SSTI Digest

In the state that created the Ben Franklin Centers in the early 1980s - models for several states’ first forays into S&T - Governor Tom Ridge has proposed a wide range of new initiatives to promote R&D investment, technology development, and commercialization within Pennsylvania.

Governor Ridge’s budget request for 1999-2000 identifies $35.5 million for tax cuts expected to benefit start-up technology firms, a new $18.2 million program for high-tech investments, $6.7 million of state funding to leverage private venture capital investments, a SciTech Scholars Program, and $37 million for the state’s "traditional" technology and manufacturing programs: the Ben Franklin Partnership, Industrial Resource Centers, PENNTAP, and incubators.

Seven federal labs from the Federal Laboratory Consortium’s Midwest Region - representing the Air Force, Army, Navy, Department of Energy, NASA, Department of Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - are cooperating in an initiative to help automotive manufacturers and suppliers access the resources of the federal laboratory system.

These labs have provided technologies that were presented and discussed at an interagency meeting held February 9-10 at the National Automotive Center (NAC) in Warren, MI. NAC is part of the Army's Tank-Automotive Research, Development, and Engineering Center (TARDEC). At the interagency meeting, lab representatives and a group of industry advisers formed several technology teams whose respective organizations are looking at similar problems from different perspectives. The technology teams are: Safety, Environment, Vehicle Systems, Electrical/ Electronics, Materials, and Powertrain.

The President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science is currently accepting nominations for the year 2000 award. Nominations and supporting information must be postmarked by May 31. The National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to knowledge in the fields of physical, behavioral, biological, social, mathematical, or engineering sciences. Since the Medal’s establishment in 1959, 362 scientists and engineers have been honored.

Nomination procedures and guidelines are available from the Committee’s Program Manager, Susan Fannoney, by calling the National Science Foundation at 703/306-1096 or by e-mail at nms@nsf.gov.

NASA Lewis Research Center, located in Ohio, has been renamed the "John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field" to honor the contributions John Glenn has made in American space history.

U.S. House Science Committee Chairman, James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) has introduced H.R. 760, a bill to make the national research and development tax credit permanent. Ranking Minority Member George Brown (D-CA) has agreed to cosponsor the legislation.

Proponents of the bill say making the credit permanent would remove uncertainty and disincentives for companies in pursuing longer-term research projects.

The R&D tax credit is slated to expire June 30, 1999.  The President’s FY 2000 budget request extends the credit for one more year until June 30, 2000. Since it was first enacted in 1981, the tax credit has been extended eight times and modified five times.

The National Science Foundation has issued a call for nominations for the 1999 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). Each award is accompanied by a $10,000 grant.

Awards will be made to individuals or institutions. The award recognizes individuals who have "demonstrated outstanding and sustained mentoring and effective guidance to a significant number of students at the K-12, undergraduate or graduate education level."

Institutions will be recognized for programming that enables "a substantial number of students underrepresented in science, mathematics and engineering to successfully pursue and complete relevant degree programs." Post-secondary institutions must demonstrate students have been mentored successfully to either the baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral levels.

A review of State of the State speeches, inaugural addresses, and budget messages delivered by 48 governors over the last six weeks indicates a high level of interest in science and technology based economic development. Governors discussed research and development tax incentives, education, and new initiatives to encourage technology-based economic development.

As usual on the state level, support for science and technology transcended political parties. Over the coming weeks, the SSTI Weekly Digest will examine a number of the governors’ proposals in more detail. Selected highlights include:

Alaska: Governor Knowles said that the Alaska Science and Technology Foundation will "continue to pay dividends, if we protect and grow [its] assets." Knowles made the commitment despite budget difficulties brought on by declining oil prices.

The Department of Defense's Dual Use Science and Technology (DUS&T) Program, now in its fourth year of operation, is seeking participation from companies that are developing commercial technologies that could be used in military applications.

DOD has issued a Broad Agency Announcement and is seeking proposals in eight areas of technology:

• Affordable Sensors

• Advanced Propulsion, Power, and Fuel Efficiency

• Information and Communications Systems

• Medical and Bioengineering Technologies

• Weapons Systems Sustainment

• Distributed Mission Training