Tri-Cities Tech Business Update

February 2010 Issue

Tech News and Notes

IsoRay announces new use of Cesium-131

IsoRay, Inc., based in Richland, Wash., announced that for the first time, Cesium-131 brachytherapy seeds have been implanted for the treatment of colon cancer. The implant was performed at Weill Cornell Medical Center in October. 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.

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. Applications are reviewed and scored by the Small Business Awards Judging Committee. Nomination forms are available at any local Chamber of Commerce and TRIDEC, or by calling ImagineThat!. The application deadline is Thursday, April 1. The awards will be presented in May. Contact Tracy Hill at 509-967-1063.

Dade Moeller physicist appointed to Nuclear Engineering Board

The Missouri University of Science and Technology has selected Ali Simpkins to serve as a member of its Nuclear Engineering Development Board. Simpkins will provide recommendations and guidance on issues related to the well-being and growth of the University's nuclear engineering program. Simpkins is a nuclear engineer and senior health physicist for Richland, Wash.-based Dade Moeller & Associates, Inc. Contact Paula Tumlinson at 509-946-0410, ext. 283.

New location for Zero Gravity

The Zero Gravity Builders Studio has expanded its operations to a 14,000 square foot facility in Richland, Wash. Zero Gravity was started in 2007 to assist owners of experimental aircraft in completing their high-performance airplane projects. The additional space will also allow the company to accept more business for the IdeaStudio, a division of Zero Gravity that provides prototyping assistance to inventors across a broad range of industries. The new facility is located at 1865 Bronco Lane in Richland. Contact Amber Hanchette at 509-521-6858.

Procurement technical assistance services available

A Department of Defense-funded Native Procurement Technical Assistance Center is providing services in Richland, Wash. The center provides similar technical assistance and information to small businesses as Washington State PTAC programs; it also offers a program that provides representation, education, and awareness for tribal, native, and Alaska native businesses. They also assist government agencies and contractors locate qualified small businesses to work on projects.

New R&D vice-president at IsoRay

William Cavanagh has joined Richland, Wash.-based IsoRay, Inc. as the company's vice-president of research and development. He has been involved in cancer treatment research and development for more than 20 years and most recently served as the chief scientific officer for Seattle, Wash.-based Sangretech Biomedical. IsoRay is the sole producer of the Cesium-131 brachytherapy seed, which is currently used in the treatment of prostate cancer and ocular melanoma among other cancerous conditions.

Contact Dwight Babcock at 520-240-4840.

Tech Opportunities and Resources

Life Science Development Fund grant funding

The Life Sciences Discovery Fund will provide grant funding through four grant competitions in 2010. Three of the grant funding opportunities were featured last year-a project competition, a program competition, and a commercialization competition. The fourth grant competition that will be offered in 2010 is new-an opportunity competition. The organization released Requests for Proposals for the first three competitions on January 6. The deadline for commercialization grant pre-proposals is February 3. The Request for Proposal for the fourth competition will be issued in May. More information.

Apply for Research and Technology Development grants

The Washington Technology Center is accepting applications for its next round of research grants aimed at transitioning great ideas out of the laboratory and into the marketplace. Washington technology businesses can apply for a Research and Technology Development grant that can pay up to 80% of the cost of a research project. Project teams are eligible to receive up to $100,000 for initial proof-of-concept projects and up to $300,000 total for multi-phase projects. The deadline to submit a notice of intent is March 18 and applications are due April 22. Contact Russell Paez at 206-616-3102

Environmental technology funding opportunities

The Department of Defense is accepting pre-proposals for funding under its Environmental Security Technology Certification Program for environmental technology demonstrations aimed at addressing the agency's top priority challenges. The agency is accepting pre-proposals from non-Defense federal agencies and the private sector in four areas: protection and remediation of contaminated groundwater; military munitions detection, discrimination, and remediation; ecosystem methods and tools for Defense installations; and energy efficiency and renewable energy for Defense installations. Pre-proposals are due March 4. More information.

Environmental research and development proposals requested

The Department of Defense is accepting environmental research and development proposals for funding under the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program. The Program is a joint venture with the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. The Program invests in research focused on solving the country's most intractable environmental problems. Proposals are due March 11. More information and online application.

Postdoctoral Fellowship program

The American Society for Engineering Education has launched a new program in conjunction with the National Science Foundation aimed at expanding industrial research opportunities for companies and postdoctoral engineers conducting scientific research. The Corporate Research Postdoctoral Fellowship for Engineers Program will provide 40 candidates with doctorates in engineering with a one-year fellowship to work with companies that perform research. Each research fellow will receive a stipend of at least $75,000 and health insurance benefits. The cost to host companies is a minimum of $27,500 and other non-cash support. Fellowship applicants and companies interested in posting a position are encouraged to register. More information.

Resources online

1) The presentation "Finding Venture Financing in a Down Market" was presented at the Three Rivers Entrepreneur Network meeting in January. The presentation features information about finding and securing venture capital in today's market. 2) Sirti's annual report to stakeholders is now available online. The report 2009 Perspective highlights the year's results in accelerating the development and growth of innovative technology companies in the Inland Northwest.

Tech Dates and Deadlines

Harvesting Clean Energy 2010

FEBRUARY 7-9. 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, Representative Doc Hastings, and Boeing's Director of Geopolitical and Policy Analysis, Richard Wynne, are confirmed speakers. Register online.

Information session on Research & Technology Development Program

FEBRUARY 9. The Washington Technology Center is holding a series of free sessions throughout the state to provide information on its Research & Technology Development grants program. The Center allocates about $1 million annually for these grants, which are awarded on a competitive basis to collaborative research teams working on innovative technology projects with strong commercial potential. (See item in Resources & Opportunities.) A session will be held in the Tri-Cities on February 9. Other sessions will be held in Vancouver, Pullman, Seattle, and Spokane. Register online.

