Idaho Office of Science & Technology April 2005 Newsletter

In this issue:

# Design Contest Launched for Idaho’s Technology License Plate

# ISU Frog Research Could Shed Light on Paternal Abandonment

# Northwest Show Features UI Technology

# ProClarity Supports Life-sciences Firms

# National Press Covers Idaho

# Info Needed on Idaho Nanotechnology Companies

# Allen Foundation Grants Include Idaho

# Inc 500 Deadline Nears

# Wendell Hosts New Biogas Line

# North Wind President Named Top Woman Business Owner

# Technology.idaho.gov Features Alturas Analytics

# DOE Announces Clean-up Contractor

# Science & Tech Industry Forums Set for June

# New Newsletter Highlights Funding Opportunities in Idaho

# Intermountain Conference on the Environment Solicits Papers

Contest Seeks Designs for Idaho Technology Plate

(Statewide) Idaho students and graphics professionals are being asked to help design a new specialty license plate for the technology industry.
Governor Dirk Kempthorne signed legislation authorizing the new license plate on March 21. Revenues from the plate sales will go to programs for the state’s technology sector.
The contest is being launched in Idaho middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities. All contest entries must be received by May 10.
Winning designs will be announced by June 10. Prizes range from $100-$500 depending on the category.
One of the winning designs may appear on the new license plate, which will go on sale in January 2006.
Visit technology.idaho.gov/license for details.

ISU Frog Research Could Shed Light on Paternal Abandonment

(Pocatello, Idaho) The answer to why human fathers abandon their children could be found in research being done on frogs by a professor at Idaho State University.
Dr. Gary Ten Eyck, an assistant professor of biology at ISU, believes studying the parental instincts of a small male frog primarily found in Puerto Rico can provide insights into human paternal care.
Ten Eyck has studied the Puerto Rican Coqui for 10 years and is now looking at the amphibian’s paternal brain and how it changes during paternity. The male frog knows he’s the father of a specific group of eggs because they are internally fertilized.
"A frog’s aggression turns to defense when he becomes a dad," said Ten Eyck. "Many neurochemical mechanisms are similar in fish, amphibians, mammals and birds. It’s significant to all vertebrates."
He is concentrating on two different approaches to study the paternal brain: neurochemical, which involves chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine that occur naturally in the brain and are involved in social behavior; and gene expression, or which genes are turned on and off when a vertebrate becomes a father.
"We want to determine the changes in the brain during paternal care and what genes are important in paternal care in order to understand the problem of fatherhood abandonment," he said.
Contact Dr. Gary Ten Eyck at (208) 282-4410 for details.

Northwest Event Showcases UI Technology

(Moscow, Idaho) Several technologies invented through University of Idaho research were presented in March at the Northwest Entrepreneur Network’s 2005 Technology Showcase in Washington.
About 150 entrepreneurs attended the event, seeking the "next cool thing."
The technologies presented by the Idaho Research Foundation include:
– CipherSmith, technology that hinders electronic information theft. The tool detects and "deafens" passive listeners. Its methods include dynamic secure key generation, wire hopping, voltage manipulation, frequency modulation and intruder detection.
– Coinage metal dissolution, which uses "supercritical fluid extraction" to dissolve high-value metals, such as gold, silver, platinum, rhodium, iridium or copper, from their present use. This is the same method used to decaffeinate coffee and tea. The process provides an environmentally friendly way to dissolve metals from wastes.
– Immunostimulants that are non-toxic. The UI researcher uses a family of superantigens to generate a fast immune system response. The research is expected to benefit people with weakened immune systems, including those with cancer, diabetes, asthma, kidney problems and AIDS.
Patents or registrations have been filed or are pending for these technologies. Contact Gene Merrell at IRF, (208) 885-4550 for more information.

ProClarity Helps Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Firms

(Boise, Idaho) ProClarity Corp., a Boise business-intelligence software firm, will work with Microsoft’s Digital Pharma initiative to speed information gathering by the pharmaceutical and life-sciences industry.
"Pharmaceutical and healthcare organizations have unique business intelligence needs because they deal with such massive amounts of complex data," said Clay Young, ProClarity senior vice president of strategic marketing.
Microsoft Digital Pharma offers "speed-to-insight" and "value-for-cost" to the pharmaceutical industry.
"The functionality of ProClarity’s analytic tools is a great example of how technology can speed up customer insights, and therefore accelerate business decisions and operational enhancements," said Steve Shihadeh, general manager, Microsoft Healthcare and Life Sciences.
Details are available at http://www.proclarity.com.

