Tri-Cities Tech Business Update

August 2011 Issue

Tech News and Notes

Army Funds InnovaTek for Portable Power Technology

The U.S. Army is looking for a solution that replaces batteries for powering portable electronic devices and Richland-based InnovaTek has the answer - a miniature fuel processor that produces clean hydrogen from butanol for a fuel cell.  After successfully completing a Phase I feasibility study of its technology, InnovaTek received word from the Department of Defense (DoD) that it was selected to receive $750,000 for the second phase of research and development. Read more...

Bruker Elemental (Handheld) Donates S1 Sorter to SIGN

Bruker Elemental has donated a S1 SORTER handheld XRF alloy analyzer to Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN). John Landefeld, Managing Director of Bruker Elemental's Handheld division, said "In the past, we have provided pro bono analytical services to SIGN; however their growth had driven the need for an on-site instrument, so we are happy to provide this to SIGN. Their mission is a blessing to many underprivileged populations, and we are happy that we could help them sustain their growth, as they extend their mission into more regions around the world." Read more...

Washington State LSDF Helps Launch Three New Programs to Advance Health Research and Development

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. The programs will be led by University of Washington investigators in partnership with collaborators across the state. Read more...

WSU-TC, Community Partners to Build On-Campus Stage for Outdoor Events

For years, Tri-Cities residents have desired a riverside event venue that could handle university events such as graduation ceremonies, as well as being available to the broader community for outdoor concerts and theater performances. Washington State University-Tri-Cities (WSU-TC) campus officials and others in the Tri-Cities Research District have been working to develop an amphitheater on the WSU-TC campus that could meet these needs, but funding for the project has proven to be elusive. Now, due to the generosity of the Columbia Center Rotary Club, Meier Architecture/Engineering in Kennewick and the City of Richland, an interim solution may be at hand in the form of a fully-functioning stage that could be used for a variety of events overlooking the Columbia River on the WSU-TC campus. Read more...

Tri-Cities recruiting foreign investors through green card program

At the July Three Rivers Entrepreneur Network meeting, Stew Stone, a real estate developer, spoke on the government's EB-5 program which allows for the transfer of foreign capital into the U.S. to be used for the development of different types of companies, while creating much needed jobs in the U.S. Stone has been working on projects in the Tri-Cities for the last nine years and is also the CEO of the Tri-Cities Investment District LLC, working on bringing in foreign investors to the area, and is finalizing approvals with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service for the creation of an "EB-5 Regional Center" in the Tri-Cities. Read more...

Kauffman Foundation Launches Online Entrepreneurship Program

A new, inspiring online education program designed to engage students in the unlimited opportunities that an entrepreneurial mindset can provide was recently launched. Backed by the support of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the world's largest foundation dedicated to advancing entrepreneurship, the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program is an interactive online learning program that enables participants to learn from the firsthand experiences of successful real-world entrepreneurs. Read more...

Canal of the Month

The Roza Canal runs about 90 miles through the Yakima River Valley near Sunnyside, Washington. The canal varies in width and the narrow sections are lined with concrete to prevent erosion from the fast-flowing water that runs through those sections. Canals such as this are ideal sites for Hydrovolts turbines. The turbines are used to harness energy from the flow of water in canals. Unlike hydropower turbines in rivers or the ocean, Hydrovolts turbines take advantage of already zoned and installed water infrastructure. That means they're not likely to disturb marine life where they're installed. They also float and are portable.

Tech Opportunities and Resources

Online Export Assistance Portal and Workshops

The Washington Small Business Development Council has launched an online export assistance portal for Washington small business owners who want to explore and expand their international trade. The no-cost portal includes an export readiness assessment, export resources, an interactive tool defining the trade process, and online training. The comprehensive guide is a great resource for business owners doing some initial exploration, as well as business owners committed to moving forward in international markets. Read more...

NASA 2011 SBIR and STTR Solicitation Notices

Eligible small businesses are invited to submit proposals in response to the NASA 2011 solicitation. The NASA 2011 technical topics and subtopics support the NASA Mission Directorates of Space Operations, Aeronautics Research, Science, and Exploration Systems. It is anticipated that the NASA 2011 solicitation will identify specific product areas within each subtopic that NASA wishes to emphasize. Proposals are due September 8, 2011, 5:00 pm Eastern time. Read more...

2011 Commercialization Grant Competition

The Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) is now accepting pre-proposals in the second round of the 2011 commercialization grant competition. LSDF commercialization grants support small-scale, targeted studies that move promising technologies along the commercialization pathway and reduce the risk of further development. Funded grants will describe clearly how the scientific and technical work will be coordinated with development of the commercial opportunity. Applicants must be Washington state governmental or non-profit entities. For-profit entities are not eligible to apply directly for funding but are encouraged to collaborate with eligible organizations. Read more...

