SSTI Digest

Maine Governor Angus King, Jr. and Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology Gary Bachula signed a letter of partnership last week that links the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) with a variety of organizations in Maine. Bachula heads the Department of Commerce's Technology Administration (TA), which includes NIST. This is the first such partnership between NIST and a state and is anticipated to serve as a pilot for possible expansion to other states if successful. "I am excited about the prospect of this new teaming arrangement, which should yield positive returns not only to Maine, but to other parts of the country which will benefit from the results of this cooperation. It is a perfect fit for inclusion under the umbrella of the U.S. Innovation Partnership," Bachula said. Building on several existing relationships Maine has established with NIST, the partnership outlines seven new initiatives to explore for further cooperation, including: NIST and TA will offer technical assistance to Maine in designing an infrastructure to maximize…

The Department of Defense (DoD) has released the program description and request for proposals for the FY 2000 Commercial Operations & Support Savings Initiative (COSSI). COSSI, a joint program of the Army, Navy and Air Force, is designed to develop and test a method for reducing Defense operations and support costs by inserting commercial items into fielded military systems. COSSI funding available for this RFP is anticipated to range between $75-$100 million, dependent on the FY 2000 Defense appropriation. A reserve of 15-20 percent of the total funds available is to be set aside for joint projects - projects with application in more than one service. Selected proposers will develop, manufacture and deliver prototype "kits" to the military for installation into a fielded DoD system. Each kit will consist of a commercial product, item or a combination of commercial items, that has been adapted, qualification-tested and readied for use in the appropriate military system. To be considered for funding, projects must demonstrate considerable cost savings for DoD. Proposers must…

The Federal Energy Technology Center (FETC) of the Department of Energy has released the "Multi-Layer Ceramic Fuel Cell Research" Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) to solicit basic and applied research applications to advance the art of high temperature solid state fuel cell design and manufacturing. The agency anticipates awarding a total of $1.8 million in first-year funding through the solicitation. There is a mandatory 20 percent cost share required for each proposal. The contemplated award instrument is a cost-reimbursement cost sharing contract. The solicitation is open to individuals, educational institutions, large and small businesses or all other organizations. The focus of the BAA is manufacturing processes resulting in lower cost fuel cell stacks or improving cell/stack robustness, life reliability, availability and maintainability. Proposals will not be accepted for building large fuel cell stacks or tube bundles, demonstrations and integrated systems testing. While the deadline for the BAA is June 7, 2000, the FETC expects to conduct three proposal…

In the June 11, 1999 SSTI Weekly Digest, a mistake was made. The Great Midwest Venture Capital Conference has not yet selected any of the 30 presenting companies for the 1999 conference. The deadline for applications is August 27. More information on the registration process can be found at the conference website: www.greatmidwestvcc.com 

The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Utilities Service has released the application guide for the 1999 Distance Learning & Telemedicine (DLT) Program. The DLT program provides financial assistance for schools, libraries, and rural medical services to acquire equipment and telecommunications facilities for optimal service delivery. Three types of applications and awards are included in the DLT program: grants, loans, and a combination of loans and grants. In FY 1999, the USDA will award $7.5 million in grants, $100 million in loans, and $55 million in combination grants and loans. More money is available for the FY 1999 DLT program than has been awarded through all six previous funding cycles combined. Since its inception in 1993, USDA has funded 252 projects in 43 states and two US territories, totaling $62.5 million in grants and $3 million in loans. Due dates, instructions, match requirements, selection criteria and submission information differ for the three types of awards. Applications for grants must be postmarked by July 9, 1999. DLT grant funds may…

The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences Division of Materials Research has announced that approximately $22 million will be awarded in FY 2000 for grants to support 10-15 Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs). Awards are expected to range from $500,000 to $5 million per year and last for up to five years. Proposals from existing centers will compete against new proposals. Selections will be made in September, 2000. The MSRECs are intended to support interdisiplinary and multidisciplinary materials research and education of the highest quality while addressing fundamental problems in science and engineering that are important to society. They are expected to have strong links to industry and other sectors and to develop a national network of university-based centers in materials research. MRSECs are supported by NSF to undertake materials research of a scope and complexity that would not be feasible under traditional funding of individual research projects. An MRSEC may encompass one or more interdisciplinary…

