Tri-Cities Tech Business Update

February 2009 Issue

News

Medical isotope technology partnership

A partnership between Advanced Medical Isotope Corporation of Kennewick, Wash., Pacific Northwest National Laboratory of Richland, Wash., and the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology of the Ukraine, will receive funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop and bring to market an innovative compact-systems technology for producing critically needed medical isotopes. The two-year project will receive a $760,000 development grant focused on using compact systems to reduce the overall cost and increase the flexibility needed to produce smaller amounts of research and commercial isotopes for use in diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine. Contact Jim Katzaroff at (509) 736-4000.

Company issued radioactive materials license

Dade Moeller and Associates, based in Richland, Wash., has received a radioactive materials license from the state of Washington that allows the company to provide radiation protection services at its clients' facilities and at temporary work locations in Washington. The license also authorizes the company to conduct radiological surveys, decontamination and decommissioning activities, provide emergency response services within the state, and maintain a small inventory of radioactive materials for use in sample analysis, instrument calibration, and testing. The license is regulated by the Washington State Department of Health. Contact Steve Bump at (509) 946-0410, ext. 269.

STEM school approved

A new high school that will focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) has been approved and is scheduled to open in August. Delta High School is a joint venture of the Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco, Wash. School Districts, Battelle, Washington State University Tri-Cities, and Columbia Basin College. The first class will consist of 100 freshmen, with 100 students added each year until the school reaches a capacity of 400. Contact Deidre Holmberg at (509) 547-5581.

Viper Aircraft welcomes new member

Viper Aircraft Corporation, based in Pasco, Wash., has named former Cessna Aircraft president and chief operating officer Charlie Johnson as director of business development. Johnson will lead strategic planning initiatives for the Viper FanJet. The FanJet is a two-place, tandem seat, fully aerobatic, composite personal jet aircraft. Johnson has been consulting within the aviation industry since 2004. Contact Dan Hanchette at (509) 543-3570.

*PNNL wins technology transfer awards

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and its partners won two Federal Laboratory Consortium awards for "Excellence in Technology Transfer" for transferring two technologies to the commercial sector that create clean energy. The energy harvester technology produces electricity from temperature differences and replaces or extends the life of traditional batteries used in wireless sensors and radio frequency transmitters. The laboratory partnered with Perpetua Power Source Technologies of Portland, Ore. on this award. Solid oxide fuel cells cleanly and efficiently produce electricity from a wide variety of fuel sources and are used in auxiliary power units for transportation. The laboratory partnered with Delphi Corporation, based in Troy, Mich. on this award. The awards will be presented at a ceremony in Charlotte, N.C. in May. Contact Mary Anne Wuennecke at (509) 375-2447.

Tri-Cities Research District

Phillip Singerman to speak

MARCH 5. REGISTER BY FEBRUARY 26. Phillip Singerman, the senior vice-president of B&D Consulting, will be the next speaker in the Tri-Cities Research District Speaker Series. Singerman will talk about federal funding available for development of research parks, including what is available, how to gain access to it, and why it's an important element of success. He will also address the federal economic development funding resources and the economic development implications of carbon cap and trade systems (an administrative approach used to control pollution by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants). Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Washington State University Tri-Cities are teaming to host a speaker series dedicated to educating stakeholders, the community, and other interested individuals and organizations on what it takes to successfully develop a research park. Speakers who are experienced in developing research parks across the country will share their perspectives. Meetings are held at the Washington State University Tri-Cities campus. There is no charge to attend; however, you must pre-register by Friday, February 26, 2009. The event begins at 4 pm and will be followed by a light reception sponsored by Lockheed Martin. Register online.

Opportunities and Tools

Nominations open for Small Business Awards

The Mid-Columbia Small Business Awards Committee, coordinated by the Three Rivers Alliance of Chambers, is accepting nominations to recognize small businesses in Benton and Franklin Counties for exceptional customer service, outstanding commitment to employees, and superior community relations. The awards are presented to small businesses that best exemplify the qualities of honesty, fairness, ethical business practices, and concern for employees and customers. The application deadline is Thursday, April 2, 2008. The awards will be presented in May. Contact Tracy Hill at (509) 967-1063.

Northwest Entrepreneur Network forums

The Northwest Entrepreneur Network is accepting applications from entrepreneurs to participate in the inaugural First Look Forums in March in Seattle, Wash. The forums will provide emerging Northwest companies with an opportunity to pitch their business ideas to the region's top investors. The half-day forums will be held in a single track, with 12 companies selected to give three-minute pitches. The audience will vote to determine the top five companies, who will then make 15-minute business plan presentations. Applications for the March 24 forum are due by February 6. Applications are accepted any time for subsequent forums. The application fee is $45 for members and $90 for non-members. Apply online.