National Press Covers Idaho

(Statewide) Idaho made a few more national rankings and was the focus of some national headlines in March.
– Popular Science magazine ranked Boise 10th in the nation for its "Connected Citizenry." The ranking looked at the number of Wi-Fi hot spots per capita, the percent of homes with internet access and the percent of homes with cable/satellite service. Seattle, Wash. ranked first, followed by Austin, Texas; San Francisco and Orlando.
– The San Francisco Chronicle ran an article called "Revenge of the rubes – high-tech marches on in the hinterland" and mentioned Boise as one of the smaller cities competing with the Bay Area for its high-end jobs. "The growth in places like Boise undermines the onetime pre-eminence of Silicon Valley, says John Sien, a former executive at Hewlett-Packard," said the article.
– U.S. News & World Report featured Idaho as an "unlikely" places where entrepreneurialism is on the rise and job growth is three times the national average.
– BusinessWeek online wrote about a Boise State University graduate-level class in entrepreneurialism. The article points out that the course – led by BSU faculty members Norris Krueger, Newell Gough and R.J. Twilegar — teaches students what it’s really like to start a business because students are charged with actually starting and running a business.
– The Silicon Valley Business Journal quoted Micron Technology Chairman, President and CEO Steve Appleton, who called for a "concerted national effort to increase the resources devoted to research and development in the physical sciences. Appleton was speaking as chairman of the Semiconductor Industry Association.

Calling Idaho’s Nanotechnology Companies

(Statewide) The Idaho Office of Science & Technology is seeking examples of Idaho’s private industry, educational institutions or federal agencies working in the nanoscience or nanotechnology area.
Information will be used by the Idaho Office of Science & Technology to further refine industry’s efforts to define its core competencies.
Contact Jeff Viano by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (208) 334-2650 ext. 2118.

Allen Foundation Grants Include Idaho

(Statewide) Idaho organizations could be eligible for grants from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, which focuses its giving efforts in the Northwest.
The Foundation has awarded about $250 million to regional organizations that support social and community development, youth engagement and the arts.
The program also funds science and technology discoveries that advance the understanding of our universe.
The Foundation reviews and awards grants twice a year and accepts applications from eligible organizations located in, or serving the populations of, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
Visit http://www.pgafamilyfoundation.com for details.

Inc 500 Deadline Nears

(Statewide) Fast growing privately held Idaho companies can apply now to become part of the prestigious Inc. 500 list.
Inc. Magazine is now accepting applications for its September issue profiling the fastest growing private companies in America. The deadline for applications is May 1.
To be eligible for the 2005 list, companies must be independent and privately held, have a four-year sales history, be based in the United States, and not be a franchisee, holding company, regulated bank or utility.
Companies with a four-year sales growth of more than 250 percent are encouraged to apply.
Link to the award page at http://www.inc.com/inc500 or to the registration page at http://www.inc.com/inc500_app/apply05.jsp.

Wendell Biogas Plant Expands

(Wendell, Idaho) Better-than-predicted gas production at an anaerobic digester near Wendell has led to expansion plans.
Intrepid Technology and Resources Inc. will add a commercial pipeline in its plans for a second anaerobic digester at the WestPoint Dairy near Wendell. The firm has its first digester near Rupert. The WestPoint Dairy project is expected to be launched this spring and will produce more than 110 million cubic feet of gas per year and process 240 million pounds of animal waste.

North Wind President Named Top Woman Business Owner
(Idaho Falls, Idaho) North Wind Inc. President Sylvia Medina is one of five women entrepreneurs who wll be recognized as the top women in small business in 2005, according to Melanie Sabelhaus, the U.S. Small Business Administration Deputy Administrator.
Judging and selection was based on the following criteria: staying power, growth in number of employees, increase in sales and/or unit volume, current and past financial reports, innovativeness of product or service offered, response to adversity, and contributions to aid community-oriented projects.
The SBA said: "Under Sylvia Medina’s leadership, North Wind has become a leader in environmental engineering and construction. With a staff of over 200, including engineers, environmental scientist and geographical information specialists, the company provides consulting solutions ranging from drilling and excavation operations to serving as a link to universities researching solutions to water pollution."
North Wind’s net income has shown average increases of 45 percent over the last three years, with $23 million in earnings in 2004, according to the SBA.

