Tri-Cities Tech Business Update

November 2009 Issue

Tech News and Notes

Funding for AMIC cancer research

Senator Patty Murray included $1.25 million for cancer research at Kennewick, Wash.-based Advanced Medical Isotope Corporation in the fiscal year 2010 Senate Energy and Water Development appropriations bill. The bill has been approved by both houses of Congress and will now head to the President who is expected to sign it into law. "This funding will help maintain the Tri-Cities position at the cutting edge of scientific research and development," said Senator Murray. AMIC's project will develop, test, and conduct research needed for Food and Drug Administration pre-market approval for a new polymer seed containing millions of tiny yttrium-90 microspheres. The seeds can be surgically implanted in tumors, just as radioactive metal seeds are placed in prostate and brain cancer patients. This treatment will provide an effective, highly localized and efficient method for treating against the more radiation-resistant brain tumors, pancreatic, head and neck tumors, and kidney tumors. Contact Jim Katzaroff at 509-736-4000.

IsoRay cancer treatment technology used in lung implants

For the first time, Cesium-131 brachytherapy seeds developed by IsoRay, Inc., based in Richland, Wash., have been used in lung implants for treatment of lung cancer. Four Cesium-131 lung implants have been performed at Weill Cornell Medical Center since August. Cesium-131 was chosen based on its short half life and higher dose rate, which allows 99.8% of the treatment dose to be delivered by the time the sutures and mesh dissolve. IsoRay is the sole producer of the Cesium-131 brachytherapy seed, which is also currently used in the treatment of prostate cancer and ocular melanoma among other cancerous conditions. Contact Dwight Babcock at 520-240-4840.

Infinia to develop power generator for military

Kennewick, WA-based Infinia Corporation will receive funding under the Defense Appropriations bill to develop a power generator for the Army. The $3 million project is focused on development of a small, efficient power generator that will use jet fuel. In addition to producing power, the Infinia system will also use heat produced by the generator for other applications such as water purification. Contact Suzanne McCleary at 509-736-3660.

KGH and AIT partner on medical technology

Kennewick General Hospital in Kennewick, Wash., and Richland, Wash.-based Advanced Imaging Technologies have teamed up to provide a cutting-edge, automated ultrasound technology aimed at improving breast cancer detection. The system combines through-transmission ultrasound with holography to deliver real-time, enhanced three-dimensional images of breast tissue, enabling physicians to see more detailed information that can positively impact diagnosis of abnormalities sooner, especially in women with dense breast tissue. In addition, the ARIA System can be used to monitor a patient's progress during chemotherapy treatment of cancer. The technology is in use at the KGH Medical Mall in Kennewick. Contact Dave Young at KGH at 509-586-5899 or Stephanie Hartwig at Advanced Imaging Technologies at 509-430-3515.

Washington Technology Center receives national award

The Washington Technology Center was recognized with a 2009 Excellence in Technology-Based Economic Development Award by the State Science and Technology Institute, a national nonprofit association dedicated to improving government-industry programs that encourage economic growth through the application of science and technology. The awards honor organizations that initiate successful programs to sustain the nation's position as a global leader for innovation and competitiveness. The WTC was recognized for its Research & Technology Development Program, which has helped fill a critical role in enhancing Washington State's efforts in commercializing research by bringing companies and university researchers together. Since 1995, the program has awarded more than $21 million to 335 projects. RTD program companies and researchers have leveraged this funding to attract an estimated $480 million in additional federal and private support. Contact Russell Paez at 206-616-3102.

Vivid Learning Systems wins award

Pasco, Wash.-based Vivid Learning Systems received a prestigious Learning in Practice award given by Chief Learning Officer magazine. The company was honored with a Gold Award for excellence in customer service by the publication, which recognizes "transformational and visionary leaders in enterprise education." Vivid will be featured along with other award winners in a special supplement in the December issue the magazine. Contact Chris Collier at 509-545-1800.

City of Richland "Green Award' winners

The City of Richland, Wash. named the Home Builders Association of Tri-Cities as the area's 2009 Green Business of the Year. The association was recognized with the award for its community-wide "Built Green Program," which encourages members and contractors to incorporate environmentally friendly, or "green," practices into construction and remodeling projects. Other winners of the City's Green Awards were the Tri-City Herald, the Oasis School, local businesses Greenies and Cartridge World, Department of Energy Hanford offices, and individual Scott Albin for his environmental efforts at work and school. Contact Gail Everett at 509-942-7730.

