The Assembly recently held a roundtable discussion on how to effectively evaluate publicly-funded research and development (R&D) in New York State. The event was sponsored by the Task Force on University-Industry Cooperation, on which I serve as the chair, as well as the Legislative Commission on Science and Technology chaired by Assemblywoman Adele Cohen. The roundtable was also co-sponsored by the Assembly Standing Committee on Higher Education; the Assembly Standing Committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry; and the Assembly Subcommittee on Manufacturing.

New York State has invested hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars in research and development at its colleges and universities in an effort to stimulate economic growth, ensure global competitiveness, and spur crucial discoveries that lead to new technologies. While each of New York’s college and university research and development entities is unique - each having its own goals, timelines and collaborative partners - some common framework needs to be established to assess the economic value associated with the investment of public funds.

Trying to assess or measure the impact that State R&D funds have made has been sporadic at best, as there is no uniform State assessment strategy. As a result, different programs or entities have varying, if any, reporting requirements. The roundtable provided an opportunity for the Legislature to learn how to bring some consistent and uniform accountability measures to bear on existing R&D programs and how to structure evaluation into future programs.

The Assembly is continuing in an effort started in this year’s State budget, which included new accountability language for a number of State-funded R&D programs at our colleges and universities. Unfortunately, the governor refused to include language proposed by the Assembly and Senate which would have held the Center of Excellence Program, to the same accountability standards as other State-funded R&D programs. Taxpayers deserve to know if the State is properly investing their money. That’s why I sponsored bi-partisan legislation to hold the Center of Excellence Program to the same accountability standards as other publicly funded entities (A.6633-A/S.5026-A).

The bill, known as the "Research and Development Accountability Act of 2005" would require the State Urban Development Corporation to submit comprehensive annual reports to the governor and the Legislature on the use of funds dedicated to the Center of Excellence Program. The reports would include a description of the activities undertaken by the Center of Excellence Program, as well as academic and business participants in each of the Center’s activities and the total number of jobs created in New York as a result of the state funds.

This legislation follows the recent site dedication of the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems. The state has committed $25.5 million to the construction of this new facility and approximately $44 million overall to the Center of Excellence in Syracuse. The Syracuse Center is one of several Centers of Excellence statewide including sites in Albany, Rochester, Buffalo and Long Island that are focusing on critical emerging high-tech fields.

The bottom line is we need smart economic development policies to lead New York’s economy into the future. By evaluating the performance, efficiency and effectiveness of our state-supported research and development activities we will be able to determine if the economic goals of this state are being met. I urge the Senate to pass this bill so that it may be delivered to the governor for his review.