Entrepreneurial Awards luncheon

FEBRUARY 16. The Richland Rotary and Tri-Cities Development Council will hold the annual Entrepreneurial Awards luncheon on February 16 at the Red Lion in Richland, Wash. The event recognizes local companies for entrepreneurial success. Contact Kayla Pratt at 509-735-1000.

SIGN executive to speak

MARCH 2. The Columbia Basin Chapter of the American Society for Quality's March meeting will feature the chief executive officer of the Richland, Wash.-based Surgical Implant Generation Network. Jeanne Dillner's talk "Leaving Behind a Lasting Legacy" will focus on the company's activities, which include coordinating training of surgeons in poor countries, designing and manufacturing FDA-cleared surgical implants and instruments, and donating them to under-resourced hospitals in developing countries. The meeting will be held at the Shilo Inn in Richland, Wash., with check-in and networking beginning at 5:30 pm, chapter business and buffet dinner at 6 pm, followed by the presentation at 7 pm. The cost is $17 for members and $20 for non-members, or $5 for the presentation only. Register by February 25. To register, contact Alvin Langstaff at (509) 371-2221 with your name, phone number, and company affiliation.

Global Venture Challenge conference

MARCH 24-26. The 4^th Annual Global Venture Challenge will be held in March 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 event will also feature a Venture Showcase highlighting companies with energy efficient products and services. Register online.

Life Science Innovation Northwest Conference

MARCH 16-17. 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 innovation that is driving the life science industry by bringing together public and private life sciences companies, research institutions, scientists, entrepreneurs and the global health community to tell their stories to potential investors and prospective partners. Keynote speakers will include Rajiv Shah, from the U.S. Agency for International Development; and Travis Sullivan, from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Register online.

Washington's Innovation Summit 2010

APRIL 9. REGISTER BY MARCH 5 FOR DISCOUNTED RATE. The Washington Technology Center will hold Washington's Innovation Summit 2010 in April in Tacoma, Wash. The event focuses on sustaining a world-class economy through innovation and industry development by bringing together the region's leading companies and thought leaders. Former NASA astronaut and Sunnyside, Wash. native Dr. Bonnie Dunbar will be a featured speaker. Other speakers include Mike Davis, Associate Laboratory Director of the Energy and Environment Directorate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Steve Ashby, Deputy Director for Science and Technology at PNNL; as well as Rogers Weed, director of the state Department of Commerce. The cost is $50 for the luncheon only and $190 for the full event if you register by March 5. Register online.

PNNL This Month

PNNL to receive Recovery Act funds for biofuels research

The Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will receive about $14.2 million for its role in two biofuels research consortia announced by Energy Secretary Steven Chu. The consortia will advance the science and technology needed to remove hurdles and accelerate the ability to convert plants and other biological material into biofuels that can be used in existing infrastructure. Chu funded the consortia with nearly $80 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds with the goal of bringing new biofuels to the market and developing a cleaner and more sustainable transportation sector, as well as reducing dependence on foreign oil sources, according to the announcement. "I'm proud that PNNL will play a role in both of these consortia and in the Department's pursuit of drop-in, infrastructure-compatible biofuels from plants and algae," said PNNL Director Mike Kluse. PNNL will co-lead one consortium with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and play a large role in a second consortium led by the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. Read the complete news release.

PNNL recognized for technology transfer

The Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has been recognized for partnering with outside companies to either develop new or improve existing technologies or processes. The award-winning partnerships are helping rapidly and reproducibly analyze proteins and manufacture metal tubes. The Federal Laboratory Consortium has announced that PNNL won two awards in 2010 for Excellence in Technology Transfer. The consortium is a nationwide network that encourages federal laboratories to transfer lab-developed technologies to commercial markets. The announcement brings PNNL to a total of 71 FLC awards since the recognition program began in 1984, which is more than any other federal laboratory. The awards will be presented in April at the consortium's annual meeting in Albuquerque, N.M. Read the complete news release.

PNNL fills first two distinguished post-doc fellowship slots

The Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has selected the first-ever recipients of the Pacific Northwest Distinguished Post-Doctoral Fellowship. Grant Johnson and Xiao Lin have been chosen as the first two distinguished post-doctoral fellows at PNNL. As part of the selection process, both candidates presented independent research proposals and, through the fellowship program, will receive funding to conduct their proposed research at PNNL for the next two to three years. "We believe strongly in building the next generation of scientists and in advancing the frontiers of science," said Steven Ashby, deputy director for science and technology at PNNL. "I'm pleased we'll be able to expose these scientists to the unique capabilities, instrumentation, and experts at PNNL while we also learn from their new ideas." PNNL created the Pacific Northwest Distinguished Post-Doctoral Fellowship in 2009 to attract outstanding researchers and build the future of scientific leadership for the Laboratory. Another fellowship position will be offered in Spring 2010. Read the complete news release.

Former PNNL employee named one of state's top 25 innovators

A former employee at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory was named to a list of the state's "Top 25 Innovators" by Seattle Business magazine. Jeremy Jaech is a 1973 graduate of Columbia High School (now Richland High School) in Richland, Wash. He co-founded the Aldus Corporation that invented the groundbreaking PageMaker software that launched the field of desktop publishing-now part of Adobe-as well as the Visio Corporation that created a software diagramming program that is now part of the Microsoft Office suite. He is currently the president and chief executive officer of Verdiem, a company that provides software solutions to reduce energy consumption of PC networks. Read the article.

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 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 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