As we cannot compete across the board, what niche markets should we aim
at?
Now that's a loaded question, if I ever asked one. There is an
assumption that someone is going to do the aiming - but who? The present
government has an ideology of non-interference with the market and of
not picking winners.
So how does Australia create world-class organisations that compare with
those of, say, Sweden?
</brd>
Clinton budgets more for high tech
By Courtney Macavinta
NEWS.COM
February 3, 1998, 12 p.m. PT
URL: http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,18756,00.html
The Clinton administration's proposed 1999 fiscal budget earmarks
billions of dollars in tax breaks and funding for technology research
and education initiatives.
The entire $1.73 trillion budget includes substantial dollars to build a
better Internet, create new jobs in the high-tech industry, and fight
Net crimes. Keeping his State of the Union promise to support high-tech
innovation, the president has proposed a $78.2 billion budget for
science and technology research. "These investments are vital; they help
to create new knowledge, train more workers, spur new jobs and
industries, address our health care challenges, strengthen our
understanding of environmental problems, better educate our children,
and maintain a strong national defense," the president stated in the
budget
released yesterday.
A total of $31 billion is laid out for the Research Fund for America,
which supports numerous federal science and technology programs. If
approved by Congress, the allocation would represent an 8 percent
increase in funding from last year.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) could get $3 billion of the
research fund, which will likely trickle down to colleges and
universities. In addition, the Commerce Department's National Institute
of Standards and Technology (NIST) is slated to receive $260 million
next year. NIST develops technology standards and fosters cost-shared
research and development projects between the government and industry.
One project the NSF is working on is the White House's Next Generation
Internet (NGI). Clinton also is asking Congress to approve $110 million
in 1999 for the five-year project. The NGI aims to create new online
applications and networking technologies to improve communication among
the nation's academic and research centers, as well as within federal
agencies and the health care industry.
Lawmakers have been skeptical about the NGI plan because it lacked
detail when the White House hit up Congress for $105 million for it last
year. NGI only got $85 million, and Clinton officials were warned they
needed a clearer blueprint if they wanted more money in 1999. (See
related story)
As expected, the budget also focuses on shaping computer-savvy public
school students, but a new emphasis is being put on teacher training.
Two years ago, the White House promised to dedicate $2 billion over five
years for the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund, which gives states
capital to purchase computers, Net connections, software, and teacher
training for schools that apply for grants. So far, the technology fund
has received $625 million, and the president's 1999 budget would tack on
another $475 million.
Schools that partner with corporations to buy education technology also
can apply for Technology Innovation Challenge Grants, which could get
$106 million next year. In addition, $50 million per year for the next
five years has been earmarked for the Education Research Initiative, a
private-public endeavor to improve students' performance by using
technology to teach traditional subjects such as math and reading.
However, Clinton wants states to spend at least 30 percent of the
technology challenge grants on teacher training. As reported by CNET's
NEWS.COM, experts say a lack of teacher training has been the No. 1
setback in effectively integrating technology into America's classrooms.
In the past, most schools have only spent an average of about 15 percent
of their education-technology dollars on training. (See related story)
The new budget provides $75 million for state grants and teacher
colleges to help churn out educators who use computers and easily as
chalkboards. "The budget supports that there is at least one teacher who
can serve as a technology expert in every school to help other teachers
use technology," the budget states.
Finally, not ignoring his administration's ongoing stance that crime on
the Net is increasing, Clinton also managed to slip in $27 million to
support agencies in countering so-called cybercrimes. Another $37
million could go to the Justice Department to protect and enhance its
high-tech infrastructure.
-- Regards brd +-------------------------+ |Bernard Robertson-Dunn | |Canberra Australia | |brd@netinfo.com.au | +-------------------------+