The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Md., has announced a competition under its Advanced Technology Program that will award $50.7 million in first-year grants to research and development projects in 2000. The program is designed to stimulate the development of high-risk technologies that may offer national economic benefits. Companies of any size and in any field of technology may apply. The competition rules and proposal preparation kit are available on the Internet at www.atp.nist.gov. The deadline for full proposals is March 8. Further information is available from NIST at (800) 287-3863.