Tri-Cities Tech Business Update

January 2013 Issue

Tech News and Notes

Vorbeck Materials Awarded $1.5M ARPA-E Grant

Congratulations to Vorbeck Materials Corp. on being awarded a two-year, $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) to develop a low-cost, fast-charging battery for hybrid vehicles. The technology was licensed from PNNL and if successful, the system has the potential to shorten recharge times by a factor of three, maintain high battery capacity, and increase the efficiency of hybrid vehicles by up to 20% while also reducing cost and emissions. In partnership with PNNL and Princeton University, high performance batteries with record breaking energy density capacities have already been demonstrated. In 2012, Vorbeck was selected as one of three winners in the Department of Energy's Next Top Energy Innovator challenge recognizing the advancements in energy storage enabled by this novel graphene technology, and the technology received a 2012 R&D100 Award. Read more...

BURN Design Lab Awarded $120K Grant from the Washington Global Health Fund

The Washington Global Health Fund (WGHF) awarded a $120,000 grant to Washington-based BURN Design Lab (BDL), manufacturer of customized biomass stove solutions to meet the cooking needs of the developing world. The funding will be used to help develop an even lower-cost charcoal stove, making fuel-efficient stoves available over the next 10 years to 5 million more people living within the poorest, most under-developed parts of East Africa. Testing by PNNL researchers -- made available with funding through the Laboratory's Economic Development Office's Technology Assistance Program -- was instrumental to advancing product development, and included measuring the emissions from the advanced cook stove design in real time (size and concentration of particles). Members of the WGHF board selected this round of grantees based on each organization's development of a global health device ready for commercialization, and on their job creation in Washington State. Read more...

The "First-Inventor-to-File" Patent System

Under the provisions of the America Invests Act (AIA), signed into law in September 2011, the longstanding first-to-invent patent system will be replaced with what is often called a "first-inventor-to-file" system for patent applications, effective March 16, 2013 or later. In the meantime, the specifics of first-inventor-to-file and its potential impact will receive a range of media coverage. Brookings Institution provides six ways for entrepreneurs to not only survive but to thrive as they navigate through this transition in the patent system. One of the tips is to consider the use of provisional applications, which can be a cost-effective way of obtaining priority date without incurring the full expenses of a non-provisional application (however, they too involve their own obligations and risks). Read more...

Basic Connections are Important for Entrepreneurs

Software pioneer Ray Ozzie emphasizes the importance of basic connections -- financial and otherwise -- that are forged among entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors in the startup community through programs such as TechStars. He emphasized, "Everything that things become are a connected sequence of events that you can't predict. I might not be here today if it weren't for several very simple connections." Read more...

Washington State Tops Study on Tech Jobs

Washington State has the greatest concentration of technology jobs in the U.S. A whopping 11.4 percent of jobs in Washington State are tied to the tech economy, more than double the national average. And every local high-tech job has a multiplier of four more jobs in the economy. Read more...

DOE Looks at Industrial Development on Hanford Land

The U.S. Department of Energy is starting an environmental assessment on 4,400 acres of land on the Hanford nuclear reservation with the goal of transferring that land to the community for industrial development purposes. TRIDEC, the City of Richland and the Port of Benton have requested 1,641 acres near the Tri-Cities Research District in Richland. DOE decided to look at more acres than requested because it may still have need for some of the land to be studied. The land that the community has asked for includes one 900-acre site that could be used for one or two large developments that might create between 2,000 and 3,000 jobs, and four smaller 100- or 200-acre sites that would support 400 or 500 jobs. The community's goal is to replace jobs lost as the Hanford cleanup effort continues and federal funds for cleanup decline due to budget cutbacks. Read more...

Tech Opportunities and Resources

LSDF Accepting Pre-Proposals

The Life Science Discovery Fund is currently accepting pre-proposals from Washington for-profit and non-profit organizations for both Proof of Concept and Opportunity grants. Up to $6.5 million is available for award through June 2013. For more details, please visit the LSDF website at http://www.lsdfa.org/, email programs@lsdfa.org, or call 206-456-9577.

Apps for Vehicles Challenge

The Department of Energy (DOE) has launched the Apps for Vehicles Challenge, which is looking for the best business plans, app ideas, and product designs that use open vehicle data to help vehicle owners save fuel, save money, and stay safe. The DOE's Vehicle Technologies Program is sponsoring $50,000 in prizes for the best business plans and products that can improve safety and fuel efficiency through technology innovation. The deadline for the first phase of the competition is January 15, 2013; if you are interested in this competition, please register today for the Apps for Vehicles Challenge. The best plans and products will be selected for phase two of the competition, and the teams will have the opportunity to work with the Energy Department and private sector automotive experts to put their app design into action. Read more...

