BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana University has received more than $1.8 million from the National Institutes of Health to collaborate on a $12.2 million, seven-university project designed to network researchers around the country.
While the proposed new networking system will contain authentication mechanisms to protect sensitive data and intellectual property, it is being described as a Facebook for scientists.
IU will be implementing VIVO, a networking template currently in place at Cornell University that brings together publicly available information on the people, departments, graduate fields, facilities and other resources that collectively make up the research and scholarship environment in all disciplines at Cornell.
“This could gather all the related information for one researcher into one place and further links to any other related semantic datasets. Linking and formal representation generate great power to realize more intelligent knowledge discovery.”
President Obama today pushed his plans to make the nation’s economy more stable in the future by investing in education for high-tech industries.
The president unveiled a new “innovation strategy” that builds on $100 billion of economic stimulus funds to support entrepreneurship, education, infrastructure and other investments.
The plan aims to make the U.S. economy more competitive and help prevent volatile “boom and bust” cycles in the future, Obama said.
Obama reiterated his call for increased investment in green energy technology, electronic health records, manufacturing advanced vehicles and expanding the nation’s broadband Internet network.
“Our strategy begins where innovation so often does: in the classroom and in the laboratory — and in the networks that connect them to the broader economy,” Obama said. “These are the building blocks of innovation: education, infrastructure, and research.”
Speaking today at a former Monaco RV plant in Wakarusa, Indiana, President Barack Obama unveiled the details of an ambitious $2.4 billion grant program, which the White House hopes will boost production of electric cars and next-generation battery technology. The cash for the grant program will come from the recently-passed $787-billion economic stimulus bill.
“That’s why I’m here today,” President Obama stated, “to announce $2.4 billion in highly-competitive grants to develop the next generation of fuel efficient cars and trucks powered by the next generation of battery technologies, all made right here in the U.S. of A. Right here in America. Made in America…for too long, we’ve failed to invest in this innovative work, even as countries like China and Japan were racing ahead. That’s why this announcement’s so important.”
The President said the investment represented “the largest investment in this kind of technology in American history.” And already, dozens of companies have stepped forward to claim the grant money. One of them is Navistar, Inc., based in Wakarusa. Navistar will receive a $39.2 million grant to develop and deploy 400 advanced battery electric delivery trucks. The vehicles will weigh about six tons and have a 100-mile range.”
The $2.4 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds includes:
$1.5 billion in grants to U.S.-based manufacturers to produce batteries and their components and to expand battery recycling capability in the United States.
$500 million in grants to U.S.-based manufacturers to produce electric drive components for vehicles, including electric motors, power electronics, and other drive train components.
$400 million in grants to purchase thousands of plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles – including cars, delivery vehicles and trucks — for test demonstrations in several dozen locations. Those grants also will provide education and workforce training to support the transition to advanced electric transportation systems.
A Senate bill introduced recently, if approved, will repeal a 1999 Act barring U.S. courts from hearing claims by foreign nationals asserting rights to trademarks associated with expropriated property. The bill would also allow U.S. farmers and ranchers to export their products to Cuba and open travel by all Americans to Cuba. The bill, S. 1089, Promoting American Agriculture and Medical Exports to Cuba Act of 2009, was presented by Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN), Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) and 14 others.
Section 211 of the FY 1999 Omnibus Appropriations Act bars U.S. courts from hearing claims by foreign nationals asserting rights to trademarks associated with expropriated property. It also bars the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office from renewing such trademark registrations. In 2001, however, the World Trade Organization (WTO) found that Section 211 violates WTO rules because it applies only to foreign nationals, not to U.S. citizens. Section 211 also violates the Inter-American Convention on reciprocal trademark protections. Section 9 of the 2009 Act would repeal Section 211 and bring the United States into compliance with international intellectual property obligations.
