Tri-Cities Tech Business Update

November 2010 Issue

Tech News and Notes

Tri-Cities lands in top 10 for top performing metros across nation

The Tri-Cities ranked number five in a top 10 listing of the best performing  U.S. metropolitan areas by the Milken Institute. Winners were ranked on their ability to create and sustain jobs and diversified technology bases, including high-tech manufacturing. The Index ranked 379 metros, grouped into large (population of more than 200,000) and small (population of less than 200,000). Read more or contact Mindy Silverstein at (310) 570-4634.

Richland announces winners of Green Recognition Program

The City of Richland announced the winners of the 2010 Green Recognition Program. The Program is an opportunity for Richland businesses, schools, organizations, groups, and individuals to showcase their environmental efforts. Paragon Corporate Housing won top billing as the 2010 Green Business of the Year for its conservation efforts while serving 400 guests each day. AREVA's On-Site Hydrogen Generation won as Green Project of the Year and PNNL's Zero Waste Picnic won Green Program of the Year. GESA Credit Union received an honorable mention for Environmental Commitment for its new LEED-certified building. Read more or contact Gail Everett at (509) 942-7730.

International Economic Development Council adds PNNL staff to board

Mike Schwenk, Director of PNNL's Technology Deployment & Outreach Office, has been elected to serve a two-year term on the board of directors for the International Economic Development Council. The IEDC is the world's leading economic development organization for professionals in the field of economic development, which has become even more vital due to the economic crisis that has permeated communities across the globe. In this role, Schwenk will leverage 30+ years of experience in effectively moving new discoveries out of the laboratory environment and into the hands of business to create jobs. Contact Lisa Teske at (509) 372-6850.

Washington Clean Technology Alliance announces new officers

Congratulations to the newly elected Washington Clean Technology Alliance Officers, including PNNL staff member, Marc Cummings who was elected Vice Chair. Additional officers include Bill McSherry of Boeing who was named the new Board Chair; Steve Klein of Snohomish County PUD and David Benson of Stoel Rives were elected to the Executive Committee, joining David Allen of McKinstry, Steve Gerritson of enterpriseSeattle, and attorney Jon Kroman. Contact Tom Ranken at (206) 389-8655.

Businesses, government looking for energy retrofits find solution with EnergySavvy technology

Energysavvy, a Pacific Northwest-based developer of an online energy audit tool, was profiled by Xconomy for its unique web tool that allows consumers to input information about their home. The tool provides free, immediate online access to information about how to retrofit homes to be more energy efficient along with referrals to contractors who can do the work. In addition to consumer interest, the company has been working with governments and utilities to make homes more energy efficient. Read more or contact EnergySavvy at (877) 817-2685.

Hydrovolts winner of Cleantech Open award

 

Hydrovolts was one of four winners at the Regional Cleantech Open Business Competition. The awards highlight the broad scope of clean technologies and competencies of the Pacific Northwest. Hydrovolts won the sustainability award for their detailed plans for daily-operational environmental sustainability - a hallmark emphasis of the Cleantech Open. Read more or contact Evan Scandling.

Local information technology firm continues support to hundreds of clients

nGenuity Information Security, a Tri-Cities based information technology company, recently partnered with TekSolid IT Solutions to assume IT services for their clients as TekSolid ceases to operate. Focused on internet security and information technology services, nGenuity will continue providing computer, network and security support to TekSolid's clients. Contact Stephanie Williams at (509) 735-5095. 

Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce unveils Bid Match Service

The Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) at the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce operates the Bid Match service, which is available to subscribers for $135 per year. This time-saving software tool searches over 14,000 sites daily; including military, state, local, and federal government agency websites. Keywords and other search criteria for your business are tailored to correspond with the types of opportunities you seek. The search criteria are then matched to bid leads that are e-mailed to you on a daily basis. Bid Match can also be used as a marketing tool. Contact the PTAC if you would like to enroll in Bid Match or set-up a free one-on-one PTAC counseling session. Contact Ashley Bennington-Coronado at (509) 736-0510.

Energy Storage Supply Chain Project powers up

The new Energy Storage Supply Chain Project allows companies to list and search for technologies and R&D interests in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) supported marketplace, or for intellectual property (IP) and collaborative R&D partnerships. This is the first IP marketplace that exclusively focuses on advanced energy storage topics. There is no charge for posting technologies or for reviewing them. Read more or contact Krysten Oates at (401) 273-4844.

