Jenya, I'm at a University. In general a business can get a SBIR grant -- money to take an idea and develop it into a marketable product/technology.
Gera, this is not a research grant. This grant was specifically targeted to involve 10 undergraduate students per year to experience how research is done work in research groups in our University and in other major research labs. We pick the students who are either first in their families to go to college or others who generally don't imagine themselves having a career in high-tech/science. We educate them first (for free -- neither grant nor our salaries cover this) and then guide them during their work. For which they get a stipend.
If you consider this a waste, you have absolutely no idea how to get a young person decent education that s/he can apply in real world after graduation.

Alex,
I worked myself through school and was also employed there for awhile (Lawrence Tech in Southfield, MI). So I know how it works.

The person who wants to get the education will accomplish it.

It is not a function of the Federal Government to provide... period.

Гера, you really think you gonna convience anyone here? (ch)
it's an awesome idea to borrow money from China to create a job for a secretary..some people just don't care that the treasury is empty, just give them the grants..

We have different expectations from Recovery Act here.
Some see a 3 year secretary job plus summer interns as a success story while others expect a creation of long term permanent job.
Lao Tzu - "Give a Man a Fish, Feed Him For a Day. Teach a Man to Fish, Feed Him For a Lifetime"

какие действия.. какие рабочие места он создал за последний год? и сколько fake?

I put myself through school too, so I'm not impressed.
Yes, it's always easy to say that it is easy to get Chinese to pay for a secretary. Clearly, someone who says that misses the whole point.
Education costs money. Good eduction costs good money. If you know elementary math, you cannot simultaneously scream that college tuition is way too high and demand good education (private colleges). Alternatively, you cannot scream that your taxes are too high and demand good education (public colleges).
This government is interested in having highly-educated workforce. So that private companies can send low-tech jobs overseas to cut their spending.That's why this government provides educational grants to colleges to inspire people to go into high tech careers and not live off the gov money, as their parents do.
If you say that it is not for govt to fund education and you care about this country, tell me how many of you set up private funds to fund education? I thought so.

If you say that it is not for govt to fund education and you care about this country, tell me how many of you set up private funds to fund education? I thought so.
What are you talking about? Of course, we have set up a private fund to fund the education of OUR child. I also put myself through undergrad and grad schools. I also worked for the university during the grad school to help me with the tuition.

But you always talk about things "for the good of the country" -- cut taxes, reduce spending, cut national deficit etc. And then you talk about your own family only. BTW, does you private fund give you tax break -- or deferred taxes?
Did you set up a private fund to help your country to better educate its children? As it is a private fund, you can give it to whoever you want -- best performers, kinds with one ear bigger then the other, etc.? I thought so.

Alex, that is the difference between us.
We care for OUR children (I am paying for my son directly) and you care for ... nobody knows who!
If every one of us sticks to what we do, and do tell the others what to do. You teach. I produce. Government stay out of our lives and protect us from the enemies... they cannot even do that. They read them Miranda rights...

10 undergraduate students per year to experience how research is done work in research groups in our University and in other major research labs. We pick the students who are either first in their families to go to college or others who generally don't imagine themselves having a career in high-tech/science.
Наверное, это помагает в защите диссертации очередной, а как по поводу взглянуть на мир с открытыми глазами?Конечно, я понимаю, что любые научные разработки хороши и нужны, но иногда ооооччччееееннньььь далеко от действительности! Кстати, напоминает многиеобъявления в газете о наёме кандидатов на подобные роли "подопытных кроликов"! Возьмёте меня?
This government is interested in having highly-educated workforce. So that private companies can send low-tech jobs overseas to cut their spending
А вы на практике знаете, почему люди становятся экспатами или только в теории?