SSTI Digest

Vice President Gore has announced the creation of an interagency task force to recommend ways to strengthen the U.S. manufacturing sector for the 21st century. Gene Sperling, director of the National Economic Council, will lead the group, charged with presenting specific recommendations on how government policies and programs can preserve and enhance American manufacturing. The work of the Manufacturing Task Force is to be completed by early next year, providing time to incorporate any recommendations for changes into the Administration’s FY 2001 budget request. Other federal agencies serving on the task force were not identified in the Vice President’s announcement.

The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Committee on Technology has called for issue papers to identify top priorities and outline ideas for reforming federal support of science and technology. The agency is seeking papers as a contribution to the development of a long-term action plan for improving federal policies, regulations, and programs to foster science and technology innovation. While numerous reviews and articles have been written recently about the innovation process, the NSTC Committee on Technology believes this call for papers is the first attempt to develop a specific plan for  reforming federal support of innovation and establishing national priorities for action. Papers are to be no more than five pages and may address four specific interest areas identified in the request. NSTC would like to see papers concerning federal policy and/or regulations that: impact the ability of capital markets to drive innovation, including those which address market failures and those which limit market incentives for innovation; foster basic and…

With a $50 million appropriation in FY 2000, the State of Michigan has made the first installment toward spending $1 billion over the next 20 years for life sciences research, development, and commercialization. The funding is derived from Michigan's tobacco settlement. Other public and private sources are expected to match much of the state's investment over the two decades.   In late July, Governor John Engler signed a bill funding a "life sciences corridor," an effort to make four Michigan research institutions -- the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, and the Van Andel Institute -- among the nation's most important for biotechnology applications. The annual allotment will be portioned out to three program areas: 40 percent will support a Basic Research Fund, to be distributed to projects from the four institutions on a competitive basis; 50 percent will go to a Collaborative Research and Development Fund, with emphasis on testing or developing emerging discoveries in partnership with biotech firms; and, 10 percent will go to a Commercialization Development Fund to invest in start-up…

President Clinton has issued an Executive Order to develop and promote biobased products and bioenergy as economically viable alternatives to fossil fuel-based production and energy generation. The order calls for the development of a national strategy that includes research, development, and private sector incentives to stimulate the creation and early adoption of technologies needed to make biobased products and bioenergy cost competitive. The Executive Order specifically outlined the following three action items for the departments of Agriculture, Energy, and Treasury, and the EPA: Within four months, USDA and DOE are to prepare a report outlining and assessing options for modifying existing federal programs in FY 2001 to promote biobased products and bioenergy with the goal of tripling US use of bio-based materials by the year 2010. Types of DOE and USDA programs mentioned as examples include technology assistance, small business, extension, education and conservation and utility programs. The report also is to assess tax code modification alternatives,…

The Markle Foundation has announced plans to give away $100 million -- more than half of the Foundation's current endowment -- over the next five years for projects and programs to improve public benefit from the Internet. Recipients will include non-profit organizations as well as for-profit companies. Awards are concentrated in four areas: Public Engagement through Interactive Technology -- "supports research, applications, and experimentation that encourage the use of communications technology for active engagement in the pursuit of knowledge and for effective participation in democratic society." Policy for a Networked Society -- "works to enhance the public voice in the consideration and resolution of domestic and international policies that are surfacing in this new communications environment." Interactive Media for Children -- "is a comprehensive research effort into the cognitive, emotional, physical and developmental needs of children and the potential of interactive technologies to meet them." Information Technologies…

The following people in the S&T field have announced or made career changes over the past few months: Phil Singerman, the head of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Adminstration, has been named president of the new Maryland Technology Economic Development Corporation. Catherine Renault, managing director of Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology, has accepted a position with Advantage Consulting. Cary Nourie has been named Vice President of Policy and Planning for the Illinois Coalition; he previously was with the North Carolina Governor's Washington Office. Brent Gregory has announced his resignation as Vice President for Technology Development with Enterprise Florida to accept a position in the private sector. Douglas Goodall has been appointed CEO of Innovation Works, the successor to the Ben Franklin Technology Center of Western Pennsylvania. Patrick Quinlan, a former staffer for Rep. George Brown, has been selected as the…

Phil Singerman, the head of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Adminstration, was named president of the new Maryland Technology Economic Development Corporation.

Catherine Renault, managing director of Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology, has accepted a position with Advantage Consulting.

Cary Nourie has been named Vice President of Policy and Planning for the Illinois Coalition; he previously was with the North Carolina Governor's Washington Office.

Brent Gregory has announced his resignation as Vice President for Technology Development with Enterprise Florida to accept a position in the private sector.

Douglas Goodall has been appointed CEO of Innovation Works, the successor to the Ben Franklin Technology Center of Western Pennsylvania.

Patrick Quinlan, a former staffer for Rep. George Brown, has been selected as the ASME Fellow in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.