Washington Technology Center News

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MicroGREEN Polymers wins $149K SBIR grant from the NSF

2010-03-04T10:20:00.000-08:00

MicroGREEN Polymers, an Arlington-based developer of environmentally friendly recycled plastic products, has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Phase I SBIR grant in the amount of $149,913. The company will work in collaboration with the University of Washington for the scaling up of continuous production of lightweight and energy efficient Ad-air™ panels from Recycled PET for the green building materials market.

Read more in a press release from MicroGREEN Polymers
MicroGREEN Polymers is a WTC client

DOE announces $100M available for innovative research projects

2010-03-02T08:47:00.000-08:00

At the inaugural ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced $100 million in Recovery Act funding will be made available to accelerate innovation in green technology, increase America's competitiveness and create new jobs. ARPA-E's third funding opportunity will focus on grid-scale energy storage, electrical power technology, and building energy efficiency.

View the ARPA-E funding opportunity announcements

EKOS announces a groundbreaking study for brain blood clot removal

2010-02-26T10:10:00.000-08:00

EKOS Corporation, a Bothell-based medical device company, announced February 25, 2010 that Dr. David W. Newell of Seattle's Swedish Neuroscience Institute presented to the American Heart Association International Stroke Conference a clinical study on removing brain and ventricular blood clots using a treatment involving ultrasound. The study found that treatment using ultrasound helped remove blood clots faster.

According to a press release, Dr. Douglas Hansmann, one of the study co-authors and EKOS co-founder said, "This research was possible because of the collaborative atmosphere in the Seattle biotech community. Funds from the Washington State Life Sciences Discovery Fund through money that Governor Christine Gregoire successfully helped appropriate for Washington State through the tobacco settlement provided a $170,000 grant that allowed EKOS to approach Dr. Newell and SNI with the proposal to study this exciting new application of EKOS technology."

Read more in a press release from EKOS Corporation
EKOS Corporation is a WTC client

3TIER raises $3 million in equity financing

2010-02-26T09:27:00.000-08:00

3TIER, a Seattle-based provider of renewable energy assessment and power forecasting services, raised $3,001,701 in equity financing according to a February 25, 2010 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

In other news, 3TIER recently announced “the completion of its REmapping the World™ initiative, which was launched in March 2008 to address the biggest barrier to global renewable energy adoption — the lack of reliable information regarding resource potential and availability. With today's release of a global solar map and dataset, the company has completed its unprecedented goal of identifying and mapping the world's wind and solar resources using a globally consistent methodology.”

Read more in TechFlash
3TIER is a WTC Client

Governor Gregoire to open Washington's Innovation Summit 2010

2010-02-17T15:22:00.000-08:00

We're pleased to announce that Washington Governor Chris Gregoire will deliver the opening speech at Washington's Innovation Summit 2010. She'll set the stage for a full day of examples from aerospace, defense and energy that are helping companies of every size innovate across a range of sectors.

The Governor's address will be followed by a morning keynote from former astronaut Dr. Bonnie Dunbar of the Museum of Flight, and a morning panel discussion featuring aerospace, defense and energy leaders Scott Hamilton of Leeham Co., Congressman Adam Smith and Mike Davis of PNNL.

Arcadia Biosciences wins $855,500 federal stimulus grant

2010-02-16T09:44:00.000-08:00

Arcadia Biosciences, an agricultural technology company, has received a two-year, $855,500 Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The grant was awarded to Arcadia Biosciences, in partnership with Washington State University, to help fund Phase II development of wheat varieties with reduced celiac disease-causing proteins.