Innovate Washington Launches SBIR/STTR Funding Program

Innovate Washington, the statewide public-private partnership that is the catalyst for economic growth in Washington's innovation economy, has launched its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant-writing program.  Under the program, Innovate Washington provides grant-writing support for qualified Washington-based small technology businesses interested in applying for SBIR/STTR Phase I federal R&D funding. The program's primary goals include enlisting first-time SBIR/STTR participants as well as those in rural and economically disadvantaged areas, minority and women-owned businesses, and to increase their chances of submitting a successful proposal. Read more...

ExportWashington.com Offers Exporters a Portal to Support Services

The Washington State Department of Commerce has launched a new site, ExportWashington.com, to help the State's small- and medium-sized businesses find local, state, and federal resources to support their export strategies. The site helps companies that want to build or expand their export plans, find export grants or loans, consult with a trained commerce trade specialist, or find local and international opportunities to connect with potential customers or partners. Additionally, the site features profiles of successful Washington State exporters in industries such as agriculture, technology, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing. Read more...

Free Online Courses to Improve Software Skills

Computer software training is available for free to Washington residents through the Employment Security Department. In addition to the Microsoft courses ESD has offered for the past two years, a new contract with Skillsoft will broaden course selection to include Adobe, Apple, IBM, Intuit, SAP, and others. Registered users can take as many of the online courses as desired, according to their own schedule. Read more...

Tech Dates and Deadlines

New Routes for U.S.-Japan Collaboration / Ambassadorial Outreach Tour

January 7. U.S. Ambassador to Japan, John Roos, will kick off his "New Routes for U.S.-Japan Collaboration" Outreach Tour in Seattle at "The Future of U.S.-Japan Technology Collaboration," a seminar designed to showcase the U.S.-Japan trade and investment relationships and new opportunities in the information technology, aviation, energy efficiency, materials science, logistics and retail sectors. The event, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., is designed to focus on collaboration and trade opportunities in Japan, Washington State's third largest export destination. Read more...

Venture Investment and Partnering Forum

January 10 - 11. Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical's Venture Investment and Partnering (VIP) Forums present a unique opportunity for local life science entrepreneurs, companies and researchers to meet with quality investors and strategic partners. This VIP forum presents Bristol-Myers Squibb, a global biopharma company focused on discovering, developing and delivering innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis and psychiatric disorders.  Read more... 

Women in Business Conference

January 23. The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce will host the second annual Tri-Cities Women in Business Conference, presented by Washington River Protection Solutions, at the TRAC Center in Pasco. The Conference is a one-day event that brings corporate executives, leading business women, and business owners together with women of varied business experience and career levels. The purpose of the conference is to enhance communications and networking skills in order to maximize relationships. Attendees will engage with local experts presenting on various personal and professional topics, panel discussions, and interactive exercises. Read more...

Economic Outlook Summit

January 24. The 14th Annual Tri-Cities Economic Outlook will be held at the Three Rivers Convention Center from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm. This half-day event presents key industrial issues facing the Tri-Cities area. Economic forecast topics include: Retail, U.S. DOE Hanford Site, Agribusiness, Hospitality, Healthcare, Real Estate, and the U.S. Economy. This year's luncheon speaker is Linda Duessel, Federated Equity Management's Senior Vice President, who will be speaking on "National Economic & Market Outlook - Dividends for the Short, Intermediate and Long Term." Read more...

PTAC Class: Developing Your Capability Statement

January 29. A capability statement is like a resume, only you use it for Government contracting. It provides potential clients with a concise overview of your company's qualifications and experience. A strong capability statement is essential to set you apart from your competition. The class will be from 9-10am at the Tri-Cities Business & Visitor Center and will cover the effective use of capability statements, types of capability statements, and essential elements and examples to help you effectively sell to the government customers. Read more...

PNNL This Month

PNNL Recognized for Transferring Innovations to the Marketplace

PNNL has been recognized for creating technologies or processes that can store large amounts of renewable energy until it's needed, fight cancer, and detect explosives, and then moving the innovations to the marketplace. The Federal Laboratory Consortium recently announced that the Laboratory is receiving three 2013 Excellence in Technology Transfer awards. With these awards, PNNL has been honored by the FLC more than any other federal laboratory, collecting 78 awards since the program began in 1984. Read more...

PNNL Part of Winning Team for Energy Storage Hub

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is part of a team led by Argonne National Laboratory that will receive $120 million from the Department of Energy to establish a new batteries and energy storage research hub called the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research, or JCESR. The JCESR team will tap into PNNL's extensive experience and capabilities in fundamental and applied sciences. Researchers from the Laboratory will develop new high-resolution tools to understand complex electrochemical reactions as they occur within working batteries, as well as determine why batteries ultimately fail. PNNL will receive $15 million over five years. Read more...

Strike a Balance with Flexible Working Arrangements

Teleworking is not a brand new concept, but is certainly gaining steam as employers and employees alike try to find ways to meet a variety of wants and needs. There are benefits to both sides when it comes to offering flexible working arrangements such as teleworking. For businesses attempting to meet sustainability targets by reducing employee commuting and associated impacts to energy and environment, the benefits of this option can really add up. 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 Diane Kahler or call (509) 372-4133.

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