Tri-Cities Tech Business Update

January 2012 Issue

Tech News and Notes

NASA SBIR Phase I grant awarded to Infinia

Kennewick-based Infinia has been awarded a NASA SBIR Phase I contract for a Modular Stirling Power System (MSPS). Development of the MSPS concept opens many avenues of application for commercial and government markets. Within NASA, the system will provide mission support for future space transportation and surface power with a very reliable, high-efficiency Stirling converter for conversion of reactor heat into electricity. Read more...

Hydrovolts named a Global Innovator in the LAUNCH: ENERGY Challenge

Seattle-based Hydrovolts has been identified as one of ten innovators of LAUNCH: Energy, a competition founded by NASA, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Department of State, and NIKE, Inc. LAUNCH: Energy is a unique initiative formed to identify solutions to the world's most urgent sustainability challenges. Hydrovolts was selected for its unique and affordable Switchblade turbine and Flipwing turbine rotor that enables reliable hydroelectricity generation from canals and other managed-flow water courses. Read more...

Energy Department announces new Agreements for Commercializing Technology initiative

DOE announced a pilot program that could be used to make it easier for businesses to work in partnership with national labs to bring new technology to the market. The new Agreements for Commercializing Technology (ACT) program would remove barriers for industry to work with national labs and bring job-creating innovations to market. In January, the Department will announce the laboratories selected to participate in the pilot. Read more...

Export Voucher program

Export Washington is a program developed by the State of Washington Department of Commerce to increase the number of small business concerns (SBC) which export; in addition the program intends to increase the value of goods and services currently being exported by SBCs. The Export Voucher program is designed to provide flexibility and encourage innovative use of funds to meet the specific export needs of Washington companies. The Export Voucher program will be used to reimburse eligible SBCs for specific export related expenses. Export Voucher awards will be based on funds available, the number of applications submitted, and the strength and completeness of the applications. Read more...

Workforce-Economic Development presentations on-line

If you missed the 2011 Washington Economic Development Association (WEDA) Spring/Summer Conference, which focused on workforce and economic development collaborations, you can now watch all the presentations online. The website allows viewers to continue the discussion by posting comments and asking questions. Read more...

Submit comments on EDA's proposed regulations

The Economic Development Association (EDA) published a Federal Register Notice requesting public comment on proposed revisions to the agency's regulations, particularly ways EDA can provide better customer service through its programs and processes, and more efficiently leverage resources to help communities reach their goals. Read more...

Best-performing cities 2011

Tri-Cities is one of the best-performing metros in the country, ranking #10 amongst the largest 200 metros! Leaders in this year's best-performing city index, which ranks U.S. metros based on their ability to create and sustain jobs, are cities that most benefited from renewed investment in business equipment; have diversified technology bases, which also drive growth in business and professional services; are exposed to America's booming energy sector; and are home to a large military presence. Read more...

Tech Opportunities and Resources

$100K competition offered by Intel Innovators

Intel Innovators will award $100K/month to young entrepreneurs. Intel Innovators is a new nationwide competition on Facebook launched to discover, empower, and award the next generation of young entrepreneurs with the best game-changing technology ideas up to $100,000 every month! If you are 18-24 and have an idea or start-up that can change the world, submit it now. Read more...

Life Sciences Discovery Fund launches new grant competition

The Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) is launching a new grant competition to help position eligible early-stage Washington state life sciences companies for near-term equity investment. The PreCede grant competition will support research and development activities focused on validating the commercial merit of promising health-related technologies, such as proof-of-concept studies or prototype construction and testing. LSDF will hold public information sessions across Washington in January and February to describe the competition in greater detail and meet with potential applicants. Read more...

Nova Innovation Competition 2012 announced

Nova Innovation Competition 2012 is now accepting entries. Entrepreneurs specializing in building materials, energy, and environmental sustainability are invited to compete for more than $60,000 in capital and partnership opportunities. Sponsored by Saint-Gobain, the competition rewards start-up businesses offering innovations in sustainable construction products cash prizes and access to partnership opportunities with Saint-Gobain. Start-up companies are invited to submit entries that demonstrate the quality of their value propositions and potential synergies with Saint-Gobain. Read more...

Tech Business Directory

PNNL's Economic Development Office has updated its Tech Business Directory, a database of technology-based businesses in the Tri-Cities area. The database is available for free at http://www.pnl.gov/edo/tbdirectory/. It contains listings for approximately 250 businesses in Benton and Franklin Counties, sorted by company name and by sector, and it will be updated monthly. It contains a description of each business's products and services as well as publicly available contact information for each firm. To have your company considered for inclusion in a future edition of the directory, please contact Robin Conger (robin.conger@pnnl.gov).

