Tri-Cities Tech Business Update

October 2011 Issue

Tech News and Notes

Boeing, PNNL, Imperium selected for DOE Aviation Fuels Consortium

LanzaTech is leading a partnership consisting of Imperium Renewables, Boeing, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory that has been chosen to receive up to $4 million from the Department of Energy to continue work to develop renewable jet fuel. The grant is one of three projects announced by Energy Secretary Steven Chu to strengthen energy security, and diversify the nation's energy portfolio. "These investments aim to accelerate the discovery of innovative solutions that could drive down the cost of biofuels production and boost their availability in the marketplace," Chu said. Read more...

WA included in Obama Administration initiative to spur job creation

The Obama Administration announced the winners of the $37 million Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge, a multi-agency competition launched in May to support the advancement of 20 high-growth, regional industry clusters. Investments from three federal agencies and technical assistance from 13 additional agencies will promote development in areas such as advanced manufacturing, information technology, aerospace, and clean technology, in rural and urban regions in 21 states. Projects are driven by local communities that identify the economic strengths of their areas, with funding awarded to the best proposals. Read more...

UW and UO included in Princeton Review's list of top 50 entrepreneurship programs

The Princeton Review surveys more than 2,000 schools each year to rank the 50 best entrepreneurship programs. Its annual ranking of the top 25 undergraduate and top 25 graduate entrepreneurship programs offered at U.S. institutions provides a picture of the best places to get schooled. Read more...

Device made by Richland company cleared by FDA

The Food and Drug Administration has cleared IsoRay's GliaSite radiation therapy system, a balloon catheter device used in the treatment of brain cancer. IsoRay, based in Richland, said the radiation therapy system will allow doctors to treat more brain cancer patients than previously possible with conventional methods of delivering radiation. Read more...

Tri-Cities ranks #6 for wage growth

In its latest analysis, Garner Economics' research economist Tom Tveidt reports on the latest hourly earnings among all U.S. metros. This report focuses on earnings rankings, growth, and the impact of inflation. The analysis contains a listing of all 372 metros and earnings rankings as of July 2011. Read more...

Obama Nominates Spokane Mayor to Institute Board

President Obama announced his intent to nominate Spokane's mayor, Mary B. Verner, to a key administration post as a member of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS). Mayor Verner has a broad range of experience in business, law, planning, policy development, program design, and management. She has served on a wide variety of local boards and regional associations, and headed her city's programs to retrofit residential, commercial, and public buildings to be energy-efficient. She has led on the issue of sustainability and making Spokane a hub for green and clean-tech businesses. Read more...

Bruker's Jack Selby receives IEC 1906 award

Jack Selby, Radiological Safety Officer at Bruker Elemental's manufacturing plant in Kennewick, WA, was recently awarded the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 1906 Award. This award was created by the Officers of the IEC to commemorate the founding of the Commission and to honor those experts who have made an exceptional contribution to the development of an IEC standard. Read more...

Tech Opportunities and Resources

Small Business Incentive Program Grant Applications

The Small Business Incentive Program was established by the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce (TCRCC) in 2011 through funding from Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS). TCRCC and WRPS have partnered to support and strengthen local small businesses by awarding free software, training, company website, and/or equipment. Applicants can choose multiple options, if desired. Each item will require a completed narrative statement. Anticipated per-award value in each category is $500-$1,000. Only TCRCC members are eligible. Applications are due by Oct. 17. Read more...

Innovation Engineering Leadership Institute

Sometimes it seems that when people talk innovation, they think innovation is only about coming up with the next iPad. And for the U.S. economy, we do need to lead the way in innovating bold new technologies. But sometimes, a new and profitable innovation can be as simple as a new way of doing something that saves your company thousands of dollars, or offering a valuable new service to your existing customers. Innovation Engineering Leadership Institute offers business owners valuable new ideas that they can use in their own business. The Institute offers comprehensive business and leadership training. The fall summit is brought to you by Impact Washington and is being held in Blaine, WA November 14-16. Read more...

The Shared-Work Program

If you are facing a temporary decline in business, the Shared-Work Program, operated by the Washington State Employment Security Department, offers you an alternative to laying off workers. The program allows you to reduce the work hours of your full-time employees, while the workers collect partial unemployment benefits to replace a portion of their lost wages. The program helps you retain your skilled workers, reduce your payroll costs, and avoid the expense of recruiting, hiring, and training new employees when the economy improves. Read more...

Tech Dates and Deadlines

Best of BOMA's Energy Efficiency Program

October 3 & 5. Learn the essential elements of successful energy management at a two-part series hosted by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of the Tri-Cities. Best of BEEP (BOMA Energy Efficiency Program) will focus on teaching commercial real estate professionals how to reduce energy consumption while Energy Benchmarking Using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager will teach you how to utilize the Environmental Protection Agency's essential tools for energy management and energy savings. Read more...

Meet the buyers: doing business with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

October 6. Learn how to sell your product or service to the US Army Corps of Engineers. Scott Beckstrand, Small Business Deputy for the Walla Walla District will be discussing what they buy, how they buy, where to locate solicitations, what's upcoming, and more. The seminar will be held at the Tri-Cities Business & Convention Center from 9:30 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. 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 bringing 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 the 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...

Regional Open for Business Expo

October 26. The Open for Business Expo, sponsored by the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce and Gesa Credit Union, is a large scale networking and educational event designed to facilitate the business-to-business process by bringing businesses, and their products and services together with key decision makers. This event is valuable to all sizes and levels of businesses from start-up to established large corporations. Read more...

From the Laboratory to Leadership

November 2. From the Laboratory to Leadership turns science-minded managers into capable business leaders. Hosted by the Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association (WBBA), this four-day (one day a week for four weeks) program was developed exclusively for managers in scientific fields, and includes company and industry relevant case studies, practical and engaging exercises, down-loadable support tools for each session, and a manual designed to personalize the training for each participant. Add it all up, and From the Laboratory to Leadership brings out the best in your managers - which brings out the best performance from your company. Read more...

The Innovation Showcase

November 3. The Innovation Showcase, a program of the Technology Alliance, helps bridge the gap between research and commercialization by highlighting the most promising discoveries and new technologies ready for commercialization in Washington. This quarterly event, attended by a cross-section of our state's startup leaders, promotes the idea sharing and networking that helps turn research into results. Showcase attendees include investors, service providers, serial entrepreneurs, and others in the commercialization field. 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 an 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 a 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. Read more...

PNNL This Month

PNNL scientist receives presidential award

A bioanalytical chemist at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is receiving a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Announced by the White House, the PECASE award is the highest honor given by the U.S. government to scientists and engineers who are in the early stage of their research careers. A total of 94 researchers are being recognized this year through the award program, including PNNL bioanalyltical chemist Wei-Jun Qian. Read more...

EDO launches revamped website

We've updated our website! The PNNL Economic Development Office's website has been refreshed to improve navigation, and we've added new features for events and news on the homepage, as well as a continued presence of our Facebook page. Be sure to stop by and review all the great programs and resources available to businesses and entrepreneurs, and to learn how you may be able to tap into technology experts, facilities, and other resources available at the Lab! www.pnnl.gov/edo/

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. This site changes as new technologies become available so you are encouraged to subscribe to receive automatic e-mail updates about technology areas that interest you.  Read more...

EDO on Facebook

Supplement your monthly Tech Business Update reading with regular visits to the Economic Development Office's Facebook page! Daily postings provide real-time information on news and events, opportunities and resources, and other information about and for Washington technology businesses. Check it out and ‘like' the page so PNNL Economic Development Office postings show on your own Facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/PNNL.EconomicDevelopment

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