The federal government: a new funding source.Many CPAs' clients might benefit from government grants available for emerging technologies. Robert Robert, Henry Martyn 1837-1923. American army engineer and parliamentary authority. He designed the defenses for Washington, D.C., during the Civil War and later wrote Robert's Rules of Order (1876). Noun 1. W. Eimers, CPA (Computer Press Association, Landing, NJ) An earlier membership organization founded in 1983 that promoted excellence in computer journalism. Its annual awards honored outstanding examples in print, broadcast and electronic media. The CPA disbanded in 2000. , manager of operations, Cato Research, Durham, North Carolina Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham CountyGR6 and is the fourth-largest city in the state by population. , offers details. During turbulent economic times, traditional financing sources become difficult to find and obtain, especially for ideas that require extended development time. Clients often look to practitioners for assistance in obtaining financing. As business advisers, practitioners should be aware of both traditional and new financing sources. Without access to traditional sources of capital, America's technological advantage could decline significantly. THE ATP ATP: see adenosine triphosphate. ATP in full adenosine triphosphate Organic compound, substrate in many enzyme-catalyzed reactions (see catalysis) in the cells of animals, plants, and microorganisms. In 1988, Congress established a program aimed at supporting and stimulating investment in advanced technologies. Although many believe government intervention A procedure used in a lawsuit by which the court allows a third person who was not originally a party to the suit to become a party, by joining with either the plaintiff or the defendant. normally is a poison pill A defensive strategy based on issuing special stock that is used to deter aggressors in corporate takeover attempts. The poison pill is a defensive strategy used against corporate takeovers. ,. this program offers a legitimate solution to a complex problem. It solicits proposals from industry for technology development, evaluates the proposals and awards grants for industry-led projects that would yield great benefits to the U.S. economy if successful but are considered too risky from a technical standpoint The Standpoint is a newspaper published in the British Virgin Islands. It was originally published under the name Pennysaver, largely as a shopping-coupon promotional newspaper, but since emerged as one of the most influential sources of journalism in the to attract private capital. The Advanced Technology Program (ATP) is administered by the National Institute of Standards and Technology National Institute of Standards and Technology, governmental agency within the U.S. Dept. of Commerce with the mission of "working with industry to develop and apply technology, measurements, and standards" in the national interest. (NIST (National Institute of Standards & Technology, Washington, DC, www.nist.gov) The standards-defining agency of the U.S. government, formerly the National Bureau of Standards. It is one of three agencies that fall under the Technology Administration (www.technology. ), an arm of the Commerce Department. In its first two competitions in 1991 and 1992, the program committed about $140 million in grants, matched by over $150 million from industry. The program assists businesses in developing precompetitive and genetic technologies. "Precompetitive" means the technology is far from the commercialization stage, while "genetic" means it precedes specific application and relates to a range of products and applications that could be affected by a new technology. As a result, the technologies selected * Are not attractive venture capital investments. * Underlie a wide range of applications. Projects are conceived, led and partly paid for by industry. The proposing organization can be a business, a for-profit research institute or a joint venture. Universities and government organizations can be joint venture members or subcontractors but cannot lead projects. The maximum award for single applicants is $2 million over up to three years. Funding is limited to the direct costs of research and development. There is no specified maximum award amount for joint ventures, and projects can run for as long as five years. Joint ventures must provide matching funds Noun 1. matching funds - funds that will be supplied in an amount matching the funds available from other sources cash in hand, finances, funds, monetary resource, pecuniary resource - assets in the form of money . In order to receive an award, an organization must * Respond to an ATP proposal request, which is announced in the Federal Register and the Commerce Business Daily. (The most recent request appeared in late May 1992. ) * Furnish fur·nish tr.v. fur·nished, fur·nish·ing, fur·nish·es 1. To equip with what is needed, especially to provide furniture for. 2. information outlined in proposer kits available from NIST; call (301) 975-2636. * Satisfy criteria, including 1. Scientific and technical innovation. 2. Potential economic benefits. 3. Organizational experience and qualifications. 4. Intent and ability to carry through on commercialization. 5. Level of commitment and appropriate organizational structure  This article has no lead section.To comply with Wikipedia's lead section guidelines, one should be written. . THE IMPORTANCE OF BUSINESS PLANS Not all applicants receive funding. Proposals that rate high in terms of technical and scientific merit are evaluated on the strength of their business plans, which are a major component of the proposal. Many organizations fall to receive awards because their business plans are inadequate, a problem that business advisers can help remedy. While an important competitive factor in the awards process, the business information that is requested in the proposal is also crucial for start-up Start-up The earliest stage of a new business venture. organizations. The proposal process raises many questions that probably have yet to be addressed. Regardless of the award, the process is an excellent developmental tool. A BENEFICIAL PROCESS Simply becoming involved with the ATP is very worthwhile. The proposal process provides tangible rewards and the award, if granted, provides significant cost-free financing. CPAs can introduce clients to the ATP and help them prepare competitive proposals, analyze business plans that weren't accepted and create workable new ones. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY * DURING DIFFICULT economic times, traditional financing sources are hard to find and obtain, especially for ideas that require extended development. Clients often look to practitioners for help in obtaining financing. * A COMMERCE department program solicits proposals from industry for technology development, evaluates the proposals and awards grants for industry-led projects that might yield great benefits but might not attract private capital. * AMONG ITS OTHER benefits, the proposal process forces an organization to craft a workable business plan, which is a major component of the proposal. |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion