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Choosing to Lead: The Race for National R&D Leadership and New Economy Jobs R&D Breakfast e-Newsletter November 2004 |
 R&D Breakfast Briefing Calls for Collaboration to Play a National Role Dr. Mel Bernstein, director of University Programs at the Department of Homeland Security, outlined the new challenge of homeland security, the potential for investment by the federal government, and the vital importance of collaboration to compete successfully to win funds to solve these important problems at Mass Insight’s November 9th R&D Breakfast Briefing, the third in its 2004 series. A Mass Insight Corporation Science and Technology Initiative Work Group is exploring potential large scale university/industry collaboration in homeland security. >LEAD STORY read more Panelists Highlight Defense BRAC Configuration as Asset for Homeland Security Project Massachusetts has the scientific talent and the background in defense R&D and its translation into the civilian sector necessary to compete effectively for burgeoning government funds confirms panel of experts. >read more R&D Breakfast Briefing Series continues
on December 9: Life Sciences and Drug Development Photo Highlights and Presentations from November
9 R&D Breakfast Briefing at MITRE Corporation Collaboration Needed to Compete for Funds Mass Insight Corporation’s November 9th R&D breakfast briefing hosted by The MITRE Corporation and sponsored by Goodwin Procter, PricewaterhouseCoopers, BlueCross BlueShield of Massachusetts, and MassDevelopment focused on the challenge of developing technology for homeland security and emphasized the need for collaboration among academic, government, and industrial organizations to compete for the federal funds. Collaboration is built into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). According to Mel Bernstein, DHS’s director of university programs, the homeland security mission is so large that it requires the department to cooperate with other federal agencies on relevant projects and funding. Bernstein advised applicants for funding to seek partnerships particularly with state and local agencies. Bernstein’s department has set up centers of excellence at the University of Southern California, Texas A&M University, and the University of Minnesota, each of which involves a large degree of collaboration across state boundaries. Under consideration is a center that will focus on the behavioral and social aspects of terrorism that will, Bernstein said, "interweave human behavior with science and technology." By year end, Bernstein expects to have set up a total of seven centers — all of which, he emphasized, must be real, mission-oriented projects rather than paper institutions. Other sectors of DHS’s science and technology directorate, including the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) and the Systems Engineering and Development department take a similar attitude toward collaborative projects. Applicants for funds from those sectors, Bernstein said, should bear in mind that “the most critical part is who puts out the strongest alliance.” Partnerships applying for DHS funds should consider two other issues. Roughly 80 percent of the agency’s projects demand deployable solutions to problems rather than over-the-horizon research. Plenty of chances for participation in homeland security projects still exist, particularly in the arena of combating biological threats. “As DHS reevaluates its goals, there are new opportunities,” Bernstein said. “Everybody believes its funds will grow. There’s pressure on deliverables now.” Panelists Highlight Defense BRAC Configuration as Asset for Homeland Security ProjectPanelists confirmed and expanded on the broad theme outlined in the October R&D breakfast: that New England in general and Massachusetts in particular have the scientific talent and the background in defense R&D and its translation into the civilian sector necessary to compete effectively for burgeoning government funds designed to facilitate securing the nation. Massachusetts has a recent example of collaboration: the effort to protect Hanscom Air Force Base from closure. According to Christopher Anderson, president of the Massachusetts High Technology Council, Senator Ted Kennedy and Governor Mitt Romney, along with other Congressional and State representatives, have strongly supported the Massachusetts Defense Technology Initiative managed by the High Technology Council to devote state money to making the base a national center for C4ISR — command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance — a field in which Hanscom has already made major contributions. MITRE has been a close partner of Hanscom. Russ Graves, MITRE’s corporate program manager for regional homeland security, outlined technology solutions for such areas as situation awareness, vehicle tracking, and visualization of command centers. “The important thing,” Graves said, “is to take techniques developed for defense and find a way to exercise them in the civilian community.” Emerging Response Model Project Presents an Opportunity