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[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 250 (Thursday, December 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78398-78400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-28395]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Technology Administration

The United States-Russia Innovation Council on High Technologies 
(ICHT)

AGENCY: Technology Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Technology Administration invites nominations of 
individuals representing high technology business in the United States 
for appointment to five vacancies on the U.S.-Russia Innovation Council 
on High Technologies. The U.S. Department of Commerce (D.O.C.) and the 
Ministry of Education and Science (M.E.S.) of the Russian Federation 
(hereinafter referred to as ``the Participants''), formed the 
Innovation Council on High Technologies (hereinafter referred to as 
``the Council'') in accordance with Article 3 of the Memorandum of 
Understanding between the D.O.C. and the M.E.S. on Cooperation in 
Technology and Innovation, signed at Washington, DC on April 19, 2004. 
The Technology Administration will consider all nominations received in 
response to this notice.

DATES: Nominations must be received at the address below by no later 
than January 31, 2005.

[[Page 78399]]

ADDRESSES: Please submit nominations to Ken Ferguson, Chief, 
International Technology Programs, Office of Technology Policy, 
Technology Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 4817, 14th 
and Constitution Avenues, NW., Washington, DC 20230. Nominations may 
also be submitted by fax or e-mail to Ken Ferguson, Chief, 
International Technology Programs at 202-501-6849 or 
[email protected] if followed up with a hard copy sent by 
mail or courier.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Ferguson, Chief, International 
Technology Programs, telephone: 202-482-0150; fax: 202-501-6849, e-
mail: [email protected].

General Principles of the Council

    Innovation activities, commercialization of the results of 
scientific and technical activities, entrepreneurship, and a pro-
competitive legal and policy environment are important stimulators of 
economic growth and job creation. The U.S. and Russia have a mutual 
interest in strengthening and expanding cooperation through the 
establishment of an ongoing dialogue and the creation of cooperative 
programs in order to develop sustained commercial partnerships between 
U.S. and Russian developers of high technologies and entrepreneurs.
    The Council is a forum for the free exchange of information, ideas, 
and problems in the interests of:

--Studying existing problems and making recommendations on developing 
joint entrepreneurship in the field of innovation activities and 
commercialization of the results of scientific and technical 
activities;
--Preparing analytical reviews and developing recommendations on 
creating favorable conditions for cooperation in the field of 
innovation and high technologies, which promote the economic 
development of the U.S. and Russia;
--Providing guidance to private sector representatives in taking 
advantage of opportunities for cooperation in the field of innovation 
activities and commercialization of the results of scientific and 
technical activities;
--Establishing a dialogue on creating pro-competitive technology 
policies that stimulate scientific research and development based on 
sustainable U.S. and Russian private sector partnerships;
-- Enabling U.S. and Russian technology joint ventures, in order to 
afford greater access to, and a greater ability to serve, global 
markets.

Aim of Council Activities

    The aim of the Council is to promote development of cooperation 
between the U.S. and Russia in the field of innovation, 
commercialization, and high technologies, and to promote interaction 
and cooperation between representatives of government agencies and the 
business and scientific communities of the United States and of Russia 
for the purpose of commercializing the results of scientific and 
technical activities, including those developed through government 
funding or sponsorship.

Objectives of the Council

    The objectives of the Council are to:

--Identify promising areas of innovation cooperation for 
commercialization of the results of scientific and technical 
activities,
--Stimulate joint research and development that has significant 
commercial potential, and support joint innovation projects to bring 
the results of such research and development to the market for science-
intensive products and services,
--Create and maintain a pro-competitive environment that allows 
business and partnerships in innovation to develop successfully,
--Facilitate the establishment of U.S.-Russian business partnerships to 
produce new jointly developed science-intensive goods and services and 
to promote them on world markets through market-based commercialization 
programs,
-Develop recommendations for harmonizing legislation in the field of 
innovation activities and technology standards of the U.S. and Russia, 
and
--Promote in the global marketplace the commercial technology 
partnerships that have been established.

Council Structure and Work

    The Council will be headed by two Co-Chairs, one from each 
Participant. The U.S. Co-Chair will be appointed by the Department of 
Commerce. The Russian Co-Chair will be appointed by the Ministry of 
Education and Science. The Council will be composed of not more than 
twenty representatives. The Participants will each select ten 
representatives from government agencies, and business and scientific 
communities of the U.S. and Russia, respectively.
    The Council will establish working groups on the main areas of its 
activities. These working groups will be responsible for:

--Reviewing possibilities for harmonizing legislation in the area of 
innovation activities and studying the results of intellectual 
activities;
--Providing guidance on the management, funding, and effectiveness of 
innovation programs and projects, including joint programs for market-
based commercialization of technologies;
--Promoting the formation of U.S. and Russian innovation and technology 
business partnerships; and
--Stimulating technology incubation by identifying scientific 
innovations with commercial applications.

Meetings of the Council

    Council meetings are to be held at least once a year, alternately 
in the U.S. and Russia, on issues proposed for consideration and 
coordinated between the Council Co-Chairs. The first meeting of the 
Council will be on or before May 16, 2005, in Russia at a location to 
be determined. Travel and living expenses associated with attending 
these meetings are the responsibility of the Council members.

Length of Service

    A U.S. member's length of service on the Council is discretionary 
with the U.S. Department of Commerce. Individuals chosen for membership 
will serve a term that is consistent with the needs and objectives of 
the Council although the term's average duration is expected to last 
around two years. Upon the completion of a U.S. member's term, the U.S. 
Department of Commerce may either repeat this recruitment and selection 
process or extend the member's term, based on the member's expertise 
and participation on the Council.

Membership Criteria and Requirements

    The U.S. business members of the Council are expected to be eminent 
leaders in the private sector, representative of industry, who have 
experience in science and technology development, technology diffusion, 
and technology collaboration in the Russian Federation. They shall be 
U.S. citizens. They should be familiar with the business climate and 
the status of technology and economic development in the Russian 
Federation and with Russian industry. Members of the Council will serve 
without compensation.

Conflict of Interest

    Nominees will be evaluated for their ability to contribute to the 
goals and objectives of the Council. Nominees will be vetted in 
accordance with processes established by the U.S. Department of 
Commerce in February 1997, as soon as

[[Page 78400]]

possible following tentative selection. The vetting system has three 
components: (1) An internal review for possible appearance of conflict 
problems; (2) an external review for possible appearance of problems; 
and (3) a recusal/ethics agreement review.

    Dated: December 21, 2004.
Phillip J. Bond,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology.
[FR Doc. 04-28395 Filed 12-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-GN-P
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