Tri-Cities Tech Business Update

July 2011 Issue

Tech News and Notes

WSU, Port of Benton, PNNL Research Project to Turn Nearly Any Organic Waste into Biofuels

An innovative idea for making advanced biofuels like jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline from regional resources is moving forward at Washington State University Tri-Cities with a grant from the Department of Energy. The "BioChemCat" pilot project will analyze the use of biomass--vineyard waste, feedlot manure, ag waste--from the local community to make biofuels and biochemicals. From concept to product and facility, this is a true Tri-Cities project with worldwide potential. Read more...

Local Company Recognized Nationally

The Bogert Group, a family-owned company of 28 employees located in Pasco, WA, was featured in a video at Manufacturing Extension Partnership's National Innovations Conference in Orlando. The video tells the story of the tremendous growth of Bogert, recognizing the company as "a wonderful example of how important a small manufacturer can be to a community's local economy". Read more...

The Northwest Can Lead the Way

Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest is the nation's first regional stakeholder effort to explore the opportunities and challenges surrounding the production of sustainable aviation fuels. According to a recent report published by Climate Solutions, the Northwest is primed to lead the way. The report concludes that aviation is a critical sector with few low-carbon alternatives, and recommends moving forward on many options including oil seeds like Camelina, forest residues, solid waste, and algae with the Northwest uniquely positioned to address climate change and invest in clean energy. Read more...

Useful Stats: Patents per 100K Residents by State, 2005-2010

Would you be surprised to learn that Washington State ranks #2 in the country for US Patents and Patents per 100K residents? According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Washington State produces more patents per 100K residents than all but one state. Additionally, the number of annual U.S. patents increased from 82,586 in 2005 to 121,179 in 2010. State Science & Technology Institute has prepared several tables examining patent growth over the past five years. Read more...

Green Jobs are Real: U.S. Solar Employs More People than Steel

People want to know: Are green jobs real? The answer is resoundingly "yes." With roughly 93,500 direct and indirect jobs, the American solar industry now employs about 20,000 more workers than the U.S. steel production sector. The American steel industry has historically been a symbol of the country's industrial might and economic prosperity. But today, the solar industry has the potential to overtake that image as we build a new, clean-energy economy. Read more...

What has Science Done for You?

America's National Laboratory system has been changing and improving the lives of millions for more than 80 years. Born at a time of great societal need, this network of Department of Energy laboratories has now grown into 17 facilities, working together as engines of prosperity and invention. America's National Laboratory has compiled a list of 50 Break­throughs which attests National Laboratory discoveries have spawned industries, saved lives, generated new products, fired the imagination, and helped to reveal the secrets of the universe. Rooted in the need to be the best and bring the best, America's National Laboratories have put an American stamp on the past century of science. With equal ingenuity and tenacity, they are now engaged in winning the future. So what has science done for you? Read the report...

U.S. Department of Energy Awards $994,600 to CBC and WSU Tri-Cities

The two higher education institutions in the Tri-Cities collaborated with the Tri-City Development Council to receive a $994,600 award from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management to develop the next generation of project management, nuclear engineering, and radiation safety professionals. Read more...

Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center Receives EDA Grant

A $2 million Public Works Grant was awarded by the Federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) to co-applicants Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center (WCWCC) and Port of Benton. The award represents the final grant capital required for construction of the $4 Million agri-tourism and education center. The $2 Million EDA Grant award complements the long-standing public-private partnership integrating resources and expertise of Federal Housing and Urban Development, Washington State Department of Commerce, Port of Benton, Benton County, City of Prosser, Prosser Economic Development Association, Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund Committee, Washington State University, Washington Wine Commission, private companies, and individuals over the last six years. The building design process will begin immediately with construction scheduled for 2012. Read more...

Washington State Life Sciences Discovery Fund Helps Launch Three New Programs

The Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) announced awards to three multi-institutional teams to support development of improved therapies, and key resources for medical researchers and health-care policymakers. LSDF will allocate up to $8 million among the three programs. Read more...

TREN Event: Providing Foreign Investment for Growth

The Three Rivers Entrepreneur Network (TREN) is an interest group made up of Mid-Columbia entrepreneurs, and business supporters that meets regularly to learn from invited speakers and to network. The next TREN event will be July 19 at the Richland Public Library. July's presentation will focus on the new, local EB-5 (Immigrant Investor) program as an alternative for funding companies and projects in the Tri-Cities area. Read more...

Pay Plus Benefits, Inc. Named One of Washington's Best Workplaces

Puget Sound Business Journal has named Kennewick-based Pay Plus Benefits, Inc. as one of the finalists for Washington's Best Workplaces. The program was launched in 2007 to identify and recognize best practices in the hiring and retention of great people. After an extensive and rigorous process, which included more than 230 nominees and the completion of surveys by nominee-company employees across the state, workplaces in four different categories have been identified as Washington's best, based on their various employee benefit offerings, leadership culture, and work/life balance philosophies. In total, 85 companies have made the grade as finalists. Read more...

Tech Opportunities and Resources

Girls Engineering Design Camp Registration is Now Open

Columbia Basin College (CBC) is hosting a great opportunity for young women who have completed Algebra math to get involved in a non-traditional career path: Engineering. At this one-week summer Design Camp, to be held August 8 - 13, 20 high school girls will have the opportunity to build a robot, compete, and have a great time. For more information, or to register, contact Paige Wyatt (pwyatt@columbiabasin.edu) or Keeley Gant (kgant@columbiabasin.edu).

