SSTI Digest

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.

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.

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).

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. Based on its findings, GAO concluded that quality research is being conducted, competitive procedures are being followed, and the products and processes developed through the program are being used in military projects and programs. As part of the review process, GAO examined a number of SBIR program statistics: DoD…

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

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. Commerce proposes that the following states would be eligible to participate in EPSCoT: Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming, as well as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The…

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: Creating new capital sources for technology-based companies Assessing the economic impact of S&T programs Designing and implementing commercialization centers Developing and implementing S&T strategic plans, and Experiences with self-sufficiency and program privatization The conference is designed for policy makers, program managers and staff, legislators, advisory board members, and others who are interested in promoting economic growth through the application of science and technology. For more information on the conference, including a list of speakers, contact the Institute at 614/421-SSTI (7784) or via the Institute's home page at www.ssti.org /conf97.htm

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.

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. According to the report, governors are proposing moderate spending increases and modest tax cuts and are maintaining surpluses that prepare their states for uncertainties in the future. This action reflects governors' efforts to heed the public's desire for smaller government, to restrain spending, and to prepare for level federal funding to help reach the goal of a balanced budget by 2002. In addition, cutbacks in…

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: NASA should plan to phase out the Technical Assistance Program Most NASA research centers provide assistance to firms that request help in solving technical, engineering problems. NAPA asserts that the assistance provided reflects the application of existing technology rather than commercialization of NASA-developed technologies…

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. James D. Watson, Cold Harbor Laboratory William K. Estes, Harvard University Darleane C. Hoffman, University of California- Berkeley Harold S. Johnston, University of California- Berkeley Marshall N. Rosenbluth, University of…

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. The bill also authorizes, as shown in the table below, less funding for programs than the Clinton Administration requested in its budget proposal.   FY97 Spending FY98 Admin …