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: $2.2 billion in annual federal research and development funds from 11 federal agencies. The Alerting Service searches for and consolidates funding solicitations and other information from multiple agency websites and issues an electronic alert bi-weekly. Read more...

The Tri-City Procurement Technical Assistance Center

Interested in selling your products or services to ports, cities, counties, school districts, colleges, state agencies, federal agencies, or others? Tri-City Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) services are free, and include helping you with how to begin, assisting with registrations and certifications, locating contacts, reviewing proposals, assisting with locating teaming partners, and more. If your business is woman-owned, veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, or minority-owned, PTAC can help with special steps that may be applicable for you, or certifications that could be beneficial for your business. For more information regarding PTAC, contact Ashley Bennington-Coronado at 509-736-0510 or ashley.coronado@tricityregionalchamber.com.

Tech Dates and Deadlines

Entrepreneurship 101 webcasts

January. MaRS is where science, technology, and social entrepreneurs get the help they need. The organization is offering a free, non-credit introductory course on entrepreneurship that introduces individuals to the nuts and bolts of building a business. Entrepreneurship 101 is MaRS's flagship weekly lecture series featuring enlightening lectures on key topics related to starting a successful business, aimed at social innovators and technology and life sciences researchers and trainees. Read more...

TREN EVENT: Navigating compensation issues to help sail past risks & litigation

January TREN speaker: Sandra Muller

January 17. People most often think of compensation as bonus pay for a job well done, but compensation is much more than just the monetary rewards provided by an employer. According to Milkovitch and Newman in their book, "Compensation", it is "all forms of financial returns and tangible services and benefits employees receive as part of an employment relationship." This can include salaries, incentives, insurance, paid vacation and sick days, pension plans, and employee discounts. An organization's compensation practices can have far-reaching effects on its competitive advantage. To remain competitive, companies must find ways to control labor costs. January's Three Rivers Entrepreneur Network (TREN) meeting will focus on key areas of the compensation plan, what to watch out for, and hot compensation topics. Read more...

Tri-Cities 2012 Economic Outlook

January 18. The Tri-Cities Regional Economic Outlook is one of the most prestigious and anticipated annual community forum events in eastern Washington. Providing valuable research and statistical data related to industry trends for the coming year, the 13th Annual Economic Outlook provides economic forecasts for: Real Estate, Healthcare, Agribusiness, Retail, Hospitality, PNNL and the U.S. Department of Energy Hanford Site. Read more...

Young Professionals in Energy January Happy Hour

January 18. Young Professionals in Energy - Tri-Cities presents its January Happy Hour speaker, Bernie Hansen, as he shares how professionals can benefit from working with an experienced mentor who can provide guidance for career and business growth. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, a leader in energy research and innovation, established the Mentor-Protégé Program to help technology-based organizations and individuals overcome business challenges. Read more...

Women in Business Conference

January 24. The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce will host the first annual "Tri-Cities Women in Business" Conference, presented by Washington River Protection Solutions, on Tuesday, January 24^th from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm at the TRAC Center in Pasco. The one-day conference is designed to include professional and personal development with networking opportunities spread throughout the event. Attendees will have an opportunity to learn from some of the Tri-Cities most successful businesswomen, and participate in the "Meet and Mentor" program. Read more...

SBIR/STTR 2012 Phase 1 Release 2 Topics

January 31. Applications are due January 31 for the opportunities presented in the SBIR/STTR Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 2012 Phase I Release 2 Topics. Read more...

PNNL This Month

Research examines proteins for early breast cancer detection

Breast cancer that has spread to a patient’s lung.

Researchers at PNNL continue their search for better ways to detect and treat breast cancer. A comprehensive, collaborative research project is looking for protein biomarkers that can be used for early breast cancer detection with blood tests. Current detection methods - including mammograms and self-exams - typically find breast cancer after it's established. The goal is to find a method to diagnose cancer before it can grow. Read more...

Five PNNL scientists elected AAAS fellows

Five Pacific Northwest National Laboratory scientists have been elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for their efforts to advance science or its applications. The PNNL honorees and the AAAS sections that elected them are: Nathan Baker, chemistry; Theodore (Ted) Bowyer, physics; Karl Mueller, chemistry; Karin Rodland, biological sciences; and Hussein Zbib, engineering. Read more...

Results are in: green buildings save green

Sustainably designed federal buildings, such as the U.S. Courthouse in Seattle, cost 19 percent less to maintain on average, according to a new PNNL report. Photo courtesy of U.S. District Court.

In addition to emitting less carbon dioxide and using less water, sustainably designed federal buildings cost 19 percent less to maintain, according to a report by the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The results are included in a white paper recently released by the Government Services Administration, or GSA. The GSA commissioned PNNL to conduct a post-occupancy evaluation of 22 "green" federal buildings from across the country. 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