The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) is an independent, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization designed to offer expert advice to the California state government and to recommend solutions to science and technology-related policy issues.
CCST was founded during a period of heightened concern about California's future following the loss of several national competitions for important research facilities.
[1] It was established via Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR 162)[2] in 1988 by a unanimous vote of the California Legislature, charged to "report to [university] presidents... and respond to the Governor, the Legislature, and other entities on public policy issues related to science and technology."
Since its founding, CCST has worked on an ever-increasing number and variety of projects including energy research, science and math education, intellectual property policy, biotechnology, and nanotechnology, among others.
CCST implements additional programs when it identifies unmet needs at the intersection of science and policy in the state of California.