SSTI Digest

The General Accounting Office (GAO) has released a report, "Tax Policy and Administration: Review of Studies of the Effectiveness of the Research Tax Credit," that concludes that much uncertainty remains about the responsiveness of research spending to tax incentives. There was mixed evidence that the amount of research and development spending stimulated by the federal credit equals or exceeds the cost of the lost revenue. GAO found that it was "unable to conclude from the recent studies that they provide adequate evidence that a dollar of research tax credit would stimulate a dollar of additional research spending." GAO determined that the studies were limited by both the data and the methodologies used. The lack of adequate data was attributed largely to the use of publicly available data rather than tax return data. Tax return data are confidential and therefore were unavailable for the studies. The primary source of data was the COMPUSAT service, which provides financial information on publicly traded companies drawn from such sources as annual reports and SEC filings. In the…

The International Institute for Management Development has released its annual World Competitiveness Yearbook, and the United States has reclaimed its spot atop the list. The U.S. was followed by Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and Denmark. World Competitiveness is defined by IMD as "the ability of a country to create added value and thus increase national wealth by managing assets and processes, attractiveness and aggressiveness, globality and proximity, and by integrating these relationships into an economic and social model." National wealth is the end result of world competitiveness. The World Competitiveness Yearbook 1996 considered eight different factors: domestic economy, internationalization, government, management, finance, infrastructure, science and technology, and people. Altogether, they account for 225 criteria where each of the 46 countries is ranked individually. The World Competitiveness Scoreboard is the aggregation of all these criteria and provides each country's global ranking. According to the report, "the United States (1st) has reinforced its leadership position…

Milwaukee, St. Louis, and San Diego were named to receive a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for developing system-wide reforms in K-12 science, mathematics, and technology education. The awards are part of NSF's Urban Systemic Initiative. The initiative supports science, math, and technology education reform in cities with the largest number of school-aged children living in poverty. Each city will receive a five-year, $15 million grant for system-wide reform. Twenty-seven cities have received NSF urban reform grants since 1993. Nine cities received USI funding in 1994. Seven more received funding in 1995. Milwaukee, St. Louis, and San Diego are the first cities chosen to receive funding in 1996.

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;…