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The Technology Administration's Office of Technology
Policy (TA/OTP) has a dynamic selection of initiatives to support its
mission and goals.
Through the programs it administers, the outreach it conducts, and the
reports it publishes -- all on an ongoing and permanent basis -TA/OTP
priorities are:
The Innovation in America Roundtable Series
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Innovation in America Workshops Description: TA/OTP
has organized a series of workshops on Innovation in America, focusing
on Corporate,
University, and Federal Laboratory Research and Development (R&D).
Transcripts from this series as well as reports on related topics
such as Federal Laboratory Technology Transfer, Corporate R&D investment,
and Telehealth, are located under Reports that
examine the landscape for innovation in America.
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Broadband Workshops Description: The Technology Administration
(TA) has focused its attention on demand side issues impacting broadband
roll-out and adoption. In addition to hundreds of meetings with stakeholders
in industry, education, consumer groups, and state and federal policy-makers,
TA has held (or will hold) expert roundtables to better understand
demand-side challenges and opportunities including:
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International Technology Cooperation and Innovation: To
ensure a leading role for American innovation in the global economy,
TA/OTP carries out an active agenda. The
International Technology Program promotes
international technology partnerships that strengthen U.S. competitiveness,
and advocates polices and initiatives to advance U.S. technology
leadership internationally, whether in trade, technology standards
or intellectual property rights. The program currently manages activities
in four regions: Middle East and Africa; Asia-Pacific; Europe, including
Russia; and the Western Hemisphere. The reports page contains information
on workshops and analysis of the international technology landscape.
The calendar describes TA/OTP participation
in international events, and links to related speeches and press
releases.
Encouraging Entrepreneurship and Tech-Led Economic Development
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Venture Capital Workshops Description: TA/OTP has sponsored
a series of eight entrepreneurship and seed investing field seminars
across the U.S., working with the National Association of Seed
and Venture Funds (NASVF) and local host organizations. These
seminars aim to educate local leaders on the ways entrepreneurs
connect with investors in building strong local economies. See calendar for
schedule.
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State Science and Technology Indicators Report Series Description: TA/OTP
developed The Dynamics of Technology Based Economic Development:
State Science and Technology Indicators report series in
response to state and regional requests for assistance in identifying
and better understanding the factors most likely to support technology-led
economic development, such as having a strong R&D base, ready
access to capital, world-class technical talent, and mature entrepreneurial
networks. Feedback from
state and regional leaders indicates that the metrics and data
in this report series are useful in helping them improve their
understanding of factors that influence tech-led economic development
at the state and local level (Reports from
2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003).
Improving Infrastructure:
To improve communications infrastructure, TA has focused
its attention on demand side issues impacting broadband roll-out
and adoption. It has held hundreds of meetings with stakeholders
in industry, education, consumer groups, and state and federal policy-
makers, and will continue to hold expert roundtable s to better understand
demand-side challenges and opportunities including:
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Digital Content & Rights Management
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Broadband Demand and Business Productivity
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Innovation, Demand and Investment in Telehealth
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Summit on the Use of Advanced Technologies in Education and
Training (9/27/02)
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Conference on [How Information Technology Is] Transforming Enterprise
(1/27-28/03).
To promote awareness of potential productivity gains and improvements
in quality of life, TA actively supports emerging technologies
such as nanotechnology, biotechnology, biometrics, pervasive computing,
high-tech manufacturing technology, and those that contribute to
homeland security. See speeches and calendar for
more information.
Empowering People Through Education and Technology: The
Office of Technology Policy is currently pursuing several key initiatives
on education and technology, in support of the President's Leave
No Child Behind Act. Specifics include:
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Publishing 2020
Visions: Transforming Education and Training Though Advanced
Technologies, a key document in the nation's dialogue on
education and the Leave No Child Behind Act of 2002. Compiled
and published by TA/OTP, 2020 Visions is an exciting collection
of essays written by leaders in education and technology who
discuss the opportunities and challenges in harnessing the
power of emerging technologies to revolutionize the education
and training landscape.
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Undertaking a Congressionally-mandated study, including a web-based survey, on the status of
public and private information technology education and training
programs in the United States. The report will build on earlier
OTP Work Force Reports: Building InfoTech Skills at the Speed of Innovation (1999), its August
2000 Update, and Digital
Work Force State Data & Rankings,
September 2000.
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Increasing TA outreach to students via OTP and NIST programs to
awaken their interest and improve academic achievement in math
and the sciences, which are key to success in the 21st century
economy. Key programs are:
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Student Technology Roundtables and
science fair competitions related to the National
Medal of Technology program.
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An award-winning, interactive web site and public service
broadcasts by the Get
Tech Education Initiative for students, parents and
teachers, co-sponsored with the National Association of Manufacturers,
designed to encourage young people to prepare for technology-based
jobs and careers. New Teacher Lesson Guides are being
test-marketed in the Pittsburgh area in the 2002-2003 school
year.
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The Go4IT website with
information on IT training programs for adults seeking to
enter the IT field or upgrade their skills, and a clearinghouse
for IT training providers offering programs.
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