NETB wins design award

NewEdge + The Brewery, which has an office in Richland, Wash., was named a winner in the 2009 Peroni Blue Ribbon Design Awards. The company was recognized for its work designing an innovative aperitif concept for the Peroni brand. Two of the company's design concepts were selected as semi-finalists from more than 3000 submissions, with one design being selected as a winner. Contact Pam Henderson at 509-737-9900.

Hydrovolts named finalist in Clean Tech Open

Seattle, Wash.-based Hydrovolts was named a regional finalist in the inaugural Pacific Northwest Clean Tech Open competition and will now go to San Francisco, Calif. to compete at the national level.  The competition seeks out early stage clean technology companies, and provides unique resources to empower these start-ups to become viable businesses. As a regional finalist, the company received a prize package of cash and in-kind services worth $50,000.  Hydrovolts has also received assistance under Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Technology Assistance Program. Contact Gary Spanner at 509-372-4296.

Tech Opportunities and Resources

WSU Engineering and Technology Management Seminar

The Washington State University Tri-Cities branch campus will host an information session on the school's Engineering and Technology Management Program on November 17. The session will be held from 11 am to 1 pm on the university's campus in Richland, Wash. The program is part of the WSU's Distance Education Program for engineering and business professionals and focuses on teaching skills to effectively manage projects, people, and technology in the workplace. Contact Kalie Davis at 509-372-7375.

Industry Achievement Awards open for nomination

The Washington Technology Industry Association is accepting nominations for the 15^th Annual Industry Achievement Awards. The awards recognize accomplishments and excellence in Washington's technology community over the previous year. Nominations are due November 16 and are open to companies with employees in the state of Washington. The categories are commercial product or service of the year; consumer product or service of the year; service provider of the year; information technology department innovation of the year; innovative manufactured product of the year; best use of technology in the government, non-profit, or education sector; breakthrough start-up of the year; and technology leader of tomorrow. Apply online.

Federal funding symposium

Staff from Senator Patty Murray and Senator Maria Cantwell's offices will provide an introduction to federal grants and the appropriations process at a meeting on November 19. Topics covered in the presentation will include tips on submitting a successful grant application, finding the right funding source for your project, working with your congressional delegation, and the current outlook and trends for appropriations. The session will be held at 2 pm at the Tri-Cities Business and Visitor's Center located at 7130 W. Grandridge Blvd. in Kennewick, Wash. Space is limited, so you must register to participate.

Resources online

1) The column "STEM school can nurture different set of skills" was published in the Tri-City Herald on September 27. The article outlines the focus of the new Delta School that opened in Richland, Wash. this fall. 2) The Entrepreneur Support Catalogue maintained by the Economic Development Office at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has been updated. The database helps small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Tri-Cities, Wash. area find support to prosper and grow. It is also intended to help the organizations listed make referrals to other organizations. 3) Kennewick, Wash.-based Infinia Corporation has an online listing of engineering and technical positions that are open. 4) The Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association will launch its redesigned website on November 6.

Tech Dates and Deadlines

Entrepreneur University 2009 - Dig In, Branch Out

NOVEMBER 5. The Northwest Entrepreneur Network's annual Entrepreneur University event will be held in Bellevue, Wash. in November. This year's event "Dig In, Branch Out: Growing a Company That Lasts" will feature keynote speaker Jill Mintz Clark, the deputy chief operating officer in the Obama for America campaign. The conference will also focus on the two most requested areas of importance to previous attendees: business fundamentals and marketing. The cost is $125 for members and $275 for non-members. Register online.

WBBA Annual Membership meeting

NOVEMBER 6. The Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association will hold its annual meeting in Seattle on November 6 from 7 to 10 am. The program will feature Dr. Elias Zerhouni, former director of the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Zerhouni will give the presentation "Translational Research and Global Health: the Impact on Washington State." Additionally, the WBBA will give a progress report for 2009 and discuss current challenges and upcoming opportunities in the life sciences. Register at the door beginning at 7 am on November 6.

Three Rivers Entrepreneur Network meeting

NOVEMBER 17. The Three Rivers Entrepreneur Network will hold its November seminar "Networks and servers and hackers...oh, my! The risks of using and relying on technology" on November 17 at the Richland Community Center in Richland, Wash. The speaker will be Adam Baldwin, the co-founder of nGenuity Information Services, based in the Tri-Cities, Wash. The company helps businesses safeguard their valuable information from the risks inherent in today's high-tech environment. Baldwin will discuss and demonstrate the top security risks for businesses that rely on technology and how to best mitigate those risks. There is no charge to attend, but you must pre-register by November 13 and space is limited. A continental breakfast will be provided. To register, contact Teresa Claar at (509) 375-2068 with the name, company/organization affiliation, phone number, and e-mail for each attendee.