Adjusted for inflation, state R&D expenditures grew at an average annual rate of 3.3 percent between 1965 and 1995, compared with the nationwide R&D spending growth of 2.5 percent per year for the same period, according to What is the State Government Role in the R&D Enterprise? This report was issued by the Research and Development Statistics Program of the National Science Foundation's Division of Science Resource Studies. Several R&D indicators included in the report, however, indicate that while total state R&D spending has grown, the states' share of US R&D spending and US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has declined. The report is based on data collected by NSF or through NSF-sponsored research on periodic surveys of state R&D expenditures and annual academic R&D surveys. The report states that while total state R&D expenditures increased by $240 million (constant 1992 dollars) between 1987 and 1995, state R&D as a percentage of US R&D activity in 1995 remained at the 1987 level of 1.37 percent. While never a large portion of…

The Ninth Annual Great Midwest Venture Capital Conference will be held November 8-9, 1999 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Indiana Business Modernization & Technology Corp. (BMT) is seeking applications from emerging technology businesses to present their business profiles and capital needs to a variety of potential investors at the event. Presenter participation is limited to 30 companies. Each selected participant is allotted 12 minutes of presentation time and a display booth in the exhibit hall to facilitate further discussions with prospective investors. A wide variety of industries have been represented in the past with technology-related businesses, particularly software developers and Internet firms, tending to dominate. Half of the presenter positions are already filled, although the deadline for presenter registration is August 27, 1999. Participation is not limited to Midwest companies: firms from Utah and New Mexico are among the presenters who have secured positions on the conference agenda. Presenter registration, presenter profiles, and additional…

The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Industrial Technologies has issued the solicitation for the Inventions and Innovations Program (IIP). The competitive program provides financial assistance for establishing technical performance and conducting early development of innovative ideas and inventions. Selected projects must have significant energy savings and future commercial market potential. Total grant funding available is anticipated to be $2.3 million. Two levels of funding are available: Category 1 Applications may receive up to $40,000 for conceptual or technical feasibility. Projects may last no more than two years. Category 2 Applications may receive up to $200,000 for projects in the last two stages of development (development and commercial validation or demonstration). Projects may last no more than three years. Larger projects involving commercial demonstration are directed to apply for National Industrial Competitiveness through Efficiency, Economics and (NICE3) funding (see related article). Individual inventors, small businesses, universities,…

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is seeking nominations for the fourth annual Tibbetts Awards. Named after Rowland Tibbetts, who established the first Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program at the National Science Foundation more than 20 years ago, the award recognizes outstanding contributions of small firms, projects, organizations and individuals involved in SBIR. More than 200 people and companies have received the award since it was first initiated in 1996. Awardees are recognized at an event in Washington each fall. The SBA attempts to make at least one Tibbetts Award in every state each year. Nominations are due July 15, 1999. Nomination forms may be obtained from the SBA SBIR website: http://www.sba.gov/sbir/

The Global Venture Forum is a business development event sponsored by the Osaka Chamber of Commerce to help Japanese and foreign firms find Japanese partners for investment, trade, distribution, and global business. Since the Global Venture Forum started in 1995, 44 percent of the participants have found business partners. Approximately 35 firms will be selected to join 15 Japanese businesses as presenters. Selected firms pay a registration fee of $950 which covers meals, one-night hotel accommodations, all AV equipment, a professional interpreter for two days, simultaneous translation, and translated summaries distributed to Japanese organizations, media and businesses. There is no cost to submit an application to present. Two-page applications are due by June 15. Washington International Business Ventures (WIBV) is serving as the North American office for the Global Venture Forum. To apply or for more information, visit the WIBV website at http://www.wibv.com or contact Peter Drabble at (202) 467-4403. Return to the top of this page…

The State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI) is seeking a Policy Analyst. The Institute serves as a resource center for initiatives in all 50 states that encourage technology-based economic development. The Analyst's responsibilities include: conducting research on policy issues; interacting with state and federal practitioners and policy makers; writing and producing issue papers and project reports; contributing to a weekly newsletter; responding to requests for information; and working with staff, board members, and sponsors on a variety of projects. Candidates should have excellent written and verbal skills; strong research and organization capability; the ability to work independently and as part of a team; and, a dedication to creating a quality product. Compensation is commensurate with experience. Resumes will be accepted until the position is filled. To apply, mail cover letter and resume to: Personnel, SSTI, 5039 Pine Creek Drive, Westerville, OH 43081; or via e-mail to personnel@ssti.org  A copy of this description can also be found on the SSTI…