National Medal of Technology and Innovation

The Department of Commerce (United States Patent and Trademark Office) is accepting nominations for its National Medal of Technology and Innovation (NMTI). If you know of a candidate who has made an outstanding, lasting contribution to the economy
through the promotion of technology or technological manpower, you may obtain a nomination form from: http://www.uspto.gov/about/nmti/index.jsp.

The primary purpose of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation is to recognize American innovators whose vision, creativity, and brilliance in moving ideas to market has had a profound and lasting impact on our economy and way of life. The Medal highlights the national importance of fostering technological innovation based upon solid science, resulting in commercially successful products and services. Information on eligibility and nomination criteria is provided on the Nominations Guidelines Form at http://www.uspto.gov/about/nmti/index.jsp.

Computer Science - STEM grant

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is accepting proposals with innovative new ideas to encourage students to major in Computer Science (CS)-STEM and pursue careers as engineers and scientists. Increasing the number of graduates in Computer Science is a key goal, but the project will also be considered a success if the number of graduates in the broader STEM community is increased.

The goal of the CS-STEM Education project is to develop a well-educated population of college-level graduates in computer science, science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics. This may be accomplished by various means; however, proposals are expected to describe the model to be used, which must include two basic elements: Student Activities and Organizational Structure. Offerors must create compelling activities, requiring STEM, that are targeted to middle (grades 7, 8) and high school (grades 9, 10, 11, 12) students.

Small Business Technology grant

The Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, administered by the National Institutes of Health, is intended to stimulate a partnership of ideas and technologies between innovative small business concerns (SBCs) and non-profit research institutions through Federally-funded research or research and development (R/R&D). By providing awards to SBCs for cooperative R/R&D efforts with non-profit research institutions, the STTR program assists the small business and research communities by commercializing innovative technologies. More details on funding priorities can be found in the guidelines.

Small Business Innovation grant

Small Business Innovation Research Program invites projects which address the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families. Activities may include: conducting manufacturing-related R&D that encompasses improvements in existing methods or processes, or wholly new processes, machines, or systems; exploring the uses of technology to ensure equal access to education, employment, community environments, and information for individuals with disabilities; and improving the quality and utility of disability and rehabilitation research. Priorities include:

(1) Increased independence of individuals with disabilities in the
workplace, recreational settings, or educational settings through the
development of technology to support access and promote integration of
individuals with disabilities.
(2) Enhanced sensory or motor function of individuals with
disabilities through the development of technology to support improved
functional capacity.
(3) Enhanced workforce participation through the development of
technology to support access to employment, promote sustained
employment, and promote employment advancement for individuals with
disabilities.
(4) Enhanced community participation and living for individuals
with disabilities through the development of accessible information
technology including Web access technology, software, and other systems
and devices that promote access to information in educational,
employment, and community settings, and voting technology that improves
access for individuals with disabilities.
(5) Improved interventions and increased use of health-care
resources through the development of technology to support independent
access to health-care services in the community for individuals with
disabilities.

Application deadline is March 15, 2010.

$2 million digital media competition

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced a $2 million open competition for ideas to transform learning using digital media. The competition seeks designers, inventors, entrepreneurs, researchers, and others to build digital media experiences – the learning labs of the 21st Century – that help young people interact, share, build, tinker, and explore in new and innovative ways. Supported by a grant to the University of California at Irvine, the competition was planned and announced in partnership with National Lab Day, a movement to revitalize science, technology, engineering and math in schools that was highlighted at a White House event today.

Wireless Innovation grants

The Vodafone Americas Foundation is accepting applications for wireless innovation project grants until February 1, 2010. More information is available on their website here. The competition's purpose to promote innovation and increase implementation of wireless related technology for a better world.