Contact Misty Burrows at (425) 564-5701.

Washington Technology Center commercialization grants available

The Washington Technology Center is accepting proposals for its next round of research grants aimed at transitioning great ideas out of the laboratory and into the marketplace. The Center's Research and Technology Development grants program awards up to $100,000 for initial proof-of-concept projects and up to $300,000 total for multi-phase projects. The deadline for notices of intent is March 19 and applications will be due April 23. More information.

Contact Russell Paez at (206) 616-3102.

Life Sciences Discovery fund grant competitions

The Life Sciences Discovery Fund is still accepting applications for two new grant competitions designed to stimulate commercialization of early-stage technologies. Up to $750,000 in total awards will be distributed for both the winter and summer competitions. The commercialization grants will target research efforts centered on validating the commercial merit of new technologies. Letters of intent for the winter competition are due on February 11, and proposals will be due on April 22. Grant awards will be announced in August. Download more information and grant application forms.

Coming Up

*Research and Technology Development grant information session

FEBRUARY 10. A free orientation session designed to provide more information on the Washington Technology Center's Research & Technology Development Awards program will be held at the Applied Processing and Engineering Laboratory in Richland, Wash. The information session provides an opportunity to ask questions about the grant process and about leveraging the value of this early-stage funding into recognition, business growth, profitable relationships, and additional investment. The event will be held from 11 am to noon in the APEL Conference Room, located at 350 Hills Street in Richland, Wash. Contact Russell Paez at (206) 616-3102.

Invention to Venture event

FEBRUARY 13-14. The second annual Invention to Venture workshop will be held in Portland, Ore. The workshop is designed to provide information on starting new ventures and will include sessions on opportunity assessment, venture capital, and growth and operations. A student social is scheduled for Friday, February 13 beginning at 6:30 pm and the workshop will be held Saturday, February 14, beginning at 9 am. The cost is $25 for University of Portland students, faculty, and staff, and $50 for others. Register online.

Speaker discusses environmental impacts on health

FEBRUARY 20. Patricia Hunt from the Washington State University School of Molecular Biosciences will be the February speaker in the Spokane Science, Technology & Business Discovery series. Hunt's presentation will focus on the environmental factors, especially in plastics, that affect reproductive health. The speaker series highlights new and breakthrough developments in science, technology and their business applications by showcasing Washington state scientists and business leaders and is designed for business and community leaders who want to stay on top of important advancements being made in our state, nationally and internationally. Contact Amy Bell Rousso at (206) 389-7261.

Mark Your Calendar

Speaker series features cancer treatment

MARCH 20. Suzanne Lindsey from the biotech startup Recodagen will be the March speaker in the Spokane Science, Technology & Business Discovery series. Lindsey's presentation will focus on new therapies to stop the spread of cancerous tumors. The speaker series highlights new and breakthrough developments in science, technology and their business applications by showcasing Washington state scientists and business leaders and is designed for business and community leaders who want to stay on top of important advancements being made in our state, nationally and internationally. Contact Amy Bell Rousso at (206) 389-7261.

Washington Innovation Summit 2009

APRIL 9. REGISTER BY MARCH 6 FOR EARLY BIRD RATE. Washington Innovation Summit 2009 will bring together more than 400 innovators and thought leaders in sustainability and technology who are driving industry development in sustainable energy, innovative materials & manufacturing, urban sustainability, and healthy ecosystems. The Summit will focus on how we are developing innovative and sustainable approaches to realize our opportunities and overcome challenges. Keynote speakers will include Gifford Pinchot III, co-founder and president emeritus of the Bainbridge Graduate Institute, and Thomas E. Plimpton, vice chairman of PACCAR. Presenters from the Tri-Cities include Mike Schwenk of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Jeff Surma of InEnTec Medical Services, and Birgitte Ahring of the Bioproducts, Sciences, and Engineering Laboratory. Full registration includes all summit breakout and general sessions, breakfast, lunch and reception and is $190 until March 6, and $230 after March 6. Registration for the reception only is $45. Register online.

Got News?

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 Andrea McMakin or call (509) 372-6013.

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 DOE-Richland's vision for the future of the Hanford Site and surrounding area through the creation of research opportunities, new industries, and new business clusters