SSTI Digest

Ohio Governor George V. Voinovich, began his term as the National Governors' Association (NGA) Chairman at the association's annual meeting in Las Vegas this week. He succeeded Nevada Governor Bill Miller. Governor Tom Carper, a Democrat from Delaware, has been chosen as the Association's Vice-Chairman. Governor Carper will become Chairman of NGA next summer when Governor Voinovich's term expires.

Rob Atkinson, the executive director of the Rhode Island Economic Policy Council, has announced his resignation. He has accepted a position with the Progressive Policy Institute, leading a new initiative on science and technology. As a result of his departure, the Council is seeking an executive director. The Council is a non-profit corporation, co-chaired by the Governor and a business CEO, with a 19-member board from business, labor, higher education and government leadership of Rhode Island. The Council is equally funded by industry and the state. It provides objective, in-depth analysis of the state's economy; develops and implements creative strategies; recommends policies; and advises the Governor, Administration and General Assembly. The ideal candidate will have a graduate degree; more than five years experience in economic development; policy research and analytical ability; demonstrated ability to build consensus, lead coalitions, and work with elected legislators; strong organization management skills; and, energetic approach. Resumes, which will be considered until the…

The State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI) recently released an issue brief that examines specific tax incentives offered by the states to encourage research and development (R&D) activity. The report, State Research and Development Tax Incentives, identifies tax incentives for R&D offered in 1996 by individual states and describes their major attributes. It also considers the use and cost of the incentives. SSTI found that thirty-five states offered some type of incentive for research and development activity in 1996. Many of the states offered an income tax credit modeled after the federal research and experimentation tax credit guidelines. Other types of incentives included sales and use tax credits and property tax credits. SSTI also found that the relative impact of these incentives is uncertain. Sixteen states were able to address questions regarding the impact of the tax incentive in terms of the number of companies that received the incentive and the resulting tax expenditures. The limited amount of data available on the number of companies that use the incentive…

Apparently as a result of Secretary of Commerce William Daley's pledge to cut the number of political employees in the department, Graham Mitchell, the assistant secretary of commerce for technology policy, will lose his job at the end of September, according to published reports. It is unclear if the position is being eliminated. The Office of Technology Policy, headed by Mitchell, works in partnership with the private sector to develop and advocate national policies that maximize technology's contribution to U.S. economic growth, the creation of high-wage jobs, and improvements in quality of life.

Japan is on schedule to double the government's R&D investment by the year 2000, according to a June 13 National Science Foundation Issue Brief. Japan originally declared in 1992 its intent to double the amount of funding provided for R&D. In line with this goal, the Japanese government approved an R&D budget increase of 12.5% in 1996 and a 6.8% increase in 1997. If this expansion continues, annual government R&D funding will be approximately $18 billion in the year 2000, double the 1992 budget in constant dollars. In relative terms, Japan's total R&D investment (both public and private) is approximately the same size as the U.S. Japan invested 2.6% of its GDP in 1994 in comparison to the U.S. investment of 2.5%. However, the proportion of government funds within the nation's R&D budget is considerably smaller. The government of Japan provides only 20% of the total R&D budget, whereas the average industrial nation funds between 35-40% of the total budget. The increase in the Japanese Government's spending is focused on strengthening Japan's human and…

U.S. Secretary of Commerce William M. Daley announced several changes to the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) yesterday. The changes came as a result of a Department study reviewing the ATP. A number of the changes are designed to increase the role of the states in the program. The first change called for in the Secretary's report is to "encourage state participation in ATP awards." As a means of encouraging state participation in ATP awards, the program will allow joint ventures to be led by states and state-sponsored non-profits. The selection process will give weight to the "business commercialization plan" part of the criteria to post-ATP "value-added" that can be provided by state technology development organizations. The change is intended to help meet ATP's goal of encouraging prompt diffusion of ATP-fostered technologies into the economy through closer ties with state-supported organizations, which can provide assistance to companies after the completion of the ATP project. Typical roles for such an organization might include acting as a joint-venture administrator or providing…

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is seeking nominations for the Tibbetts Awards to recognize outstanding technological innovation, economic impact, and business achievements of individuals and organizations associated with the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The awards, named for Roland Tibbetts who was instrumental in the creation of the SBIR program, were established last year when 67 individuals and companies were recognized. This year's awards will be presented on October 16 as part of a national SBIR conference. Nominees may be individuals, small firms, organizations and projects that have provided outstanding contributions to the SBIR program. Nominees may come from the private, non-profit, or government sectors. According to the SBA, nominees will be judged primarily on the economic impact of technological innovation, business achievement, effective collaborations, and proven state and regional impact and support. Nominations are due on July 22. Additional information and nomination forms are available from local SBA district offices (…

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is looking for business and quality experts to serve a one-year term on the Board of Examiners that reviews applications for the 1998 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The board consists of approximately 325 members, including nine judges and 60 senior examiners. Examiners volunteer their time to evaluate applications for the award, prepare feedback reports for applicants and recommend award winners to the NIST director. Key qualifications include expertise in business, education or health care management, processes and results as well as knowledge of quality practices and improvement strategies. Information brochures on the Board of Examiners are available by calling 301/ 975-2036. Examiner applications will be available in November.

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. USIP includes 22 governors and the federal administration. The USIP's Executive Committee will consist of NGA's lead governors on technology, Connecticut Gov. John G. Rowland and Maryland Gov. Parris N. Glendening, as well as Commerce Secretary William M. Daley and Dr. John H. Gibbons, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Gov. Rowland, in a written statement, said, "States are already investing in the…

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. The ceremony also included the first ever Lifetime Small Business Advocacy Award. SBA's Office of Advocacy presented the award to Milton Stewart. Stewart was the first presidentially…

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.

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. The candidate will have experience and demonstrated achievements in the science and technology field and the ability to communicate the importance of science and technology to economic growth. A strong facilitator, the candidate will have the ability to communicate effectively and clearly with MSTF's stakeholders, including government, educators, the business community, a broad partner base, Board of Directors and staff. The candidate will have experience working with diverse constituents and value collaborative relationships, inside and outside the organization. The President will work with a statewide steering committee of…