WBBA Commercialization Corner

Are you forming a company, writing a business plan, or looking to raise capital? Then check out http://www.lifesciencestartup.com/, the Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association (WBBA)-hosted wiki website full of resources and information for early-stage life science entrepreneurs and for experts, mentors, and service providers who have advice and expertise to contribute to the life sciences community in Washington State. Read more...

Tri-City Regional Chamber's Small Business Resource Center Kiosk Unveiled

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce has officially launched its Small Business Resource Center. The Small Business Resource Center provides entrepreneurs and existing businesses with easy access to start-up information, consultation services, educational opportunities, and connections to a network of non-profit and government agency resource partners that offer business-building services to the Tri-City region. Read more...

Tech Dates and Deadlines

New Awards Program for IT Professionals

July 10. Washington Information Technology Awards is a new program created by Seattle Business magazine to recognize the individuals and companies in the IT world that are so critical to our region's prosperity. There are eight categories for entry: Project Team of the Year, IT Service Provider of the Year, Operations Team of the Year, IT Leader of the Year, Geek of the Year, Startup of the Year, Innovation of the Year, and the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Entries are now being accepted. Deadline is July 10. Read more...

DHS Accepting Proposals for FY11 Phase I SBIR Solicitation

July 18. The Department of Homeland Security posted its FY11 Phase 1 SBIR Solicitation, and is accepting proposals until July 18. There are three technical topics: Development of commercial hand-held & backpack neutron detectors; Flexible Form Factor Radiation Monitor; and Growth & Characterization of New, Promising Advanced Scintillator Materials. For details go to http://www.fbo.gov/ and search solicitation # HSHQDC-11-R-00087.

Meet the Hanford Contractors.

July 27. July's Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon will give you a chance to "Meet the Hanford Contractors". The luncheon will take place Wednesday, July 27 at the Three Rivers Convention Center. Registration opens at 11:30 with lunch and the speaker presentations from noon - 1:30. RSVP to 736-0510 or info@tricityregionalchamber.com. Read more...

Green Recognition Awards

July 29. The City of Richland is accepting applications for its seventh annual Green Recognition Awards. The program honors and recognizes businesses, organizations, groups, schools, or individuals for their efforts to help the environment. "Green" practices may include recycling, creative ways of reusing items, reducing water, solid and/or chemical waste, conservation of energy and electricity, or reduction of air pollution emissions. Efforts to clean up or restore our environment, conserve natural resource, or educate the public are also eligible. Being "green" saves money, and protects and preserves the health of our environment and its citizens. The application has been simplified and can be submitted on-line. A reception and awards presentation will take place in the fall. Deadline to submit the application is Friday, July 29. Read more...

Northwest Entrepreneur Network First Look Forum

October 18. Are you at an inflection point in your business and need help taking it to the next level? Are you an innovative, growth-oriented startup, and could benefit from expert coaching and exposure to an investor audience? Look no further than Northwest Entrepreneur Network's (NWEN) signature coaching program and investment showcase: First Look Forum! By applying to NWEN's First Look Forum you will have the chance to access the breadth and depth of coaches, advisors, investors, and more--all dedicating their time and talents to help your business reach the next level of success. Make the commitment to growing your business, and take advantage of the wealth of resources through First Look Forum. This year's event is being held in Seattle on October 18. Read more...

Harvesting Clean Energy Conference

October 23 - 25. The 2011 Harvesting Clean Energy Conference will provide a bounty of practical information, and access to experts across the full range of rural energy opportunities--from wind power, to solar and geothermal, small hydro, biofuels and biopower, food processing innovation, and efficiency technologies that cut energy costs and enhance profitability. Now in its 11^th year, this Northwest-focused energy event comes to Boise Centre on October 23-25, 2011. Previous conferences have brought together over 500 participants to explore the intersections of agriculture, rural development, and clean energy. For complete information on registration, sponsorship, and exhibitor space go to http://www.harvestcleanenergy.org/ or contact Dana Colwell at Dana.Colwell@wsu.edu , 253-445-4575.

PNNL This Month

Mentor-Protege Program

Local small technology-based businesses looking to attract new customers and grow business with existing clientele should look into PNNL Economic Development Office's Mentor-Protégé Program. Through this free program, a professional experienced in business development can help identify new market opportunities and offer advice to assist with business growth. Read more...

Technology Available for Licensing

PNNL technologies and patents that are available for licensing can be found on the Available Technologies website. Search by Portfolio name, by Industry application, or by entering keywords into the dynamic search tool.

Featured Technology: Regulation with Grid Friendly Charger Controller or Demand Response: With increased levels of wind and solar power on the electrical grid, utilities are finding it more difficult to predict their power generation capabilities. At the same time, utilities need regulation resources to counteract the expected minute-to-minute shortages and overages in power generation to meet demand. Researchers at PNNL have invented a way to use grid frequency information to inform smart appliances and devices of how to adjust their operations (i.e. decrease / increase demand) to provide regulation services. Read more...

PNNL Wins Two Prestigious R&D 100 Awards

PNNL technologies that improve manufacturing and mass spectrometry were recognized by R&D Magazine for cutting edge research and development. The winning technologies make metal manufacturing more cost-effective and improve research sample analysis. The awards were among 100 given nationwide through the magazine's annual R&D 100 Awards. PNNL has now won 87 awards since the program began in 1969, including 80 since 1988. Read more...

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