Tri-Cities Tech Business Update

July 2010 Issue

Tech News and Notes

PNNL EDO on Facebook

The Economic Development Office at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is now on Facebook. The EDO page provides frequent updates and information about economic development activities and opportunities to help businesses start, grow, or revitalize. The Office helps businesses connect with technology experts, facilities, and other resources available at the Laboratory, many at no cost. Link to EDO Facebook page.

Abadan Tri-Cities wins 2010 Pro-Tech Service Award

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) announced that Abadan Tri-Cities, a Richland-based office technology company, has been honored with a 2010 Pro-Tech Service Award. The award recognizes those Konica Minolta dealerships that demonstrate the highest commitment to customer support and satisfaction. To attain the Pro-Tech standard, each element of Abadan Tri-Cities operation was evaluated and measured, including its management skills, inventory control systems, technical expertise, dispatch systems, and customer satisfaction ratings. Contact Tom Black at 509-946-7693.

TCRD releases results of amenities survey

Restaurants, a gas station, postal services, a grocery store, fast food outlets, convenience stores, coffee shops, pharmacy/drug stores, banking/financial services, and a fitness center are the amenities most desired by Tri-Cities Research District (TCRD) workers according to a survey conducted between February and March of this year by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Washington State University-Tri-Cities, and the TCRD. More than 60% of the respondents said they would use each of the previously-mentioned amenities on a frequent or occasional basis. The two most desired brand names to emerge from the survey are a Starbuck's coffee shop and a GESA Credit Union branch. Detailed results of the survey are on the TCRD website. Contact Diahann Howard at 509-375-3060.

Energy Northwest names interim CEO

Mark Reddemann, currently vice president of operations support with Xcel Energy, was named vice president and interim CEO of Energy Northwest during a meeting of the public agency's executive board. Reddemann currently serves on the Energy Northwest Corporate Nuclear Safety Review Board, an independent advisory body to the CEO and the chief nuclear officer who provides management and safety overview of nuclear activities at Columbia Generating Station. Reddemann has a broad background in the nuclear power industry. He was a vice president with Nuclear Management Co. from 2005-06, and before that, served as a vice president for plant technical support at Georgia-based Institute of Nuclear Power Operations. More information.

President Obama proclaims small business week

Embracing the success and character of small businesses in the U.S., President Obama issued a proclamation for National Small Business Week for the week of May 23-29. While our government cannot guarantee success, President Obama said, it can ensure that entrepreneurs have the foundation they need to move forward in today's changing economy. "The President recognizes that small businesses are the building blocks of our economy," Bill Valdez, Acting Director of the Department of Energy's Office of Economic Impact and Diversity said. "Our office's mission is to support the innovation and growth of small businesses, and we absolutely must continue to honor the hard work of our nation's small businesses." More information.

Seattle Business Magazine announces first WA Manufacturing Awards winners

Manufacturing in Washington State is not only alive and kicking even in the midst of a brutal economic recession; it's also a thriving generator of innovative ideas, companies, products, technologies, and people. Even with the layoffs and plant closings that have hit it, and most other sectors of the economy, manufacturing still provides 255,000 jobs in Washington state-about 9 percent of total non-farm employment. Award categories included manufacturer of the year, manufacturing innovation of the year, and manufacturer executive of the year. Regional winners included Infinia, Hydrovolts, and 3 Phase Energy Systems. View all winners.

AMIC signs exclusive global license

Advanced Medical Isotope Corporation (AMIC), a company engaged in the production and distribution of medical isotopes, announced the execution of an exclusive world-wide license for a patented technology for a 'sub-critical system' relating to generating clinically relevant quantities of radioisotopes (including Mo-99). It is expected that once the production plant is completed, the technology will afford AMIC the opportunity to supply up to 50% of the Mo-99 needed in the United States. Dr. Robert Schenter, chief science officer of AMIC, states, "1,500 people die each day in the U.S. from cancer. This license and the accompanying technology will greatly assist the country from being 100% dependent on foreign sources." More information.

Tech Opportunities and Resources

Life Sciences Discovery Fund grant competition

The Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) 2010 Program Grant Competition will proceed with a reduced allocation of $10 million and a delayed timeline. The deadline for proposal submission is Thursday, September 16, 2010. A revised request for proposals is available on the program grant competition website.  
More information.