for MassachusettsCollaboration is necessary for users, as well as developers, of new homeland security technology, according to Rick Hess, CEO of Integrated Fuel Technologies and former president of MA/COM, Inc. Communications. Technologies used by neighboring towns and cities, he explained, are frequently incompatible — a problematic issue for first responders to terrorist attacks and other disasters. Local municipalities are unlikely to upgrade their systems without funding and authority from the county or state. “Some states, including Pennsylvania and Michigan, have done it,” Hess said, “but not Massachusetts.” On the other hand, the Commonwealth does offer significant achievement and talent in communications R&D. “We hope,” Hess continued, “that we can bring companies together to demonstrate the technology capability that we have.” November 9 Homeland Security Breakfast Briefing at MITRE Corporation More than 70 attendees packed the new MITRE Center at MITRE Corporation to hear from Dr. Mel Bernstein, Department of Homeland Security; Christopher Anderson, President, Massachusetts High Technology Council, Russ Graves, Corporate Program Manager for Regional Homeland Security, MITRE Corporation; and Rick Hess of Integrated Fuel Cell Technologies and past president of MA/COM. Click below for presentations and handouts: Mel Bernstein, Director of University Programs, Department of Homeland Security — Research and Educational Needs and Opportunities at Homeland Security [Powerpoint 1.5 MB] Russ Graves, Corporate Program Manager for Regional Homeland Security, The MITRE Corporation — Information Technology for Homeland Security [Powerpoint 14 MB] Christopher Anderson, President Massachusetts High Technology Council — Hanscom Air Force Base: A Vision for the Future [Powerpoint 1.4 MB] Rick
Hess, CEO, Integrated Fuel Cell Technologies — Federal, state and
local LMR interoperability in Kentucky [PDF 600k]
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Mass Insight Partners with Mass High Tech Newspaper for Special R&D Reports Mass Insight is collaborating with Mass High Tech
newspaper, read by over 50,000 technology decision makers every week,
on four special technology center sections in Mass High Tech which will
parallel the Road Map strategic alliance partnerships being developed
by industry and university leaders. For advertising information, contact Jill Cohen, Advertising Director, Mass High Tech at 617-241-4360 or jcohen@masshightech.com or click here for more information on the special report series. SAVE THE DATE December R&D Breakfast Briefing: Life Sciences and Drug Development Be sure to join us for the next R&D breakfast to be held December 9, 2004 at Wyeth Research in Cambridge. Watch your mail for more information or contact SciTech@massinsight.com. Sponsors of Mass Insight’s R&D Breakfast Series and the R&D Strategic Alliances Clearinghouse:
The Massachusetts R&D Clearinghouse The first ever directory of Massachusetts’ major science and technology research centers and their partners. The first edition, published in 2004, will be expanded
into an online, fully searchable database in 2005. A business development
resource for technology stakeholders interested in investing and partnering
in Massachusetts, the clearinghouse highlights the state’s leading
university and nonprofit research centers to promote research activities
and strategic partnerships. To participate on our Clearinghouse Advisory Group or to submit your institution for inclusion in the directory, contact Joanna Manikas at jmanikas@massinsight.com.
Two years ago, in the midst of an economic downturn,
a group of industry, teaching hospital, and university leaders organized
by Mass Insight at the Boston Foundation met to discuss how to cooperate
to bring business to Massachusetts. That group, and the Science & Technology
Initiative that resulted, supported the passage of the economic stimulus
package now poised to fuel job growth through strategic projects joining
industry, universities and teaching hospitals. In parallel, the group
organized the Technology Road Map study. "I am quite impressed with
the speakers at each session and the economic development agenda that
Mass Insight is pursuing for Massachusetts. After participating in the
Homeland Security session, I joined the Homeland Security work group so
that I can help shape the initiatives that will undoubtedly affect my
area of Security and Emergency Preparedness."
—Albert Samano III Fortress, a VHB company |
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Russ Graves, corporate program manager for homeland security, The MITRE Corporation |
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©2004 Mass Insight Corporation, 18 Tremont Street, Suite 930, Boston, MA 02108. Mass Insight Corporation organizes leadership groups and facilitates public-private initiatives to improve state performance on issues that have a significant economic impact on Massachusetts. To be added to or removed from this distribution list, please send an email to scitech@massinsight.com. |
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