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"Ensuring continued U.S. leadership in science and technology is critical to improving the lives of all Americans and ensuring that we can compete in the new global marketplace. As we approach the 21st century, strengthening our national science and technology system will require building new partnerships between the Federal and state governments," said President Clinton in a letter to Nevada Governor Bob Miller, Chairman of the National Governors' Association.
Speaking before the winter meeting of the National Governors' Association in Washington, Vice President Gore announced an agreement with the NGA to establish a new mechanism for coordinating Federal and state technology efforts.
"We are ready to launch a new 'U.S. Innovation Partnership' to coordinate Federal and state efforts to stimulate the development and use of new technologies that can help us meet our common goals of generating economic growth, improving our schools and health care, better protecting the environment at lower cost and reinventing our government at all levels," said Vice President Gore.
Under the new partnership, the White House and Federal agencies will designate liaisons to work with states on such issues as:
Removing regulatory barriers to the adoptions of new technologies in such areas as telemedicine, environmental technologies and the building and construction industries;
Developing programs to stimulate technology investments in rural areas and states that traditionally receive less Federal research funding;
Addressing the technical, legal and other issues associated with the expansion of electronic commerce and
Expanding the capacity of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership to help modernize the nation's 380,000 small- and medium-sized manufacturers.