SSTI Digest

The Clinton Administration has announced initiatives to finance computer training and retraining programs to meet the dramatically increasing demand for Information Technology (IT) workers. The announcement occurred at the National Information Technology Workforce Convocation, an event to facilitate broad-based solutions to the worker shortage.

The announcement came on the same day that a new study was released by the Information Technology Association of American (ITAA) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute. The study found extensive IT worker shortages exist throughout the United States. Approximately 346,000 IT positions -- or 10% of the total IT workforce -- are currently unfilled.

In addition, U.S. Labor Department projections show that the demand for computer scientists, systems analysts and programmers will double over the next 10 years, with 1.3 million new workers needed to fill high-tech, high-wage jobs.

The United States could be on the verge of a major resurgence in the funding of research and development (R&D), according to the annual forecast by Battelle Memorial Institute and R&D Magazine. R&D spending in 1998 is expected to reach more than $215 billion, a 4.66 percent increase over the $206 billion that the National Science Foundation estimates was spent in 1997. The prediction comes after years of stagnation in R&D spending.

Predictions for 1998 include:

The National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Advanced Technology Program (ATP) has launched a new Internet website entitled the ATP Alliance Network. The website is designed to aid organizations interested in applying for an ATP Joint Venture award.

Joint R&D ventures are potentially a powerful tool for attacking difficult research tasks. By collaborating, companies can share the costs and risks associated with long-term, high-risk R&D, and so reduce the burden to each individual firm.

Topics on the ATP Alliance Network include:

Dr. Rita R. Colwell, the current President of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute and former President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and a former member of the National Science Board, has been nominated by President Clinton to serve as the next deputy director of the National Science Foundation.

Dr. Walter Plosila has joined Battelle Memorial Institute as Vice President, Public Technology Management. He served most recently as the executive director of the North Carolina Alliance for Competitive Technologies (NC ACTs).

Joseph Magno, the executive director of the New York State Science and Technology Foundation, has resigned his position. He has accepted a position with the State University of New York Research Foundation.

Dr. Rita R. Colwell, the current President of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute and former President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and a former member of the National Science Board, has been nominated by President Clinton to serve as the next deputy director of the National Science Foundation.

Dr. Walter Plosila has joined Battelle Memorial Institute as Vice President, Public Technology Management. He served most recently as the executive director of the North Carolina Alliance for Competitive Technologies (NC ACTs).

Joseph Magno, the executive director of the New York State Science and Technology Foundation, has resigned his position. He has accepted a position with the State University of New York Research Foundation.

Dr. Robert Center has retired. Dr. Center was the executive director of the Washington Technology Center.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has decided to reclassify its R&D budget, which will result in a reduction of funding available for its Small Business Innovation Research program (SBIR). The reclassification was recommended by Inspector General Linda Sundro. NSF Director Neal Lane has concurred with the recommendations.

Each agency with an extramural R&D budget in excess of $100 million must set aside a percentage of their extramural R&D funding for the SBIR program. In FY 1997, the SBIR set-aside was 2.5%. Congress also authorized a smaller set-aside, currently 0.15% of the extramural R&D budget, for the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program.

The Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) has released its 1997 Development Report Card for the States. The annual report card assesses the strengths and weaknesses of each state's economy and its potential for future growth. Its rankings are watched closely by state development officials.

The report examines approximately 60 factors important to a state's economic health and development and grades each state on three indexes. The indices measure (1) economic performance -- how well the state's economy is performing; (2) business vitality -- how vital the businesses in the state are; and (3) development capacity -- the state's ability to support future growth or recover from economic adversity. In addition, the states are ranked, but not graded, on their tax and fiscal systems.

The report grades states in several subcategories within the larger indexes. The Technology Resources subindex includes the following measures:

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced the formation of the Intelligent Vehicle Initiative (IVI), a major component of the Intelligent Transportation Systems America program. IVI represents DOT's efforts to merge all vehicle-focused research activities into a multi-agency research and development program. DOT is seeking assistance from industry and stakeholders on the planning of this new initiative.

IVI's purpose is to accelerate the development, availability, and use of driving assistance and control intervention systems to reduce motor vehicle crashes. These systems may include provisions for warning drivers, recommending control actions, intervening with driver control, and introducing temporary or brief automated control of the vehicle in hazardous situations. IVI systems are also intended to improve mobility and highway efficiency through the application of selected motorist information services.

The December 19, 1997 issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest reported an incorrect FY 1998 appropriation for the Advanced Technology Program (ATP). The correct amount is $192.5 million.