The preliminary program announcement for the FY2009 U.S. Department of Defense EPSCoR competition has been released. The deadline for notices of intent is May 16, 2008. Pre-proposals must be submitted between May 30-June 25, 2008. Download the announcement.

Thanks to the vision and leadership of West Virginia's policymakers, the state is poised to take a giant leap forward in its efforts to develop a new, prosperous and diverse economy based on a highly skilled and educated workforce.

On March 8, 2008, the West Virginia Legislature passed a bill to create the "Bucks for Brains" research trust fund, which will match state dollars with private donations to encourage university research and leverage private giving. Governor Joe Manchin III proposed the initiative in his January State of the State address, saying the investment would be necessary for West Virginia to stimulate world-class research and development and to reap the related benefits of high-tech, high-wage industries. The $50 million for the fund will come from surplus state revenue.

The goal of the trust fund, which is similar to successful programs in other states, is to strengthen the most-promising research departments at Marshall University (MU) and West Virginia University (WVU)—ultimately leading to business spin-offs, new patents and job creation. The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and the state's four-year colleges and universities also will benefit from the program through matching grants supported by interest earned on the trust fund.

The MU and WVU presidents say they have donors lined up and are ready to immediately start raising the money required to draw down an equal amount of "Bucks for Brains" funding for their endowments.

"We know from talking with our private and corporate partners that this is the type of plan they are ready and willing to support–and we know that the state's $50 million commitment to make this type of investment will attract even more support to our core research programs," said WVU President Mike Garrison. "I'd like to commend our elected representatives for their foresight in creating this fund, and their confidence in the excellent research faculty we have here at WVU."

MU President Stephen Kopp added, "The focused growth in applied research and corresponding research-based new enterprise development will accelerate the growth of private sector jobs and increase tax revenues for our state and communities. Simply stated, this legislation is good for all West Virginians and arguably the most important piece of legislation enacted in recent memory."

The trust fund will support research in energy and environmental sciences; nanotechnology and materials science; biological, biotechnical and biomedical sciences; and biometrics, security, sensing and related information technologies.

For more information, contact ginny.painter@wvresearch.org.