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SSTI Digest
Memorandum of Understanding Officially Established USIP
The National Governors' Association (NGA) and the federal government signed an agreement officially establishing the United States Innovation Partnership (USIP) on June 25, 1997. The USIP brings together the Governors and the White House to improve the operation of the national science, engineering, and technology system.
The purpose of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to outline policies and procedures for a general working relationship between the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the U.S. Department of Commerce, other Executive agencies as appropriate, and the NGA in support of the creation and maintenance of the USIP.
SBA Announces Small Business Awards
The Small Business Administration (SBA) held its annual Small Business Week celebration June 1-7. Small Business Week is designated each year to honor the nation's small businesses and to highlight their contributions to the national economy and their local communities.
David Guiliani, president and CEO of Optiva Corporation in Washington state, was recognized as the National Small Business Person of the Year.
Optiva manufactures the Sonicare brand of sound wave-powered toothbrushes. The company started in 1988 as a technology transfer project for the University of Washington. With the help of a grant obtained through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, the company has grown from 10 to 250 employees with over $50 million in sales in 1995. Optiva's "built in the USA" strategy also helped create more than 1,000 jobs for small- and medium-sized businesses in the Pacific Northwest.
Bachula Named Acting Under Secretary for Technology
Gary Bachula has been named the Acting Under Secretary for Technology for the U.S. Department of Commerce. Since joining the department in 1993, Bachula served as the Deputy Under Secretary for Technology, reporting to Mary Good. In that position he has been a strong supporter of SSTI and the U.S. Innovation Partnership.
Position Available
The Maine Science and Technology Foundation seeks a high energy President and CEO who will work with a diverse, gubernatorially appointed Board of Directors and provide leadership to the staff in the areas of strategic planning, policy development, program oversight, finance and administration, and public outreach. MSTF is a state chartered, industry-led not-for-profit organization that stimulates science and technology-driven economic growth in the state of Maine.
R&D Magazine Releases Basic Research White Paper
R&D Magazine has released the results of a survey in which more than 80 percent of respondents think America will lose its competitive edge in industry within 25 years unless basic-research funding is increased. The survey consisted of a combination of research questionnaires and individual interviews with 4,000 researchers representing industry, academia, and government.
The survey findings are part of R&D Magazine's Basic Research White Paper. Overall, the report found that the research process, although not in immediate peril, has lost its long-term planning agenda in the face of global competition. If action is not taken to support a basic-research infrastructure to act as a foundation for the future, American innovation will suffer.
GAO Reviews Prospects for Effective GPRA Implementation
The Government Accounting Office (GAO) recently released its assessment of federal agencies' progress towards implementation of the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). GPRA requires that executive agencies prepare multi-year strategic plans, annual performance plans, and annual performance reports. The agencies must submit a strategic plan to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Congress by September 30, 1997.
GAO found that agency efforts have produced mixed results that will lead to highly uneven government-wide implementation in the fall of 1997. Although agencies are likely to meet the upcoming statutory deadlines for producing initial strategic plans and annual performance plans, GAO found that the documents will not be of a consistently high quality or as useful for congressional and agency decision making as originally intended.
Commercial Space Act Introduced
Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis) has introduced the Commercial Space Act of 1997 (H.R. 1702) to encourage the development of a commercial space industry in the United States.
The bill has five major components. First, it will direct NASA to determine the feasibility for commercial tenants on the International Space Station. Second, it amends the Commercial Space Launch Act to enable the Office of Commercial Space Transportation to license reentry activities for the industrial sector.
COSSI Projects Selected
The Department of Defense has announced 30 projects selected for negotiation under the Commercial Operations and Support Savings Initiative (COSSI) of the Dual Use Applications Program (DUAP), the successor program to the Technology Reinvestment Project (TRP). The projects could receive close to $100 million in DUAP funding.
COSSI emphasizes using commercial technology and business approaches to reduce the operations and support costs of existing military systems. The projects were chosen for their potential to reduce operating and support costs by inserting commercial technology into them.
The Air Force selected six projects (two in California, and one each in Florida, Massachusetts, Missouri, and Ohio). The Army selected 10 projects and the Navy selected 14 projects. Neither the Army or the Navy responded to requests for a breakout by state.
Cummings Joins SSTI Staff
Deborah Cummings has joined the staff of the State Science and Technology Institute as a Policy Analyst. Ms. Cummings prior work experience includes positions with the National Business Incubation Association and Ohio's Thomas Edison Program as the Edison Technology Incubator Coordinator. She can be reached at 614/421-SSTI (7784) or via e-mail at cummings@ssti.org.
Good to Leave Commerce
Mary Good, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology, is leaving the U.S. Department of Commerce in the beginning of June, according to published reports. Dr. Good will be returning to Arkansas. During her tenure, she has been a strong and influential advocate for federal support for science and technology.
Dr. Good serves as the chair of the National Science and Technology Council's Committee of Technological Innovation and as the Clinton Administration's lead on the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles. She has served as Under Secretary since 1993.
NAS Elects 60 New Members
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has elected 60 new members and 15 foreign associates from 11 countries. Election to membership in the Academy is considered one of the highest honors to be accorded a U.S. scientist or engineer.
The following states had members elected to the Academy: California (16), Massachusetts (6), New York (6), Connecticut (5), Maryland (5), New Jersey (4), Illinois (3), Washington (3), Pennsylvania (2), Texas (2), Wisconsin (2), and with one each, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Rhode Island, and Wyoming.
For a complete list of those elected, contact SSTI at 614/421-SSTI (7784).
Defense SBIR Program Reviewed
The General Accounting Office (GAO) recently released its review of the policies and procedures of the Department of Defense (DoD) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. In FY 1997, approximately $1 billion, government wide, has been set-aside for this program. Approximately $500 million of that amount is projected to be funded by DoD.
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 required GAO to review certain aspects of DoD's SBIR program. As part of the review process, GAO interviewed officials in the Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, and the participating DoD divisions and agencies, in addition to reviewing implementing instructions, guidelines, and other pertinent documents.