With regard to the agricultural exports, Senator Lugar stated, “Indiana farmers’ annual agricultural exports are increasing and have exceeded $2.4 billion in value. Access to the Cuban market, located near the United States in our own hemisphere, will be a valuable opportunity for Hoosier grain, livestock, and vegetable producers, as well as Indiana’s overall economy. I remain committed to increasing trade opportunities for Indiana’s farms and businesses.”
The Indiana Intellectual Property & Technology Law Blog will keep you updated on whether this legislation is passed.
Earlier today, President Obama spoke on American and Muslim relations. At Egypt’s Cairo University, Obama discussed Islam’s glories and rights, the legitimate rights of Israel and the Palestinians, Iranian nuclear aspirations, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, women’s rights, religious rights and democracy in the Muslim world.
The U.S. President’s speech also discussed economic development and tech innovations, the full text of which appears below (video starts at 45:43):
“Finally, I want to discuss economic development and opportunity.
I know that for many, the face of globalization is contradictory. The Internet and television can bring knowledge and information, but also offensive sexuality and mindless violence into the home. Trade can bring new wealth and opportunities, but also huge disruptions and change in communities. In all nations — including America — this change can bring fear. Fear that because of modernity we lose control over our economic choices, our politics, and most importantly our identities — those things we most cherish about our communities, our families, our traditions, and our faith.
But I also know that human progress cannot be denied. There need not be contradictions between development and tradition. Countries like Japan and South Korea grew their economies enormously while maintaining distinct cultures. The same is true for the astonishing progress within Muslim-majority countries from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai. In ancient times and in our times, Muslim communities have been at the forefront of innovation and education.
And this is important because no development strategy can be based only upon what comes out of the ground, nor can it be sustained while young people are out of work. Many Gulf states have enjoyed great wealth as a consequence of oil, and some are beginning to focus it on broader development. But all of us must recognize that education and innovation will be the currency of the 21st century — (applause) — and in too many Muslim communities, there remains underinvestment in these areas. I’m emphasizing such investment within my own country. And while America in the past has focused on oil and gas when it comes to this part of the world, we now seek a broader engagement.
On education, we will expand exchange programs, and increase scholarships, like the one that brought my father to America. (Applause.) At the same time, we will encourage more Americans to study in Muslim communities. And we will match promising Muslim students with internships in America; invest in online learning for teachers and children around the world; and create a new online network, so a young person in Kansas can communicate instantly with a young person in Cairo.
On economic development, we will create a new corps of business volunteers to partner with counterparts in Muslim-majority countries. And I will host a Summit on Entrepreneurship this year to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world.
On science and technology, we will launch a new fund to support technological development in Muslim-majority countries, and to help transfer ideas to the marketplace so they can create more jobs. We’ll open centers of scientific excellence in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and appoint new science envoys to collaborate on programs that develop new sources of energy, create green jobs, digitize records, clean water, grow new crops. Today I’m announcing a new global effort with the Organization of the Islamic Conference to eradicate polio. And we will also expand partnerships with Muslim communities to promote child and maternal health.
All these things must be done in partnership. Americans are ready to join with citizens and governments; community organizations, religious leaders, and businesses in Muslim communities around the world to help our people pursue a better life.”
While the proposed new networking system will contain authentication mechanisms to protect sensitive data and intellectual property, it is being described as a Facebook for scientists.
President Obama today pushed his plans to make the nation’s economy more stable in the future by investing in education for high-tech industries.
The President said the investment represented “the largest investment in this kind of technology in American history.” And already, dozens of companies have stepped forward to claim the grant money. One of them is 
With regard to the agricultural exports, Senator Lugar stated, “Indiana farmers’ annual agricultural exports are increasing and have exceeded $2.4 billion in value. Access to the Cuban market, located near the United States in our own hemisphere, will be a valuable opportunity for Hoosier grain, livestock, and vegetable producers, as well as Indiana’s overall economy. I remain committed to increasing trade opportunities for Indiana’s farms and businesses.”
