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This document has been archived.

NSF Press Release

 


NSF PR 00-68 - September 29, 2000

Media contact:

 Charles S. Drum

 (703) 292-8070

 cdrum@nsf.gov

Program contact:

 John Hurt

 (703) 292-5095

 jhurt@nsf.gov

This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.

NSF Recommends Funding For 24 Partnerships to Foster Local Innovation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has recommended awards for 24 projects in communities around the country to help translate knowledge gained from basic research into new products, businesses and services, as well as to provide workforce education and training opportunities focused on innovation.

The recommended Partnerships For Innovation (PFI) awards cover projects in 20 states and Puerto Rico, total more than $14 million, each averaging about $600,000 over two or three years.

The PFI program, new this year, helps build creative interactions in local communities between colleges and universities, government agencies, foundations and private corporations. Each partnership is tailored to help a specific community better position itself to accommodate research and development at the local and regional level, with the goal of advancing local economic and educational opportunities.

Some projects focus on innovation in specific areas, from advanced composite materials for highways and deep space flight engines to healing techniques and therapies for medical use. Other projects are designed to assist communities in developing the educational, cultural and physical infrastructure necessary to take advantage of science and engineering research and ideas and build on them to create economic and societal benefit.

"These awards allow NSF to extend its reach to people, organizations, and communities who have never before had the opportunity to work with us," says Rita Colwell, NSF director. "We will need this kind of broad participation in many communities in order to compete in the global economy."

"I strongly support the Partnerships for Innovation program," said Christopher S. Kit Bond, (R-MO.) chairman of the VA-HUD and Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee. "It is important that we reach out to all corners of the United States in our search for the answers to tomorrow's technological challenges."

"From previous experience, we are well aware of the empowering nature of partnerships," said Joseph Bordogna, deputy director of NSF. "We are hopeful that these PFI projects can serve as models to help communities across the country find new ways to benefit from their knowledge, expertise, and creativity."

John Hurt, NSF program manager for PFI, says the program acts as a catalyst in helping communities transform new knowledge into innovations that not only create opportunities for new wealth, but build strong local, regional and national economies and improve the national well-being.

Principal partners in the recommended award PFI partnerships are: Tuskegee University, Ala.; Ilisagvik College, Alaska; Arizona State University; University of Arkansas; California Institute of Technology; University of Idaho; Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis; Morgan State University, MD; University of Missouri-Kansas City; University of Massachusetts Amherst; Rutgers University, N.J.; Rochester Institute of Technology, N.Y.; North Carolina A&T State University; University of North Carolina System; University of Central Oklahoma; Pennsylvania State University; University of Puerto Rico; South Dakota State University; Fisk University, Tenn.; Tennessee Technological University; Texas A&M University; University of Texas-Pan American; Virginia Polytechnic Institute; and West Virginia University.

-NSF-

Attachment: Partnerships For Innovation (PFI) Awards for 2000

Attachment

Partnerships For Innovation (PFI) Awards for 2000

Tuskegee University
Advanced Nanocomposites for Space Applications
Partners: Auburn University; Nanotek Instruments; Advanced Composites Technologies and Associates

Alabama

Ilisagvik College
Distance Education for Economic Innovation in Isolated Rural Indigenous Communities
Partners: California Virtual Campus, Bay Area Region 1; Lewis-Clark State College; Northwest Indian College; Phillips Community College; Arctic Slope Regional Corporation; North Slope Borough Office of the Mayor; Alaska Growth Capital; Arctic Development Council; Central Council Tlingit Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska; Interior Athabascan Tribal College; Tanana Chiefs Conference

Alaska

Arizona State University
Innovation in the Housing Construction Industry
Partners: Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing; Home Building Association in Central Arizona; Del Webb Corporation; Pulte Homes; Eagle Homes; Trend Homes; Maracay Homes; Gateway Community College

Arizona

University of Arkansas
Microelectronics and Photonics Innovation Incubator in Arkansas
Partners: venture capitalists; Arkansas Science and Technology Authority

Arkansas

California Institute of Technology
Post-Degree Entrepreneurial Fellowship Program for Technological Innovation
Partners: Art Center College of Design; State government through Business Technology Center incubator (not yet approved); private sector (not yet named, but letters of intent)

California

University of Idaho
Food and Recreation Aquaculture
Partners: Clear Springs Food; Rangan Feeds; SeaPac; Fish Breeders of Idaho; Tribal Fish Commission; US Fish and Wildlife Service; Idaho Department of Fish and Game; Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; Boise State University; Idaho State University; Washington State University; University of Idaho at Hagerman

