Rand to run Critical Technologies Institute

It took several months, but a legalistic logjam has been broken to fund formation of the Critical Technologies Institute (CTI). Based in Washington, D.C., and aimed at assisting government leaders in formulating national technology policy while being independent of the government, the new institute will be operated by Rand Corp. The National Science Foundation's selection of Santa Monica, Calif.-based Rand has been an open secret in Washington for weeks. Rand won a competition with leading universities, labs, and research institutes. Congress authorized establishment of CTI in the fiscal 1991 Department of Defense (DOD) Authorization Act, structuring it as a federally funded research and development center. Rand—an independent, nonprofit corporation— already operates three such centers and does research and analysis for government and private sponsors. The institute director will be Stephen M. Drezner, Rand's current vice president for research. CTI is expected to get about $9.4 million in funding for its...