DOE Initiative to speed innovative ideas to market

The Innovation Ecosystem Development Initiative addresses the need to create or enhance an environment to accelerate the movement of innovative energy technologies to the market. America's research universities are a resource for new clean energy ideas, but not all are efficient in connecting research results with the entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and other resources needed to move technology innovations rapidly into the marketplace. The initiative funds the creation of new programs or the expansion of existing, successful programs. The expected results of this solicitation are to accelerate the rate of movement of innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy concepts from university laboratories to the market. More information.

Foresight Science & Technology offers technology commercialization networking

Foresight Science & Technology (Foresight) specializes in commercialization, technology transfer, and intellectual property management networking. Additionally, Foresight assists companies, universities, and governments take ideas and turn them into products, services and processes, as well as helping organizations find the technologies they are in need of. More information.

NIST grant funding

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is accepting applications for grants focused on high-risk, high-reward research projects in manufacturing and biomanufacturing. The grant competition is part of the agency's Technology Innovation Program, which has $25 million available to fund up to 25 new projects. The purpose of the grant competition is to inspire revolutionary materials advances that will lead to new products with advanced features and improved characteristics and that will enter the marketplace quickly. The deadline to submit a proposal is July 15. More information.

Local investment fund loans

Do you need money to expand your business? The Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund has money available to lend to businesses. Loan amounts typically range from $150,000-$500,000. Loan applicants must be the owner/operator of a business in Benton or Franklin County, and must demonstrate need and the ability to repay the loan. Loans may be made for any purpose including equipment, leasehold improvements, R&D costs, and working capital. Contact Art Tackett at 509-943-9185.

Resources online

The column "Mid-Columbia entrepreneurs could soar with help of angels," was published in the Tri-City Herald on June 20. The article discusses how small businesses can network with regional angel groups for investment purposes. Read the article.

Tech Dates and Deadlines

NWEN first look forum call for applications

Application deadline August 18. The Northwest Entrepreneur Network (NWEN) is the region's home for innovative businesses in every growth sector in our economy, from web 2.0 to medical technology, clean tech to consumer products. The NWEN's First Look Forum provides applicants' access to professional coaches, advisors, investors, and more. The forum's goal is to assist businesses in reaching the next level of success. Apply online.

NREL industry growth forum

Registration deadline July 16. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) invites emerging clean energy startups to apply to present their business opportunity at the 23rd Industry Growth Forum to be held October 19-21, 2010 in Denver. This event features investment pitches from 34 competitively selected clean energy companies, one-on-one meetings with leading venture capitalists, and strategic investors, and panels led by thought leaders. Apply online.

Strategic investment conference

October 13-15. The National Association of Seed and Venture Funds (NASVF) annual conference, to be held in Baltimore, MD, exchanges strategies and tools for building and managing strategic investment programs and institutions. Newly formed organizations receive the benefit of different viewpoints, while established organizations track new approaches and resources. Participants meet with professionals from outside their local networks and communities, making one-on-one contact with specialized practitioners and discussing new methods of facilitating capital formation. Register online.

WBBA Governors life sciences summit

October 22. The Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association (WBBA) is combining the Governor's Summit and its annual meeting for this year's life sciences summit. More than 800 leaders of Washington's life sciences community are expected to attend the event to be held in Bellevue, WA. This program will celebrate successes, as well as address current challenges and coming opportunities in life sciences locally, nationally, and globally. Register online.

PNNL This Month

PNNL refines and licenses laser sensors

Analyzing trace atmospheric gases can now be considerably more precise with a device that delivers stable and reliable power to the lasers used in gas sensors. The low-noise current controller, developed at PNNL, was recently licensed to Bozeman, Montana-based Wavelength Electronics Inc. This license was partially facilitated by PNNL's Technology Assistance Program. The technology opens up new ways to analyze and evaluate significantly smaller gas concentrations. PNNL's controller is the lowest noise controller on the market that was specifically designed for extra-sensitive sensors that use quantum cascade lasers. Wavelength is looking to launch products that incorporate PNNL's low-noise current controller technology by the end of this year. Read the complete news release.

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