Tri-Cities Tech Business Update

December 2010 Issue

• WA ranks #2 for innovative economy
  According to the 2010 State New Economy Index, Washington ranks second, behind Massachusetts, when it comes to the innovation economy. more...
• Tri-Cities leaders promote education, energy, research, and manufacturing
  A recent visit to China, sponsored by the Washington Commerce Department, provided an unparalleled opportunity to promote the Tri-Cities as the ideal location for investment in new business and industry. more...
• DOE establishes Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee (ERAC)
  The U.S. Department of Energy has established the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee (ERAC), a federal advisory committee that will report directly to the Secretary of Energy. more...
• Washington claims top spot for patents per employee
  Following several years of growth, Washington emerged as a leader in patenting per employee for the first time. more...
• Alliance of Angels welcomes new sponsor, Pay Plus Benefits
  The Alliance of Angels (AoA) is a group of individual accredited investors interested in financing early-stage technology companies in the Pacific Northwest. more...
• Tri-Cities-based web software firm launching new chat tool to local businesses
  &yet, a Tri-Cities based web software company is launching a new web chat tool called Frontdesk IM to the local Tri-Cities market. more...
• Innovation Center at TCRD Update
  Rick Parsons, local spokesman and a member of the development team for the Innovation Center at the TCRD, provided an update regarding their exciting new development in the Tri-Cities Research District. more...
• Easterday Farms support BSEL
  The Bioproducts, Sciences and Engineering Laboratory at WSU Tri-Cities received a $225,000 donation from Easterday Ranches and Farms to support research for turning local agricultural waste into bioenergy. more...

• The Technology Alliance Innovation Showcase
  Next application deadline: Dec 3. The Innovation Showcase is a program of the Technology Alliance that helps bridge the gap between research and commercialization by highlighting the most promising discoveries and new technologies ready for commercialization in Washington. more...
• Washington Technology Center hiring for SBIR program manager
  The Washington Technology Center (WTC) is looking to fill a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Manager position. more...
• Dream Big - Small Business of the Year Award
  Deadline: Jan 7. Apply for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award and win a $10,000 cash prize courtesy of Sam's Club. more...
• Life Science Innovation Northwest Conference accepting applications to present at the conference
  Deadline: Jan 19. The Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association, in partnership with Burrill & Company, is proud to announce the 11th Annual Life Science Innovation Northwest Conference. more...
• Resources online
  The column "Technical conferences good for more than doughnuts, coffee," was published in the Tri-City Herald on November 14. more...

• Developing Your Capability Statement class
  Dec 8.The Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) program at the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce is designed to help the Washington State Business community in all areas of selling to local, state, federal agencies, and government prime contractors. more...
• Tapping into Technology Transfer and Commercialization: How to Build a Knowledge-Driven Economy
  Jan 19. Join the International Economic Development Council to learn how your community can work to transfer innovations from companies, universities, and research labs to create new products, processes, applications, and services. more...
• Life Science Innovation Northwest Conference
  Mar 2-3. The Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association, in partnership with Burrill & Company, is proud to announce the 11th Annual Life Science Innovation Northwest Conference-an innovative approach to the region's premier life sciences. more...

• New PNNL labs win design awards
  Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's new Biological Sciences Facility and Computational Sciences Facility complex won a Best of 2010 Award from Northwest Construction in the research category. more...
• PNNL's Richard Smith named 2010 Scientist of the Year
  Parkinson's disease, cancer and biofuels production are just a few problems that biochemist Dick Smith has helped untangle in his long career of technological innovation and scientific insight. more...
• PNNL says restaurants can cut energy use by 50%
  A Pacific Northwest National Laboratory report shows restaurants can reduce energy use by more than 50% by adding ultra-efficient appliances. more...

We invite your contributions! We will consider items that fit the mission of this publication, including your tech-related news, awards, and notices of upcoming events. Please send text and photos to Diane Kahler or call (509) 372-4133.

Tri-Cities Tech Business Update is published by the Economic Development Office at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Each month, we send you an e-mail message, giving you the link of news, tips, awards, upcoming events, and other information about local technology-based businesses and organizations that support them. With business and community partners, our goal is to build and diversify the Tri-Cities economy—adding skilled jobs in primary-sector industries that bring in outside dollars. Currently, more than 1,100 tech-related businesses, investors, and economic development stakeholders subscribe to the newsletter, mostly in the Mid-Columbia area and the rest of the Pacific Northwest. This newsletter (RL-P00-009) supports PNSO's vision for the future of the Hanford Site and surrounding area through the creation of research opportunities, new industries, and new business clusters.