Tri-Cities Tech Business Update

June 2012 Issue

• Bruker introduces new handheld XRF analyzer
  Bruker Corporation recently announced the introduction of the new S1 TITAN handheld XRF analyzer. The S1 TITAN is among the lightest (1.44 kg including battery) tube-based, handheld XRF analyzers on the market today. more...
• InnovaTek selected by DOE for Clean Energy Grant
  Richland-based InnovaTek received word from the Department of Energy that it was one of 67 small businesses nationwide selected to receive an energy innovation grant. more...
• Tri-Cities Research District seeing growth
  Many people see new land development and construction as indicative of economic growth. So those who have ventured into north Richland probably have begun sensing and anticipating that such growth is afoot. more...
• Mentorship yields tangible results for Ag-focused business
  UNIBEST Corporation, based in Walla Walla, provides farmers, agribusinesses, and environmental managers with monitoring products to optimize crop management and evaluate environmental contamination. more...
• New federal funding opportunity
  A new $26M Accelerator challenge has been announced by the Obama Administration. Applications are due July 9 for the Advanced Manufacturing Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge. more...
• WSU's SBDC creates online tool to assist agricultural exporters
  It just got a lot easier for Washington growers to plan their export strategy, thanks to a new tool developed by the Export Assistance Program at Washington State University, Pullman. more...

• Energy Innovation Portal
  The Energy Innovation Portal now features an innovative new way to access U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory patents. more...
• SBA request for public comment
  The SBA is soliciting feedback from small businesses, investors, and other stakeholders on the proposed rulemaking that amends SBA regulations governing size and eligibility of SBIR/STTR programs. more...
• Three important loan programs for small businesses
  Everyone in the market today knows small businesses are in dire need of capital and loans to finance their historic activity and their growth. more...
• Impact Washington's Small Business Consulting Program
  Impact Washington announces its new Small Business Consulting Program, an initiative aimed at bringing assistance to the state's smallest manufacturers to help them grow their businesses. more...
• The venture capital model is broken, and this thought-provoking report explains why
  Industry watchers have been talking for a long while now about how the venture capital industry is broken, highlighted by poor returns that in many cases don't even exceed that of the major stock indices. more...

• UW/Whitworth Partner on Certification Program
  Classes start June 5: The University of Washington and Whitworth University have teamed up to bring the UW Foster School of Business Certificate Program to Eastern Washington. more...
• Meet the Buyer: Doing Business with the Hanford Contractors
  June 12. The Hanford prime contractors and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory purchase millions of dollars' worth of products and services from businesses each year. more...
• 4th Annual State of the Green Economy Event
  June 13. The "greening" of different industries will force many companies to adapt and diversify. more...
• WCTA first annual meeting
  June 14. Join Washington State's Cleantech leadership for the inaugural Washington Clean Technology Alliance (WCTA) Annual Meeting from 7:30-10:00 a.m. more...
• Washington State Department of Enterprise Services Eastside Vendor Education Seminar
  June 20. The Westside & Eastside Vendor Education Seminars help businesses succeed in navigating state rules, regulations, and services. more...
• Nova Innovation Competition deadline
  June 30. Entrepreneurs are invited to submit proposals for the Nova Innovation Competition for a chance to win $85,000. more...
• DOE EERE funding opportunity deadline
  July 3. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is interested in receiving proposals for research and development projects that offer potential for achieving EERE technology cost and performance targets. more...
• 25th Industry Growth Forum application deadline
  July 13. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) invites emerging clean energy startups from across the globe to apply to present their business opportunities at the 25th Industry Growth Forum. more...

• Student-built robots square off in sumo contest at PNNL
  A chief electrical engineer at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has found a creative way to motivate students and teachers into high tech futures. more...
• PNNL scientist receives Early Career Research Award
  A bioinformaticist from the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will receive an Early Career Research Award from DOE to advance his research identifying proteins that could be used in biofuel production. more...
• Timely economic updates from EDO on Facebook
  The Economic Development Office at PNNL has a Facebook page dedicated to providing entrepreneurs and high-tech firms with information of value for startups and existing businesses. 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.