SSTI Digest

Thirteen individuals have been named recipients of the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology--America's version of the Nobel Prize. Among those honored was a director of one of New Jersey's Advanced Technology Centers. The National Medal of Science, administered by NSF, honors individuals for contributions to the present state of knowledge in: physical, biological, mathematical, engineering or social and behavioral sciences. The National Medal of Technology, administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce honors individuals and companies for technological innovation and advancement of U.S. global competitiveness. Recipients of the National Medal of Science are: Wallace Broecker Columbia University Norman Davidson California Institute of Technology James Flanagan Rutgers University and director of the Center for Computer Aids for Industrial Productivity, a New Jersey Advanced Technology Center Richard Karp University of Washington C. Kumar N. Patel University of California- Los Angeles Ruth Patrick Academy of Natural Sciences,…

A Missouri businesswoman was named National Small Business Person of the Year by the Small Business Administration. Phyllis Hannan, president of Laser Light Technologies, received the award last week as part of the SBA's Small Business Week (June 2-8) celebration. 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. SBA also honored leading business owners from each state, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico at the ceremonies in Washington. Contact SSTI for the names of the state or special award winners. SBA also announced the winners of the First Annual "Tibbetts Awards" in recognition of individuals and organizations that have provided outstanding contributions to the Small Business Innovation Research Program. Award winners came from private sector, non-profit, and government organizations including: Arizona Innovation Network Scottsdale, AZ Small Business High Technology Inst Phoenix, AZ U S West, Inc./U S West Foundation Englewood,…

The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) have created the NSF/SRC Engineering Research Center for Environmentally Benign Semiconductor Manufacturing. The new center will study the environmental, health, and safety aspects of the semiconductor manufacturing process. Through the center, which will be housed at the University of Arizona, scientists and engineers from Arizona, MIT, Stanford, and UC-Berkeley will address the semiconductor industry's concern for a more environmentally sound manufacturing process. The Arizona ERC will work in partnership with firms from the semi-conductor industry that will contribute to the strategic planning of the research program. The semiconductor industry makes microchips for electronic components that power a variety of products including personal computers, medical instruments and cellular phones. A significant issue facing the industry is that semiconductor production requires a large amount of highly purified water to rinse and clean a silicon wafer. The industry is interested in reducing the amount of water and…

The Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership (FMEP) is seeking a Director who possesses the skills that are needed for the corporation to excel. The applicant should be an innovator and entrepreneur as well as a leader and a team builder with excellent communication skills. This position requires a person with vision and the ability to build a shared vision based on basic principles of leadership, management, and finance. The Director will be required to make FMEP self-supporting within six years. The position will director FMEP in its primary role of assisting small and mid-sized manufacturers adopt appropriate technologies and technique. The Director will coordinate with Enterprise Florida Innovation partnership as well as state and local service providers that bring a complete spectrum of assistance (including management, finance, and marketing) to its clients. The position requires a background in sound management principles and successful leadership experience. Applicants should be able to demonstrate the ability to raise funds. The position requires the ability to…

The State Science and Technology Institute has launched its home page on the World Wide Web. The site serves as a one-stop resource for cooperative technology program managers. The site provides information on SSTI activities including information services and research.   One of the key information services provided by SSTI is reporting up-to-date activity from Washington D.C. on matters related to science and technology, particularly as they affect state programs. Our home page has a link to FYI messages from Chris Coburn, President of SSTI, that report Washington happenings. A major area of the site provides detailed descriptions of state cooperative technology programs. At the end of each state profile is: a contact person for the state, who can provide information about its programs and other services the state offers; a link to the state's home page; and links to the state's economic development and S&T home pages, where available. The profiles are from the book Partnerships: A Compendium of State and Federal Cooperative Technology Programs. The profiles will be updated over the coming year and the revised descriptions…

Small and medium-sized manufacturers looking for assistance in solving technical and business problems now have improved access to the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). MEP is a nationwide network of locally managed centers in 42 states and Puerto Rico offering technical assistance to smaller manufacturers. Dialing 1-800-MEP-4MFG will directly link companies with the nearest MEP affiliate or to MEP headquarters in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Those with access to the World Wide Web can also find information on the MEP home page at http://www.mep.nist.gov. The page, called "The MEP Source", includes a map highlighting centers and field offices. The Source includes information both for companies and for those who operate the centers.

