by Roland Vogl

and background information on
The Bayh-Dole Act –The Basis for U.S. Technology Transfer by Christian Neumann

This article seeks to provide a brief update on the continuing debate surrounding human gene patents, a subject that has produced considerable controversy in the international scientific community. The article describes the origins of the gene patenting controversy in the context of the general policy goals underlying the patent system. It also discusses the legal criteria supporting the patenting of isolated and purified human genes, as well as the general scope and limitations of gene patents in the U.S. and E.U. The author addresses the often misdirected question of “Who owns one’s genes?” as well, and examines the most controversial issues in the current gene patenting debate: The patentability of diagnostic tests and research tools, and the patenting of partial gene sequences, such as ESTs and SNPs (**).

by Christian Neumann

“No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space,” President Kennedy said before the first human set a foot on the Moon. Now, 42 years later, another U.S. President would call on the nation to return to the Moon and even to Mars. What remains to be seen is whether Congress and the country will follow.

by Johannes Loschnigg

Federal funding for science and technology (S&T) research and development (R&D) is vital for our nation’s economic growth and national security. It is through these investments in our nation’s future that we ensure our ability to remain competitive in an increasingly globalized economy. Recently the Administration released their federal budget for fiscal year 2005. Although the budget proposes large increases in R&D for defense and homeland security, these increases hide the fact that funding for basic S&T research will, in fact, remain flat or actually decrease. Large federal budget deficits are projected for the next several years, resulting in tight constraints on discretionary spending. This will mean that most federal R&D programs would have difficulty even maintaining current funding levels. Few programs would see their budgets increase above the current inflation rate of 1.3 percent. Although the request for total federal R&D in FY05 is $5.9 billion or 4.7 percent more than FY04 (for a total of $131.9 billion), most of the increase would go to Department of Defense (DOD) development programs and R&D in the new Department of Homeland Security (DHS), leaving many other federal R&D programs collectively with flat or declining funding.

by Wolfgang Winkelmayer

It is with great pleasure that I report on the latest activities of the Austrian Scientists and Scholars in North America - ASciNA.