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SSTI Digest
Position Available
The Industry Network Corporation is seeking a Regional Manager for its Manufacturing Extension Partnership program. The position is based in Anchorage, Alaska. The full position description can be obtained from the Institute by calling SSTI at 614/421-SSTI (7784) or through the Institute's home page at http://www.ssti.org
Regional Meetings Planned for Input on EPSCoT
Three regional meetings are being scheduled to receive input on the design of the proposed Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Technology (EPSCoT) program. The program is intended to "foster the development of indigenous technology assets in states that traditionally have been under represented in the distribution of federal R&D expenditures."
The Department of Commerce's Technology Administration describes EPSCoT as the technology counterpart to the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). It is being designed to bridge the gap between university research and the local economy and develop economic development tools to foster regional technology-based economic growth. It would be a competitive, cost-shared grant program.
SSTI Conference Slated for June 16-17
The State Science and Technology Institute's first conference, "Promoting Economic Growth Through State Science and Technology Programs," will be held June 16-17 in Washington, D.C.
The conference will cover topics identified by the states as being of interest, including:
South Carolina Establishes Technology Advisory Council
South Carolina Governor David Beasley has appointed a 17-member Technology Advisory Council. The Council is to examine how South Carolina can attract technology-intensive companies, find strategies to promote high technology jobs and identify specific technologies that are important for other industries.
The Council, comprised of 11 private sector and 6 public sector representatives, has committed to submitting a technology plan to the Governor by mid November. Dr. Larry Druffel, president and CEO of the South Carolina Research Authority, serves as the Council's chairman.
NGA and NASBO Release State Expenditures, Trends Report
The National Governors' Association (NGA) and the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) released the results of the annual Fiscal Survey of States. The report incorporates information gathered by NASBO from January through April 1997, and includes actual figures for fiscal 1996, preliminary figures for fiscal 1997, and numbers contained in Governors' proposed budgets for fiscal 1998.
The April edition of The Fiscal Survey of States says that although 1997 will be the seventh year of economic recovery nationwide, governors are not calling for program expansions but are adhering to the principles of efficiency, austerity, and improved management.
Assessment of NASA Programs Released
The National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) has released an assessment of NASA's technology transfer and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs.
Overall, NAPA found that NASA continuously implements new approaches designed to enhance the commercial impact of its R&D investments. While acknowledging the difficulties in measuring accomplishments in technology transfer and commercialization activities, NAPA found that NASA's efforts compare favorably with other federal agencies and, in a number of cases, its efforts are likely to offer better performance and value than those of other agencies. Specific recommendations pertaining to mechanisms for commercializing technology include:
National Medal of Science & National Medal of Technology Winners Announced
The recipients of the 1997 National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology were announced last week. The awards are described as the United States' equivalent of the Nobel Prize.
Established in 1959, the National Medal of Science is the nation's highest scientific honor. It is given to individuals who deserve "special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to knowledge in the physical, biological, mathematical, or engineering sciences." Created in 1980, the National Medal of Technology is the highest honor given by the President to America's leading innovators. It recognizes technological innovation and advancement of U.S. global competitiveness.
The nine National Medal of Science recipients and five National Medal of Technology recipients will be recognized at a White House ceremony later this year.
House Acts on Commerce Programs
The sunset provision on Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers would be removed under authorizing language approved by the U.S. House of Representatives last week. The action came in authorization language for key U.S. Department of Commerce and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) programs.
Currently MEP centers are restricted to six years of federal funding. Centers that have reached the six year sunset have been granted extensions on a case by case basis through Congressional action. Under the House language, those extensions would no longer be necessary.
The bill did not authorize funding for the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Technology (EPSCoT), a new program to be administered by the Technology Administration.
Correction
In the April 18, 1997 edition of the SSTI Weekly Digest, we reported on Congressional earmarks for research projects involving specific universities. The totals for six states were incorrect and, as a result, the rankings for five states were also incorrect.
Hawaii should have been reported as receiving $99,241,000 in earmarks; Pennsylvania as receiving $42,185,000; Texas as receiving $20,553,000; Alabama as receiving $19,900,000; and, Illinois as receiving $8,025,000.
New York should have been ranked as 10, New Mexico as 11, Texas as 12, Alabama as 13, and Minnesota as 14.
USDA Creating Program to Encourage Rural Venture Capital
A demonstration program using federal loan guarantees to attract venture capital funds to rural areas is being created by the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). RBS is seeking public comment on the program by May 9.
The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 calls for the Secretary of Agriculture to designate up to 60 community development venture organizations over six years to demonstrate the utility of guarantees in attracting increased private investment in rural companies. The organizations must establish a rural business private investment pool to make equity investment in rural companies. USDA will guarantee up to 30 percent of the total funds in the pool against loss.
USDA will issue up to $90 million in guarantees over a six year period. The term of a guarantee is not to exceed 10 years.
Positions Available
Position descriptions for three new positions have been posted on the Institute's home page (http://www.ssti.org). The KPB Economic Development District in Alaska is seeking a Chief Executive Officer. The Associate Director position of Iowa State University's Center for Advanced Technology Development is open. Auburn University is accepting applications for the Associate Director of Industrial Programs and Technology Transfer position.
Chronicle Releases Report on Earmarks for University Research: Earmarks Increase by 49% in FY97
The Chronicle of Higher Education recently released its annual report on funding for university projects that Congress specifically directed federal agencies to support. The Chronicle reported that Congress earmarked at least $440 million for projects involving specific universities for FY1997. That is a 49 percent increase from FY1996 total of $296 million.
The report tallies items for which federal agencies did not request funding or sponsor merit-based competitions (although there were a few projects for which funding was added to projects that had previously been competitively awarded). The projects included were named either in appropriations bills or the legislative reports that accompany them.
Projects range from $32,000 to be allocated by the Agriculture Department to the University of Vermont for maple research to $45 million to be allocated by the Navy to University of Hawaii for a new oceanographic research ship.