Tri-Cities Tech Business Update

January 2012 Issue

• NASA SBIR Phase I grant awarded to Infinia
  Kennewick-based Infinia has been awarded a NASA SBIR Phase I contract for a Modular Stirling Power System (MSPS). more...
• Hydrovolts named a Global Innovator in the LAUNCH: ENERGY Challenge
  Seattle-based Hydrovolts has been identified as one of ten innovators of LAUNCH: Energy, a competition founded by NASA, the U.S. more...
• Energy Department announces new Agreements for Commercializing Technology initiative
  DOE announced a pilot program that could be used to make it easier for businesses to work in partnership with national labs to bring new technology to the market. more...
• Export Voucher program
  Export Washington is a program developed by the State of Washington Department of Commerce to increase the number of small business concerns (SBC) which export; in addition the program intends to increase the value of goods and services currently being exported by SBCs. more...
• Workforce-Economic Development presentations on-line
  If you missed the 2011 Washington Economic Development Association (WEDA) Spring/Summer Conference, which focused on workforce and economic development collaborations, you can now watch all the presentations online. more...
• Submit comments on EDA's proposed regulations
  The Economic Development Association (EDA) published a Federal Register Notice requesting public comment on proposed revisions to the agency's regulations, particularly ways EDA can provide better customer service through its programs and processes, and more efficiently leverage resources to help communities reach their goals. more...
• Best-performing cities 2011
  Tri-Cities is one of the best-performing metros in the country, ranking #10 amongst the largest 200 metros! Leaders in this year's best-performing city index, which ranks U.S. more...

• $100K competition offered by Intel Innovators
  Intel Innovators will award $100K/month to young entrepreneurs. Intel Innovators is a new nationwide competition on Facebook launched to discover, empower, and award the next generation of young entrepreneurs with the best game-changing technology ideas up to $100,000 every month! If you are 18-24 and have an idea or start-up that can change the world, submit it now. more...
• Life Sciences Discovery Fund launches new grant competition
  The Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) is launching a new grant competition to help position eligible early-stage Washington state life sciences companies for near-term equity investment. more...
• Nova Innovation Competition 2012 announced
  Nova Innovation Competition 2012 is now accepting entries. Entrepreneurs specializing in building materials, energy, and environmental sustainability are invited to compete for more than $60,000 in capital and partnership opportunities. more...
• Tech Business Directory
  PNNL's Economic Development Office has updated its Tech Business Directory, a database of technology-based businesses in the Tri-Cities area. more...
• SBIR Alerting Service
  Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's free, award-winning SBIR/STTR Alerting Service is a nationwide resource that improves small business access to a substantial source of R&D capital for entrepreneurial ventures: $2.2 billion in annual federal research and development funds from 11 federal agencies. more...
• The Tri-City Procurement Technical Assistance Center
  Interested in selling your products or services to ports, cities, counties, school districts, colleges, state agencies, federal agencies, or others? Tri-City Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) services are free, and include helping you with how to begin, assisting with registrations and certifications, locating contacts, reviewing proposals, assisting with locating teaming partners, and more. more...

• Entrepreneurship 101 webcasts
  January. MaRS is where science, technology, and social entrepreneurs get the help they need. The organization is offering a free, non-credit introductory course on entrepreneurship that introduces individuals to the nuts and bolts of building a business. more...
• TREN EVENT: Navigating compensation issues to help sail past risks & litigation
  January 17. People most often think of compensation as bonus pay for a job well done, but compensation is much more than just the monetary rewards provided by an employer. more...
• Tri-Cities 2012 Economic Outlook
  January 18. The Tri-Cities Regional Economic Outlook is one of the most prestigious and anticipated annual community forum events in eastern Washington. more...
• Young Professionals in Energy January Happy Hour
  January 18. Young Professionals in Energy - Tri-Cities presents its January Happy Hour speaker, Bernie Hansen, as he shares how professionals can benefit from working with an experienced mentor who can provide guidance for career and business growth. more...
• Women in Business Conference
  January 24. The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce will host the first annual "Tri-Cities Women in Business" Conference, presented by Washington River Protection Solutions, on Tuesday, January 24th from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm at the TRAC Center in Pasco. more...
• SBIR/STTR 2012 Phase 1 Release 2 Topics
  January 31. Applications are due January 31 for the opportunities presented in the SBIR/STTR Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 2012 Phase I Release 2 Topics. more...

• Research examines proteins for early breast cancer detection
  Researchers at PNNL continue their search for better ways to detect and treat breast cancer. A comprehensive, collaborative research project is looking for protein biomarkers that can be used for early breast cancer detection with blood tests. more...
• Five PNNL scientists elected AAAS fellows
  Five Pacific Northwest National Laboratory scientists have been elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for their efforts to advance science or its applications. more...
• Results are in: green buildings save green
  In addition to emitting less carbon dioxide and using less water, sustainably designed federal buildings cost 19 percent less to maintain, according to a report by the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 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.