SPRING 2008 WTC NEWS & INFORMATION
2008 Washington State Technology Summit
in Bellevue on April 15
Leading innovators will share the latest breakthroughs in science and technology at the 2008 Washington State Technology Summit at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue on April 15th. This annual CEO summit will focus on emerging trends in clean technology, renewable energy, global health, and advanced materials and manufacturing. Cost: $220.
Research funding proposals due April 24, 2008
Washington Technology Center competitively awards around $1 million annually to applied research projects that show strong potential for generating long-term economic impact in Washington state.
Angel Investing: Valuation and Portfolio Strategies Workshop in Bellevue on April 14
Valuation of pre-revenue companies is one of the most critical issues in the angel investment process, and for angels, valuation and portfolio strategy are linked. This 4-hour workshop is for angel investors, entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial support professionals.
Learn more
Learn more
Prototype 'Bionic' Contact Lens Developed at WTC Lab
Babak Parviz, a UW assistant professor of electrical engineering, heads a multi-disciplinary group developing virtual displays on contact lenses. The prototype contact lenses, with metal connectors for electronic circuits, were manufactured in WTC's Microfabrication Laboratory. "Looking through a completed lens, you would see what the display is generating superimposed on the world outside," said Parviz.
WTC Requests Proposals for Fiscal Year 2009 Services
Proposals are due April 30, 2008 for FY09 Accounting Services and for FY09 Design and Web Development Services.
New Staff Join Washington Technology Center
Brian Cleaver, who comes from Microvision and previously Sharp and HP, takes on the position of Facilities Engineer in the Microfabrication Lab. Matt Hoffman joins WTC as Research Assistant on the DARPA-funded nanolithography project.
CLIENT NEWS
Aculight Awarded $850K SBIR Grant
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program award from the National Institutes of Health will fund a joint effort with the University of Washington to develop a laser-based vestibular implant to treat impaired balance and vision.
Carbon Nanoprobes Closes Equity Financing
Carbon Nanoprobes, a startup company developing high-resolution probes for atomic force microscopy, successfully closed an A-round of investment capital financing and added a Chief Marketing Officer and three new directors to its management team.
Illumigen Biosciences Acquired by Cubist Pharmaceuticals
Illumigen Biosciences of Seattle, a spinoff company from the University of Washington Genome Center, was recently acquired by Cubist Pharmaceuticals of Lexington, Mass. Illumigen's prospective drug to treat Hepatitis C virus was the basis of the acquisition. Illumigen was formed in 2000 by faculty/staff from the Genome Center (housed in the Washington Technology Center facility).
InnovaTek Collaboration Receives Research Funding for Hydrogen Fuel Technology
Washington Technology Center awarded $64,275 in Research and Technology Development funding based on a proposal from InnovaTek in collaboration with Washington State University.
Washington Technology Center awarded $64,275 in Research and Technology Development funding based on a proposal from InnovaTek in collaboration with Washington State University.
MicroGREEN Gives Gift to University of Washington
The UW Dept. of Mechanical Engineering has just acquired a new Instrumented Impact Test machine from Instron, the first of its kind at UW. This has been made possible by major gifts from MicroGREEN Polymers and the Washington Research Foundation, and additional contributions from UW. "It is quite a special story about TechTransfer success, and a strong UW-industry (especially a Washington startup helped by WTC) relationship," said Vipin Kumar, Associate Professor, UW Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.
Microvision Pico Projector Technology Featured in The Economist
CEO Alexander Tokman discusses the laser-diode technology that enables Microvision's miniature, mobile 'pico' projector. Once commercialized, the technology will enable portable devices such as phones to project images onto walls.
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE
Milbergs Appointed as Washington's EDC Head
Gov. Chris Gregoire appointed Egils Milbergs director of the newly formed Economic Development Commission. Milbergs was selected through a joint process involving the governor and the Economic Development Commission.
Take a Visual Trip into the Next Washington
Next Washington, Washington's economic development strategy, includes numerous organizations and programs partnering to deliver services. An interactive, visual representation of the strategy has been produced by the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development and the Association of Washington Cities.
View the posterSEMATECH Starts Nanoimprint Lithography Effort
SEMATECH, the international consortium for basic research into semiconductor manufacturing, has announced the start of a nanoimprint lithography effort in 2008. This is a significant boost of that technology, which replaces expensive optics, as currently used in semiconductor chip manufacturing, by a simple stamping procedure. Washington Technology Center, with the support of DARPA, has recently acquired the first nanoimprinting tool in a public user facility in the Northwest.
Early Stage Investment Forum Set for May 9
Each year the Northwest Entrepreneur Network (NWEN) puts on the Early Stage Investment Forum, the largest investment forum in the Northwest. Highly qualified screeners and coaches will be selecting and vetting 20+ early stage companies to pitch to investors on May 9 at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center.