IsoRay Inc. ranked as one of the fastest-growing tech firms in WA

The Technology Fast 500^TM is an annual ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, and clean technology companies in North America. Award winners were selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2005 to 2009. The Richland-based company, IsoRay Inc., ranked fifth on the local rank and 50th on the national 500 list. IsoRay manufactures Cesium-131, a radioactive isotope, which is FDA-cleared for internal radation therapy and used for cancerous tumors located throughout the body. Read more.

Tech Opportunities and Resources

North American Young Generation in Nuclear group looking for new members

A local chapter of the North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NA-YGN) has recently formed and is recruiting members. The aim of the group is to unite young professionals across all nuclear technology companies in the Mid-Columbia.NA-YGN is an international organization focused on the development of the young generation of nuclear science and technology workforce. The Mid-Columbia steering committee includes members from Energy Northwest, Washington River Protection Systems, YAHSGS, and AREVA. Contact NA-YGN for more information or to join.

Call for nominations: Dream Big - Small Business of the Year Award

Deadline: Jan 7. Apply or nominate a small business owner for his or her work and embodiment of the spirit of free enterprise with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award and a $10,000 cash prize courtesy of Sam's Club. Eligible applicants will be judged on staff training and motivation, community involvement, customer service, and business strategies and goals. The business must have less than 250 employees, have gross revenues of less than $20 million in 2009, and be able to attend America's Small Business Summit 2011. Apply online.

Washington Technology Center hiring for SBIR program manager

The Washington Technology Center (WTC) is looking to fill a SBIR Program Manager position. The WTC is a state-chartered economic development organization committed to increasing innovation and technology throughout the state of Washington, in all industries and economic sectors. This position will manage all aspects of WTC's SBIR outreach program, including marketing, planning, and executing SBIR activities and events. This person will report to and partner with the director of innovation programs, to ensure WTC's innovation and funding programs and activities, of which SBIR is a part, are visible and active throughout the state. Apply online.

Resources online

The column "Renewable power needs smart storage solutions" was published in the Tri-City Herald on October 24. The article discusses how the development of effective commercially viable energy storage technologies is critical to renewable energy. Read the article.

Tech Dates and Deadlines

Washington Future Energy Conference

November 9-10. Presented by Washington state and the Northwest Environmental Business Council, this event offers a forum to connect those developing strategies for energy security and economic development with the businesses making them happen. The content will cover energy policy and economic development, the business side of renewable electricity and fuels, and energy efficiency. Register online

MIT Enterprise Forum: Tech to Grid: How Technology Entrepreneurs Can Find Opportunities in the Smart Grid Revolution

November 10.Seattle entrepreneur David Kaplan will describe how he built upon experience gained at Microsoft and other leading technology companies to build V2Green, the first platform for connecting electric vehicles with the power grid-and how the company was sold successfully to Gridpoint in 2008. An expert panel discussion of future opportunities follows with Mike Davis of PNNL and Michael Atkinson of Alstrom Grid. Register online.

TRIDEC's Hanford Land Use survey

Deadline: Nov 13.TRIDEC is requesting the Tri-Cities' community's support in taking a short survey that will help gauge the area's opinions as to what should be done with 60 of the 586 square miles of Hanford land that will be available for industrial use. The survey results, paired with the responses from four public meetings held in September will be used by TRIDEC to formulate an official community position on how the land should be used. This position will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy at a DOE public meeting that is tentatively being scheduled for December. Take the survey here. Contact Gary Petersen at (509) 735-1000.

Three Rivers Entrepreneur Network November Seminar - Trade Secrets: the quiet alternative to patents

November 16. The Three Rivers Entrepreneur Network presents its November seminar: "Trade Secrets-the quiet alternative to patents." For the intellectual property owner seeking to intelligently manage its portfolio, trade secrets are a key element that should not be overlooked. Jeff Sakoi of Seed Intellectual Property Law Group, will provide examples of trade secrets, provide insight into identifying them, and discuss strategies to protect and derive value from them. Register online.

PNNL This Month

PNNL battery technology is viable alternative to lithium-ion batteries for storing wind, solar power on electric grid

A redesign of sodium-nickel chloride batteries promises to overcome some of the obstacles long associated with rechargeable batteries. Replacing their typical cylindrical shape with a flat disc design allows the battery to deliver 30 percent more power at lower temperatures because of the efficiencies gained with a flat surface. Because the battery's main components include abundant materials such as alumina, sodium chloride and nickel, it could be less expensive to manufacture than a lithium-ion battery but still offer the performance necessary to compete for consumers' interest. Read more or contact Annie Haas at (509) 375-3732.

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