Read the press release from Arcadia Biosciences

Arcadia Biosciences is a WTC client

McKinstry launches Web site for its new innovation incubator center

2010-02-11T11:15:00.000-08:00

The McKinstry Innovation Center Web site details its offerings for “bringing emerging companies under one roof and providing them with access to some of the best and brightest minds at McKinstry.” McKinstry’s goal is to champion the advancement of some of the clean technology industry's most innovative energy technologies. McKinstry provides a checklist and online form for companies interested in getting started with the innovation center.

http://www.mckinstryinnovation.com/

UW launches Energy Research Web site

2010-02-11T09:12:00.000-08:00

University of Washington has launched a new Energy Research Web site to serve as a resource to find expertise in a given research area. The site is targeted at both the UW and industry communities.

http://www.washington.edu/research/energy/

Site features include:

Featured bios of UW research faculty
Ability to search energy faculty
Ability to search research topics
Energy start-ups/patents/technology licensing
Links to energy partnering agencies
Links to related centers, institutes and programs
Resources for students
Announcements and news

WINGS -- new angel group in Washington focused on medical technology

2010-02-05T07:32:00.000-08:00

A new angel investment group, WINGS (http://www.medtechwings.com/), is now accepting applications. WINGS is a non-profit angel investment organization that focuses on seed and early stage investments, specifically focused on medical technology companies located in Washington state.

Magic Wheels helps first summit of Kilimanjaro by a paraplegic woman

2010-02-03T08:48:00.000-08:00

Magic Wheels Inc., a Seattle-based maker of a patented, two-gear manual wheelchair wheel, supplied the wheels that helped Erica Davis, who's paralyzed from the chest down, become the first paraplegic woman to summit Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. According to California's Lodi News-Sentinel, "Davis reached the summit with help from her teammates and technological ingenuity. One sponsor, Magic Wheels, manufactures a two-speed wheelchair that uses technology similar to mountain bikes and enabled her to shift into a lower gear and have more power climbing hills. There is also a feature that prevents the chair from rolling backward."

Read more in the Lodi News-Sentinel
Magic Wheels is a WTC client

Omeros receives support for clinical study from National Institute on Drug Abuse

2010-01-29T08:40:00.000-08:00

Omeros Corporation, a Seattle-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, announced that "the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is providing support for the Company's Addiction program. NIDA will fund substantially all of the costs of a Phase 2 clinical study to be conducted by New York State Psychiatric Institute researchers."

Read more in a press release from Omeros
Omeros is a WTC client

PNNL report: Smart grid could reduce emissions by 12 percent

2010-01-28T15:50:00.000-08:00

A new report from the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory indicates that a smart electrical power grid could decrease annual electric energy use and utility sector carbon emissions at least 12 percent by 2030.

Read more in a press release from PNNL

Attention life science companies: apply by Feb. 1 to present to qualified investors at WBBA event

2010-01-28T15:48:00.000-08:00

WBBA's Life Science Innovation Northwest conference will be held March 16-17, 2010 at the Bell Harbor International Convention Center in Seattle. WBBA is seeking applications from companies interested in presenting.

Visit WBBA for event information

WTIA Venture Capital Outlook Survey shows continued positive trends for Q1

2010-01-28T11:55:00.000-08:00

"Judging by our latest survey, the technology sector In Washington could very well be rounding the corner from stabilization to growth, with VC predictions of layoffs down for the third consecutive quarter and the most optimistic hiring predictions since Q3 2008," said Ken Myer, president and CEO of the Washington Technology Industry Association.

Read more in a press release from WTIA

WTIA president and CEO Ken Myer announces departure

2010-01-28T11:35:00.000-08:00

Ken Myer has announced he plans to leave Washington Technology Industry Association at the end of March. Myer, who served as WTIA's president and CEO for three years, plans to return to the private sector. Myer is a board member of Washington Technology Center.

Read more in TechFlash
Read more in Xconomy
Read more in the Seattle Times

Additional speakers and special offers for Washington's Innovation Summit 2010

2010-01-28T10:33:00.000-08:00

An impressive group of speakers and innovative companies will be in attendance April 9, 2010 in Tacoma at Washington's Innovation Summit 2010 to discuss opportunities and challenges in Washington's aerospace, defense and energy sectors. Through January 31, readers of the WTC news can use discount code "FriendofWTC" to take an additional 5% off the early-bird registration rate. Also through January 31 is an exhibitor 20/10 special -- 20% off of exhibit space, but only 10 spaces available at that rate.

Visit the summit program, speaker biographies, sponsor opportunities and registration

R&D state funding info meetings in Pullman, Tri-Cities, Seattle, Spokane

2010-01-28T10:16:00.000-08:00

Washington Technology Center is traveling the state to tell companies about state funding available to advance R&D efforts. Proposals for the next round of RTD grants are due April 22. Lab access award proposals are accepted anytime.