Seed Capital Venture Fund Manager The newly created Seed Capital Venture Fund in Cleveland, Ohio is seeking a fund manager. The fund will be professionally staffed with experienced managers who have a substantial ability to drive the fund to invest for returns, not perform community service. Key elements of the fund's structure include its focus on seed capital and early stage investment in technology-based companies in the State of Ohio, with heavy emphasis initially on Northeast Ohio opportunities.The structure of the fund is a limited partnership with a 10-year life. Gains will be shared 80/20 with the Fund Manager who will in turn share 3 to 4 points with appropriate nonprofit "intermediaries." A Board of Advisors comprised of members of the venture capital community, representatives of Cleveland Tomorrow (similar to the chamber of commerce) and state-wide members will help in raising capital, but will not make investment decisions. Candidates for this position must have a minimum of five years of successful investment experience, most of which should have been focused on true…

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is accepting applications for the FY96 round of the Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) Grant Program. The S-K grant program supports research and development projects that address various aspects of commercial and recreational fisheries including harvesting, processing, and marketing. The program focuses on rebuilding U.S. fisheries for sustainable use. The FY96 base funding for this program is approximately $7.0 million. Funding priorities are: bycatch reduction; fisheries utilization; fisheries management; aquaculture; and, product quality and safety. Projects primarily involving data collection should be directed to a specific problem or need, and be of a fixed duration. Funding will not be provided for projects primarily involving infrastructure construction, port or harbor development, and start-up or operational costs for private business ventures. Generally S-K grants or cooperative agreements are awarded for a period of one year, but no more than 18 months at a time. According to NMFS, the S-K grant program does not require cost-sharing, but it is encouraged. If project costs are shared, NMFS must provide at least 50…

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) this week issued a solicitation for Phase II of its Sustainable Technology Partnerships (STEP) initiative. Phase I of STEP was created in 1994 as a pilot project. STEP I offered states matching funds to gain access to NREL expertise. During phase I, 14 contracts totaling over $3 million were awarded. Projects focused on several technologies, including wind, biofuels, and alternative fuels. According to Carol Tombari, Manager of the Office of State and Local Partnerships at NREL, the goal of STEP II is to develop new business partnerships between DOE laboratories and energy-related businesses. In STEP II, $1 million will be available to states and their partners to leverage NREL expertise and facilities. Interested states should contact NREL staff to discuss possible proposals. States must demonstrate a 1:1 match, and all work must be conducted at NREL facilities. Proposals may be submitted in any of the following subject areas: wind energy technology; photovoltaic and electronic materials technology; economic and market analysis; economic development analysis; buildings energy efficiency;…

Funds available for the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program are estimated to top $1.1 billion in FY97 if the President’s budget request is enacted. With FY96 budget appropriations still pending for some agencies, SBIR managers are hesitant to project FY97 set asides for their programs, but in interviews with SSTI staff, the managers provided projections for FY97 based on the President’s budget request. Federal agencies with extramural research budgets in excess of $100 million are required to set aside 2 percent of the R&D funding for the SBIR Program. The percentage increases to 2.5 percent in FY97. That percentage increase provides much of the explanation for the increase in total SBIR funding from FY96 to FY97. SBIR Program Budgets ($ millions) Agency FY 95 (actual) FY 96 (est.) FY 97 (proj.) Agriculture 9.3 8.7 11.0 Commerce 6.0 6.0 8.0 Defense 445.0 448.0 560.0 Education 3.5 2.7 3.0 Energy 70.0 70.0 85.0…

The State of Illinois recently announced a new World Wide Web site that provides Illinois firms with a means to quickly locate the technical and business assistance available in Illinois. The Illinois Coalition reports that perhaps the most innovative feature of the site is its linkage to the new on-line version of the Thomas Regional Directory Company’s industrial buying guide.  The buying guide covers the North Central Tri-State Region, which includes Illinois and parts of Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.  The directory can be used to conduct product and company information searches. The site can be reached at: http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/illcoalition

The West Virginia Legislature recently approved a bill to create the West Virginia Science & Technology Policy Advisory Board.  The 11- member board will be appointed by the Governor and is expected to: prepare a strategic plan and make recommendations on programs that will further S&T development in the state cooperate with appropriate state agencies to retain and expand existing businesses formulate plans to establish S&T research centers at colleges and universities. The Governor is expected to sign the legislation soon and appointments to the Board should be made by April 15th.