and localities are considering using their share of the tobacco settlement funds for science and technology programs as well. Recent proposals include: Maryland: Governor Parris Glendening proposed that the state allocate $500 million, or $50 million per year for 10 years, to develop a statewide cancer care network, build world class clinical and research programs, construct new cancer-fighting infrastructure, and develop specific plans for cancer education, prevention, research, and treatment. Ohio: This week, the State Senate passed legislation distributing over 12 years $443 million for a biomedical research and technology transfer fund to be administered by the Ohio Board of Regents. Governor Taft had proposed spending $1.8 billion over 25 years on biomedical research…

As the first Advanced Technology Program (ATP) projects approach their 10th anniversary, many in government, industry and academia are asking the question: Is the program working? In March 1999, the National Research Council began its contribution to the growing numbers of groups and individuals assessing the impact of the ATP. The Council's Board on Science, Technology and Economic Policy held a special symposium to review the history, operations and economic analysis of the ATP as the first step in a larger evaluation. The Advanced Technology Program: Challenges and Opportunities is the annotated proceedings from the March 29, 1999 meeting. This report compiles a broad array of perspectives on ATP as well as what the government's role should be in supporting high-risk R&D. The various participants include venture capitalists, small high-tech business owners, Capitol Hill policy makers, and academic researchers in economics. Copies of the report, The Advanced Technology Program: Challenges and Opportunities (ISBN 0-309-06775-8), are available from the National…

The American Institute of Physics (AIP) and the American Physical Society (APS) are offering qualified scientists the opportunity to spend a year on Capitol Hill as Congressional Science Fellows. The fellowships provide a mechanism for scientists to make a unique, personal contribution to national R&D policy by applying their knowledge to science-related policy matters while working as a staffer for a Member of Congress or congressional committee. The two programs are now accepting applications for the 2000-2001 Fellowships. The application deadline is January 15, 2000. Further information on the programs, qualification requirements, and how to apply can be found on the AIP web site at: http://www.aip.org/pubinfo/ or the APS web site at: http://www.aps.org/public_affairs/fellow.html Since 1973, APS has been one of the 20 to 30 professional scientific and engineering societies that sponsor Fellows annually under a program organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). AIP has participated in the program since 1988…

In this off-year election, there were only a few races that are significant to the S&T community. Democrat Paul Patton, incumbent Governor of Kentucky, easily won re-election over three contenders. Patton becomes the first Kentucky Governor to be elected to a second term since 1800. On October 23, Louisiana Governor Mike Foster avoided a runoff election by winning 62 percent of the vote. Foster became Louisiana’s first Republican governor to be re-elected to a second term. Foster switched to the Republican party five years ago. Meanwhile in the neighboring state of Mississippi, the governor’s race is too close to call. Republican Congressman Mike Parker and Democrat Lt. Governor Ronnie Musgrove have split the vote with two minor party candidates. Absentee ballots to be counted over the next ten days may determine the outcome. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote, the Mississippi House — heavily controlled by the Democrats, 86-33 — will decide the winner. The other closely…

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has made a first round of grants to researchers at 31 institutions nationwide under a new program enabling talented graduate students and advanced undergraduates in science, mathematics, engineering and technology to serve as teaching fellows in K-12 schools. The grants, made under the NSF Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12) program, will go to institutions in 24 states from New York to Hawaii, as well as Puerto Rico. The multi-year awards were made after reviewing proposals from 157 institutions in 46 states. Collectively, the 31 new grants, totaling $13.4 million for the first year, will fund about 300 graduate and 100 undergraduate students annually. Planned as a pilot effort in 1999, the program received such a positive response from colleges and universities that NSF allocated more funds than originally planned. A formal program has been requested and approved by Congress as part of NSF's 2000 budget. Graduate students in the GK-12 program will receive annual stipends of $…

The House of Representatives approved an amendment to H.R. 2, the Student Results Act, that would require all states to develop standards and testing requirements for science education. Similar standards and testing requirements already exist for math and reading. The amendment to add the words “and science” to the list of standards and testing requirements in section 1111 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 was offered by Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers (R-Michigan) and Congressman Tom Petri (R-Wisconsin). As written, the new requirements take effect for the 2005-06 school year, allowing districts time to meet the new standards. H.R. 2 now advances to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions for its consideration. The bill can be downloaded through: http://thomas.loc.gov/  

The National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA) seeks proposals that support innovation, invention, and entrepreneurship programs in U.S. colleges and universities. Through December 1999, NCIIA will award $400,000 in grants to faculty and students of member institutions. The next deadline is December 15, 1999. The NCIIA is interested in proposals for courses and projects which further the concept of E-Teams. E-Teams (the "E" stands for "excellence" and "entrepreneurship") are groups of students, faculty, and professionals who join together to pursue the development of an idea, product, or invention, or to solve a problem in a way that has the promise of developing an enterprise that will generate jobs and social benefits. NCIIA offers two types of grants: E-Team Course and Program Development Grants. Grants ranging from $2,000 to $50,000 will be awarded to support the development, implementation, and institutionalization of new courses and programs in which student teams will develop innovative, entrepreneurial…