as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
A bill for an act
relating to economic development; establishing an Office of Science and
Technology in the Department of Employment and Economic Development;
providing for small business assistance and development; appropriating money.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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An Office of Science and Technology is established
in the Department of Employment and Economic Development to do the following:
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(1) coordinate public and private efforts to procure federal funding for collaborative
research and development projects of primary benefit to small and medium-sized
businesses;
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(2) promote contractual relationships between Minnesota businesses that are
recipients of federal grants and prime contractors, and Minnesota-based subcontractors;
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(3) assess the research and development capabilities of small and medium-sized
businesses;
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(4) undertake referral activities to link Minnesota companies with federal requests
for proposal opportunities;
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(5) develop a framework for Minnesota companies to establish sole-source
relationships with federal agencies; and
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(6) coordinate workshops, assistance with business proposals, licensing, intellectual
property protection, commercialization, and government auditing with the University of
Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
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For the purposes of this section, "office" means the Office of Science and Technology
established in this subdivision.
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The office must
develop a program to assist small businesses competing for a small business innovation
research award by matching the applicant with a larger company. Prime contractors are
matched to small businesses through a prescreening process that may result in a letter of
support for the applicant designed to increase the chance of receiving a Small Business
Innovation Research (SBIR) award.
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The office must develop a program to use
the federal high-risk research and development investment program to encourage the
development of new technologies, products, and business development and to reduce
development risks by encouraging alliances between medium-sized companies and
innovative small businesses.
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The office must assist businesses in
identifying qualified suppliers and vendors through a program to serve as a conduit for
Minnesota-based companies to network with firms able to support their success. Firms
outside Minnesota can participate in the technology matchmaking network if one of the
participating companies is located in Minnesota.
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The office must provide
commercialization assistance to Minnesota firms that have received a Phase I Small
Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or a Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer
(STTR) award and are submitting a Phase II proposal. Local service providers must assist
the applicant with developing and reviewing the required commercialization plan prior
to Phase II submission.
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The commissioner of employment and economic development
must report to the committees in the house of representatives and senate having
jurisdiction over bioscience and technology issues on the activities of the Office of Science
and Technology by June 30 of each year.
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$400,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of employment
and economic development for fiscal year 2009 to establish and operate an Office of
Science and Technology in the Department of Employment and Economic Development
for the purposes and programs under section 1. $400,000 each year is added to the
department's base for the activities and programs of the Office of Science and Technology
beginning in fiscal year 2010.
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