Yesterday, the Science and Technology Advisory Council gave out $1.5 million for seven such projects, including improved technology for prosthetic legs and an electricity generator powered by ocean waves. This is the third year the council has distributed the Collaborative Research Awards, providing $3 million to 17 research teams since 2007 and “spawning entire new industries.”

That state spending has helped Rhode Island qualify for $6.75 million in National Science Foundation grants. This spring, the state will learn if it has received an additional five-year, $20-million grant from the NSF

The potential stimulus funds would dwarf existing programs if the total allocation for Rhode Island comes even close to recent estimates of $3 billion. Not clear, however, is how federal agencies will distribute that money or how much will be available for science and technology.

Not known, for example, is whether individual technology companies will be eligible for federal grants, or what research areas will be favored in the scramble for funds.

 

Full Story: Stimulating high technology and science Source: Providence Journal, January 29th, 2009 Author: Benjamin N. Gedan Added on January 30th, 2009 at 10:26 am, by Matt Mikula