Global Venture Challenge conference

MARCH 24-26, 2010. The 4^th Annual Global Venture Challenge will be held in March 2010 in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The event brings together teams of graduate students from around the world to compete for prizes by addressing the world's future needs in energy and security. The winning team will receive $25,000. The two tracks in the competition will be "Advanced Materials for a Sustainable Energy Future" and "Community Resilience and Homeland Security." The event will also feature a Venture Showcase highlighting companies with energy efficient products and services. Register online.

Harvesting Clean Energy 2010

FEBRUARY 7-9, 2010. The 10^th annual Harvesting Clean Energy Conference will be held at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick, Wash., in February. The event focuses on advancing rural economic development through clean energy production. The conference features a variety of tracks that emphasize opportunities for rural landowners, the latest in renewable energy technologies, where the new clean energy jobs and training programs are, and the new clean energy economy. Senator Maria Cantwell and Boeing's Director of Geopolitical and Policy Analysis, Richard Wynne, are confirmed speakers. Register online.

Life Science Innovation Northwest Conference

MARCH 16-17, 2010. The Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association will hold the first Life Science Innovation Northwest Conference in Seattle in March. The new conference will replace the organization's Invest Northwest event and will focus on the life science sector in the Pacific Northwest.

PNNL This Month

PNNL dedicates new facilities

The Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has opened new facilities that will enable discoveries in biological, computational and subsurface science and developments in bioenergy, carbon sequestration and homeland security. The $75 million facilities represent the first new buildings on PNNL's campus since 1995. The buildings will primarily support research in biological systems science and data-intensive computing for DOE, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Institutes of Health and other organizations. More than 300 PNNL staff will work in the Biological Sciences Facility and the Computational Sciences Facility. Read the complete news release. Contact Staci West at 509-372-6313.

PNNL researcher wins Homeland Security Award

Jim Thomas, a chief scientist and Laboratory Fellow at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, was recognized with the prestigious Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation 2009 Homeland Security Award for his work creating computerized visual analytics technology that can be used to predict and prevent acts of terrorism or other catastrophic events. The award, which is sponsored by AgustaWestland North America, Inc., includes a $25,000 prize. Thomas was specifically recognized for his leadership of the Department of Homeland Security's National Visualization and Analytics Center, which is located at PNNL. NVAC was established in 2004 to provide scientific guidance and coordination for the research and development of new tools and methods that DHS has identified as required for managing, visually representing, and analyzing enormous amounts of diverse data and information. Development of these visualization tools enables analysts to more effectively identify signs of terrorist intent or attacks in their earliest stages and ultimately to prevent terrorist plots before they occur. Read the complete news release. Contact Kathi Hanson at 509-375-2199.

Carbon capture shows major potential in China

Carbon dioxide capture and storage technologies could represent a cost-effective, viable option to help China continue to meet its growing energy demands while also delivering deep and sustained reductions in industrial greenhouse gas emissions, according to a study released by the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Much of the discussion around China's options for significantly limiting carbon dioxide emissions has been all or nothing-that the country either continue increasing its domestic use of coal with parallel increases in greenhouse gas emissions or that it stop using coal completely and endure the economic consequences. The new study shows there is a much-needed third option for addressing these twin challenges-large-scale deployment of carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and storage technologies. The study identifies enormous and widely distributed deep geologic CO2 storage formations in China that could allow for cost-effective, large-scale deployment of capture and storage technologies for at least 100 years. Read the complete news release. View a summary of the report's findings. Contact Staci West at 509-372-6313.

DOE funds CO2 project

A partnership between researchers at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Boise White Paper LLC, and Fluor Corporation to demonstrate geologic carbon dioxide storage in deep flood basalt formations in Washington will receive $500,000 from DOE. The funding was announced on October 2 by Energy Secretary Steven Chu and is part of $1.4-billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that will be used to select 12 projects to capture carbon dioxide from industrial sources for storage or beneficial use. "This is a major step forward in the fight to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from industrial plants," Secretary Chu said. "These new technologies will not only help fight climate change, they will create jobs now and help position the U.S. to lead the world in carbon dioxide capture technologies, which will only increase in demand in the years ahead." Phase I of the projects will include $21.6- million in ARRA funding and $22.5-million in private funding for a total initial investment of $44.1-million. The remaining ARRA funds will be awarded to the most promising projects during a competitive Phase 2 selection process. Carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas and contributor to global climate change. Successful development of advanced technologies and innovative concepts to cut emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is a key objective of the Obama administration's effort to mitigate effects of climate change.

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