Idaho

Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis
Regenerative Biotechnology for Healing
Partners: Terre Haute Center for Medical Partner Organizations; Indiana University School of Medicine; Eli Lilly & Company; Indiana 21st Century Fund for Research and Technology; Indiana Business Modernization and Technology Corporation

Indiana

Morgan State University
Maryland Technology Partnership for Innovation
Partners: Maryland Technology Development Corporation; Baltimore Development Corporation's Emerging Technology Center; Chesapeake Bay Regional Technical Center of Excellence; Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation

Maryland

University of Missouri-Kansas City
Regional Innovation Alliance in Life Sciences
Partners: University of Kansas Medical Center Research Institute; Kansas City Life Sciences Institute; University of Missouri Columbia; Midwest Research Institute; Center for Business innovation

Missouri

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Network Strategy for Regional Technology Alliance in Computer, Polymer, and Environmental Technologies
Partners: Massachusetts Ventures Corporation; Springfield Technical Community College; Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts; Kollmorgen Aerospace and Defense Group; Rexam Image Products; Western Massachusetts Electric Company; Western Massachusetts Software Company; Mass Ventures Equity Fund; National Collegiate Innovators and Inventors Association

Massachusetts

Rutgers University
Models for University-Industry Innovation in Biomaterials
Partners: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Institute of Technology; New Jersey Center for Biomaterials

New Jersey

Rochester Institute of Technology
Alliance for Innovation
Partners: City of Buffalo; City of Rochester; High Tech of Rochester; IP.com; SUNY of Buffalo; University of Rochester; Western New York Technology Development Center

New York

North Carolina A&T State University
Advanced Composite Materials for Automotive and Space Applications
Partners: 3-TEX Inc.; General Electric Aircraft Engine Group (Ohio); NASA Glenn Research Center (Ohio)

North Carolina

University of North Carolina System
Partnership Model for Technology-Based Business Development
Partners: Centennial Venture Partners Fund; Longleaf Venture Fund; NC Technological Development Authority; NC Biotechnology Center; Research Triangle Institute; NC Board of Science and Technology; NC Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology; NC Economic Development Regions

North Carolina

University of Central Oklahoma
Strategic Technology Education fro Non-Technical Majors - Addressing the Digital Divide
Partners: Edmond Economic Development Authority; Oklahoma Technology Commercialization Center; Pinnacle Business Systems, Inc; Main Street Enterprises; Executive Women's Forum; Edmond Public Schools; Capitol Hill High School; Latino Community Development Agency

Oklahoma

Pennsylvania State University
Education and Research Innovation in Nanofabrication Applications to Biology and Medicine
Partners: Pennsylvania Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology Partnership (Penn State, Pennsylvania industry, 14 Community Colleges, public school districts)

Pennsylvania

University of Puerto Rico
Innovation to Enhance Puerto Rico's Econmic Development
Partners: Inter American University of Puerto Rico; Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico; Industry/University Research Consortium; Chamber of Commerce; Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association; venture capital; incubator facilities

Puerto Rico

South Dakota State University
Great Plains Rapid Prototyping Consortium
Partners: Daktronics, Inc;Falcon Plastics, Inc; MTR, Inc

South Dakota

Fisk University
Infrared Lasers for Atmospheric Monitoring and Aircraft Safety
Partners: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Coherent Technologies Incorporated

Tennessee

Tennessee Technological University
Innovation in the Biotech Industry in Tennessee
Partners: Austin Pea University; East Tennessee State; University of Memphis; Middle Tennessee State; Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Tennessee Biotechnology Association; Cumberland Emerging Technologies; TenneSeed; Tennessee Board of Regents

Tennessee

Texas A&M University
Electronic Commerce Innovation Close to the Digital Divide
Partners: Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service; Edgewood ISD, San Antonio School District; Our Lady of the Lake University; TEKSA Innovations Corporation; San Antonio Day Care Providers

Texas

University of Texas-Pan American
Rapid Product Development in International Production
Partners: Michigan State; Instituto Technologico Y De Estudios Superiores de Monterrey; General Electric Engine Services; Bissell; TRW; Automation Tooling Systems; Alpine Electronics

Texas

Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Materials for Advanced Fuel Cell Applications
Partners: Virginia Commonwealth University; Newport News Shipbuilding; Acadia Elastomers; United Technologies; ChemFab; Dais Analytic; BPAmoco; Los Alamos National Laboratory; Grambling University; Hampton University

Virginia

West Virginia University
Advanced Composite Materials for Civil Infrastructure and Aquaculture
Partners: University of Akron; Kansas/West Virginia Structural Composites, Inc.; West Virginia Department of Highways; Transportation Research Board; U.S Department of Agriculture

West Virginia

-NSF-

 

 
 
     
 

 
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