Industry-government research partnerships

Signal, Feb 2000

Tackling high-risk research and development projects that offer broad-based benefits to the U.S. economy and society, but that are not likely to be developed soon because they are judged to be too risky, is the focus of a U.S. Department of Commerce competition. The Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) advanced technology program (ATP) has approximately $50.7 million available in fiscal year 2000 for cost-shared funding of new projects.

NIST officials expect this to translate into ajoint industry/government research and development investment of roughly $300 million through 2004. Program administrators are seeking proposals from industry in any field for innovative research into technologies that offer significant benefits to the nation. Awards will be made on the basis of technical and economic merits of the proposed projects. The deadline to submit full proposals for the 2000 ATP competition is March 8, 2000. A proposal preparation kit is available at the NIST ATP World Wide Web site at www.atp.nist.gov.