Research & Technology Development Program Info Sessions
RSVP Russell Paez, rpaez@watechcenter.org, 206-616-3102

PULLMAN
February 4, 2010
11 a.m. to noon
Washington State University Campus
Neill Hall, Room 416
Pullman, WA 99164

SEATTLE
February 10, 2010
March 2, 2010
10-11 a.m.
University of Washington Campus
4000 Mason Road
Fluke Hall, Bowen Room
Seattle, WA 98195

SPOKANE
February 18, 2010
11 a.m. to noon
Sirti Building
665 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Room 432
Spokane, WA 99202

TRI-CITIES
February 9, 2010
11 a.m. to noon
Applied Process Engineering Laboratory (APEL)
350 Hills Street, APEL Conference Room
Richland, WA 99354

TELE-SEMINAR
March 5, 2010
10-11 a.m.
Tele-seminars are live with two-way audio delivered via a toll-free telephone conference call.

Learn more about the RTD grant program
Learn more about the lab access program

Washington issues report on growing the aerospace industry in the state

2010-01-28T09:51:00.000-08:00

The Washington Council on Aerospace has issued a report providing recommendations to the Governor and Legislature on how to strengthen and grow the aerospace industry in Washington state. The report details objectives for growing and improving jobs, economic development, workforce training, and research.

Download the report

IsoRay announces new applications of its Cesium-131 cancer treatment

2010-01-28T09:40:00.000-08:00

IsoRay, Inc., a Richland-based developer of therapies for prostate and other cancers, recently announced the first Cesium-131 colon cancer treatment. The company has also provided Cesium-131 seeds to Canada for research initiatives into treatments for other cancers. In 2009 the company announced treatments of lung, head and neck cancers.

Read more in IsoRay press releases
IsoRay is a WTC client

Clean tech policy, opportunities debated at MITEF event

2010-01-28T09:26:00.000-08:00

A panel of business, state and venture capital leaders discussed concerns around financing, regulations and growth opportunities in the clean technology sector at an event hosted by the MIT Enterprise Forum in Seattle.

Read more in Xconomy
Read more in the Graham & Dunn PC Green Tech Law Blog

Gov. Gregoire unveils plan to create jobs, spur economic growth

2010-01-28T09:13:00.000-08:00

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire announced a plan to create as many as 40,000 jobs over the next three years. “Despite our budget constraints, I believe we can and must encourage employers to start hiring and capitalize on new opportunities,” Gregoire said. “We need to think creatively and act swiftly. So I have developed a 10-point plan to accelerate our recovery and give businesses the confidence they need to create jobs.”

Read more in the Governor’s press release

Sirti Perspective 2009: 1,225+ jobs retained/created

2010-01-28T07:26:00.000-08:00

Sirti has issued its annual report to stakeholders, Sirti Perspective 2009. Sirti notes that "despite the challenging business environment of 2009, Sirti client company results demonstrate continued innovation, solid success in receiving investment capital, and an impressive ability to retain and create high paying technology jobs."

Read the report from Sirti

UW hires Rick LeFaivre and Tom Clement to co-direct New Ventures Group

2010-01-26T07:30:00.000-08:00

The University of Washington Center for Commercialization (formerly known as UW TechTransfer) has hired venture capitalist Rick LeFaivre and medical device entrepreneur Tom Clement to co-direct the center's New Ventures Group. The New Ventures Group, previously known as LaunchPad Services, will spin out technologies from the university and provide startup and early-stage assistance to the newly formed companies. Janis Machala, the head of LaunchPad Services, is concluding her one-year term of service.

Read more in TechFlash

PNNL to receive $14M in ARRA funds for biofuels research

2010-01-22T14:27:00.000-08:00

From a PNNL press release: The Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will receive about $14.2 million for its role in two biofuels research consortia announced today by Energy Secretary Steven Chu. The consortia will advance the science and technology needed to remove hurdles and accelerate the ability to convert plants and other biological material into biofuels that can be used in existing infrastructure.

Read more in a press release from PNNL