Small Business Postdoctoral Research Diversity Fellowship

The Small Business Postdoctoral Research Diversity Fellowship program aims to encourage creative and highly-trained recipients of doctoral degrees in National Science Foundation-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematical disciplines to engage in hands-on research projects in their areas of expertise at the kind of small innovative businesses that historically have fueled the nation's economic regime. The fellowship program offers active Phase II Small Business Innovation Research participating companies the opportunity to attract top scientific and technological talent at a fraction of the usual cost. At the same time, the program recruits postdoctoral fellows from underrepresented groups to work for at least a year outside an academic setting, contributing to cutting-edge research aimed at promoting scientific excellence, and strengthening our nation's technological prowess. Read more...

Tech Dates and Deadlines

Federal Funding Opportunities

August 15. The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has announced three new Federal Funding Opportunities under its Research and National Technical Assistance programs, which fund research and technical assistance projects to promote competitiveness and innovation in distressed rural and urban regions throughout the United States and its territories. Promoting Sustainable Working Waterfronts: A Toolkit for Community and Economic Development Practitioners, Research Design Project, and Best Practices in Attracting Foreign Direct Investment and Expanding Exports in U.S. Regions and the Role of Regional Industry Clusters. Applications for each are due on August 15, 2011.

Catalyst Awards Nominations Now Open

August 17. The Catalyst Awards recognize contributions by individuals, organizations and businesses that demonstrate the utilization of innovation and technology to bring economic growth and prosperity to the region.?? Nominations are now open and must be submitted no later than August 17. Read more...

Smartmap Expo 2011

September 28 - 29. Find out which advanced manufacturing concepts work for you, and which don't . . . by registering today to exhibit or attend the Premier manufacturing Networking Event in the Pacific Northwest, Smartmap Expo. The Expo will feature the latest technologies, products, and services; offer the opportunity to locate new suppliers and service providers; and allow you to network with industry professionals and meet new customers. Read more...

2011 Inland Northwest Manufacturers Expo - Connecting Manufacturers. Growing Business. Creating Jobs

October 11 and 12. Greater Spokane Incorporated and the Manufacturer's Round Table is proud to bring a new event to the Inland Northwest-the 2011 Inland Northwest Manufacturing Expo. The two-day event brings together manufacturers and suppliers from around the Inland Northwest showcasing the diversity of manufacturing business taking place throughout our region. The event offers face-to-face interaction between regional manufacturers and suppliers in the interest of maximizing the local contribution in this industry. Read more...

7th Annual Oregon Lab2Market Entrepreneurship Intensive

August 31 - September 1. Targeting innovators with early-stage ideas, the Oregon Lab2Market Entrepreneurship Intensive is an experiential workshop to help shape good ideas to reach the marketplace. The workshop integrates lectures and exercises to help entrepreneurs critically asses their business idea and refine their elevator pitch. Applicants must commit to attending the whole two days of the workshop. Application deadline is August 7. Read more...

National Renewable Energy Laboratory's 24th Industry Growth Forum

November 8 - 10. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) Industry Growth Forum is the United States' premier event for emerging clean energy and energy efficiency technology startups to gain exposure to and feedback from venture capitalists, corporate investors, government agencies, and strategic partners. It features presentations from 30 emerging clean energy companies, provocative panels led by thought leaders, one-on-one meetings, and organized networking opportunities. It is the perfect venue for growing companies to prepare, refine, and present their businesses to a wide range of potential investors. The best presenters are awarded cash prizes and commercialization services from NREL. Application deadline to be a presenting startup is August 19. Read more...

PNNL This Month

PNNL Wins Two FLC Far West Regional Awards

The Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) Far West Region has bestowed upon PNNL two 2011 awards for Outstanding Commercialization Success. The winning technologies include: Low Noise Quantum Cascade Laser Current Controller (QCL), which is a laser power source that when used in laser-based gas sensors enables scientists to more accurately detect smaller levels of trace gases than would otherwise be possible; the Propylene Glycol from Renewable Sources (PGRS) process offers a commercially proven, cost-effective way to make propylene glycol-used in numerous household products around the world-from renewable, rather than petroleum-based, feedstocks.

Mentor-Protege Program

Are you looking to get a technology-based business off the ground or to the next level? Would you like to be teamed with a seasoned professional in your field who can offer advice on how to develop and define a strong business strategy? Then PNNL's Mentor-Protégé program could be for you. This free program pairs executives with companies/individuals to help grow their business. 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- Versatile Probes for Enhanced Protein Behavior Mapping.
Researchers at PNNL have developed new probes that specifically bind to peptide tags, which are amino acid sequences engineered into any protein targeted for researcher observation. These multi-use affinity probes facilitate versatile, thorough mapping of various protein behaviors. Read more...

SBIR Alerting Service

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's free, award-winning SBIR/STTR Alerting Service is a nationwide resource that improves small business access to a substantial source of R&D capital for entrepreneurial ventures. Many entrepreneurial ventures nationwide rely on funding from the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs as their primary source of capital for technology development and early-stage commercialization. The Alerting Service searches for and consolidates funding solicitations and other information from multiple agency websites and issues an electronic alert bi-weekly at no cost to subscribers. 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