News
ATP a w a r d s to spur development of new technologies The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced 41 awards totaling $170 million for research and development in information technology for health care, diagnostic technology for DNA, component-based software, and computer-integrated manufacturing for the electronics industry under the Advanced Technology Program (ATP). The goal of the ATP is to stimulate economic growth through the development of new industries. Administered by NIST, ATP makes the awards on the basis ofrigorousreview of the scientific and technical merit of each application and its potential benefits. Applicants must include a business plan for bringing the new technology to market once the technical obstacles have been overcome. The goal of the information technology for health care program is to create fully integrated medical information systems across the health care industry, which would reduce costs and errors in handling medical infor-
TJA to purchase Baird Analytical Thermo Jarrell Ash Corp. (TJA, Franklin, MA), a subsidiary of Thermo Instrument Systems, has agreed to purchase the assets of the Analytical Instrument Division of Baird Corp. (Bedford, MA) for $13.5 million. Completion of the sale is expected this month. This arrangement is expected to make TJA a leading supplier in instruments for elemental analysis, not only because of the resulting size of the company (which also includes Hilger) but also because of the complementary nature of the product lines involved. The companies expect to continue their individual product lines and customer service structures for the near future. 1166 A
mation. Sixteen awards were made in this program for more than $72 million over five years, matched by more than $73 million in private-sector funds. The goal of the diagnostic tools for DNA program is to develop compact, low-cost, automated DNA analytical technologies and equipment for fast, inexpensive detection and diagnosis of human, animal, and plant diseases. Thirteen awards were made in this program for more than $56 million over five years, matched by more than $54 million in private-sector funds. The goal of the component-based software program is to develop reusable software elements suitable for automated assembly in a broad array of applications. Eleven awards were made in this program for more than $40 million overfiveyears, matched by more than $41 million in private-sector funds. The goal of the computer-integrated manufacturing for the electronics industry program is to develop a flexible, software-based framework to improve productivity, thereby allowing the electronics industry to easily
Kratos and Fisons at odds over patent
scale up and reconfigure its manufacturing operations. One award was made for more than $1.5 million over five years, matched by more than $1 million in private-sector funds. ATP provides cost-sharing support to industry to allow exploration of promising, high-risk technologies that may form the basis for new and improved products, manufacturing processes, and services. These awards are the first to be given as part of the multiyear programs.
program will award $52.8 million to 145 institutions to acquire or develop state-ofthe-art instrumentation and to renovate reKratos Analytical Ltd. (Manchester, U.K.) search facilities. State-of-the-art instruand Fisons pic (Ipswich, U.K.) are inmentation is "crucial to achieving scientific volved in a patent dispute over magnetic lens technology used in a surface analysis discoveries which enhance the nation's well-being and help ensure future prosperinstrument. Kratos claims that the Fisons ity" says Nathaniel Pitts, director of the VG Escalab instrument infringes on its European patent EP 0 243 060, granted in Office of Science and Technology Infrastructure. 1991. Fisons says that Kratos's patent is narrow because it describes a particular arThe ARI program was established by rangement of diaphragms in the magCongress as part of the Academic Renetic lens and claims that its arrangement search Facilities Modernization Act of in the VG Escalab is different. 1988. More than 400 competitive proposals requesting nearly $175 million were submitted; only 43% received funding. ARI makes grants for instrumentation, renovation Successful applicants are required to provide 30-50% in matching funds. The The National Science Foundation's awards are targeted for institutions with Academic Research Infrastructure (ARI)
Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 66, No. 23, December 1, 1994
