NIST opens new round of ATP competitions

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has set deadlines for the latest R&D funding competition of its Advanced Technology Program and is encouraging applicants to submit their proposals online.NIST has set up the ATP Electronic Submission System, at ,so that would-be ATP award recipients can create and file proposals in a paperless environment.Through ATP, the Commerce Department agency supports projects to develop high-risk technologies. Since it began funding R&D initiatives in 1990, ATP has plowed $1.8 million into 581 projects. Vendors and universities participating in the ATP research have matched the federal funding with another $1.8 million.This year, NIST plans to dole out $60.7 million in funds to teams developing technologies that have potential economic benefits for the country, are innovative and are likely commercial candidates.Teams can begin submitting proposals April 22. NIST set three proposal deadlines but promised that only those submitted by the first deadline of June 10 will definitely be considered for fiscal 2002 funding. Proposals submitted by the later two deadlines, July 31 and Sept. 30, will receive funding this year if it’s still available, otherwise NIST will consider these efforts for funding in fiscal 2003.