Commerce clearinghouse provides information to help U.S. firms compete better globally - Department of Commerce. Office of Technology Administration. Clearinghouse for State and Local Initiatives on Productivity, Technology, and Innovation

Business America, May 20, 1991

The pressing need for U.S. firms to be competitive internationally was a major reason for the recent establishment of the Clearinghouse for State and Local Initiatives on Productivity, Technology, and Innovation in the Technology Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

"If we are to compete successfully in the global marketplace, all of our firms, including manufacturing firms, need to be globally competitive," Deborah L. Wince-Smith, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Technology Policy, said. "Most of the states and many local governments have designed technology-based economic development programs, often including financing, to assist new and existing firms. The Clearinghouse for State and Local Initiatives on Productivity, Technology, and Innovation was established by Congress in the Omnibus Trade Act of 1988 to help states maximize this investment."

During the 1980s, local governments, states, and cities developed a variety of policies and programs to stimulate regional economic development, many of which focus on promotion of scientific and technological innovation. These efforts include support for basic and applied research in universities, joint ventures, product development, research parks, and small business incubators. The Clearinghouse was established to provide a central information source on these programs.

The Clearinghouse is housed in the Technology Administration, whose primary mission is to improve national awareness of the many federal, state, and local initiatives that seek to improve U.S. international technological competitiveness and to encourage the use of the programs. The Technology Administration emphasizes commercialization of technology and improved U.S. manufacturing capabilities.

To facilitate access to these programs, the Clearinghouse has developed an extensive computerized database of state and local development initiatives designed to increase technological innovation and international competitiveness. With the database, the Clearinghouse staff can quickly respond to inquiries from Congress, federal and state government officials, public policy organizations, researchers, and industry representatives.

Examples of questions that the Clearinghouse can answer include:

* What states have R&D grant programs? How do states recoup their R&D investments in businesses?

* What are some of the innovative ways states and cities have funded the training and employed manufacturing workers to facilitate manufacturing modernization?

* What reports and studies have examined industrial base modernization?

A major source of Clearinghouse inquiries are businesses and individuals not fully aware of their own state's economic development resources. The Clearinghouse can provide appropriate contacts at the state or local level. Persons desiring information can find out what they want to know with only a telephone call or two.

In addition to serving as a repository for information, the Clearinghouse assists state and local governments in identifying models of economic development programs that could be relevant for designing their own programs. The Clearinghouse also promotes an information communications network for state officials; it has plans to conduct conferences on issues of particular concern to the states. Subjects of such conferences include methodologies for evaluating state technology assistance programs and lessons learned in developing these programs.

Future plans include the publication of a newsletter to provide timely information about issues; conferences; new publications; local, state, and federal program innovations; and other related information.

For additional information on the Clearinghouse, contact:

The Clearinghouse for State and Local Initiatives on Productivity, Technology and Innovation, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 4418, Washington, D.C. 20230; tel. (202) 377-8100; fax (202) 377-0253.