Technology.idaho.gov Features Alturas Analytics
(Moscow, Idaho) Alturas Analytics, Inc. is the featured company on the state’s new technology Web site, http://www.technology.idaho.gov.
Alturas, based in Moscow, provides analytical services to the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. The firm also works with the U.S. Army in developing rapid and sensitive methods for developing antidotes to chemical warfare agents.
Alturas, founded in 2000, is housed in a 7,800-square-foot facility in Moscow.
Idaho’s technology Web site, launched earlier this year, provides information and resources about the state’s largest industry. The site offers information on everything from federal grants available to entrepreneurs, capital resources, facts about the state’s technology industry and a link to a statewide monthly technology newsletter.
More information about Alturas Analytics can be found at http://www.alturasanalytics.com.

DOE Announces Clean-up Contractor
(Idaho Falls, Idaho) The U.S. Department of Energy selected CH2M-WG Idaho, LLC as the contractor responsible for the Idaho Cleanup Project through the year 2012 at the Idaho National Laboratory.
The contract is valued at about $2.9 billion and includes offers of employment to more than 2,600 employees currently working in the cleanup effort.
CH2M-WGI will be responsible for treatment and disposal of radioactive waste; retrieval, disposal and other remediation related to buried waste; safe management of spent nuclear fuel; disposition of nuclear materials; disposition of reactor and non-reactor nuclear facilities; and other environmental remediation activities.
The new contract begins May 1.

Science & Technology Industry Forums Set for June
(Statewide) The Second Annual Industry Forum will be held June 8-9 at the Boise Holiday Inn Airport.
Hosted by the Idaho Office of Science and Technology, the Idaho National Lab (INL), and the state’s three TechConnect offices, the forum will bring industry professionals together to discuss how companies can work to advance the state’s core competencies: Imaging, Power and Energy, Agricultural Bioscience, and Nanoscience and Materials. There will opportunities for businesses, universities, and the INL to discuss technologies they are developing and ways in to partner to further their research and development efforts.
Contact [email protected] for more information or to RSVP.

Newsletter Highlights Funding Opportunities For Idaho Firms
(Statewide) The Idaho Office of Science and Technology and the TechConnect offices will be issuing a new newsletter to inform, educate and encourage researchers and entrepreneurs who are interested in the Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) federal grant programs.
The SBIR/STTR program provides over $2 billion annually to small businesses to develop their early stage technologies. The Idaho SBIR/STTR Initiative Program newsletter will include tips on how to write successful proposals, dates of the open solicitation periods, collaboration opportunities, and a featured company of the month.
To be included on the email distribution list, send a note to Rachel Hall, SBIR Coordinator at [email protected].

Intermountain Conference on the Environment Seeks Papers
(Pocatello, Idaho) Contributed papers are being solicited for the 2005 Intermountain Conference on the Environment, scheduled for Sept. 13-14 in Pocatello.
Papers can deal with a number of relevant topics, including: surface and groundwater – Portnef and Snake watershed ecosystems; emerging biological and physical/chemical technologies; clean energy alternatives; GIS application in environmental studies; and others.
The deadline for submissions is May 13. For more information, call the Idaho State University Division of Continuing Education, (208) 282-3155 or [email protected].

Idaho Tech Fact
Did you know?
Idaho ranks 14th in the nation for the number of doctoral engineers per capita. Source: The Milken Institute.

Have an Idea/Submission for this Newsletter?
Contact Julie Howard at the Idaho Office of Science & Technology at (208) 334-2650, ext. 2147, or at [email protected]

2005 Events Calendar
April 4-6
Kickstart – The Northwest’s Premier Entrepreneur Event
BSU Student Union Bldg./Morrison Center
Keynote speakers include Garage Ventures/former Apple Fellow Guy Kawasaki and a full day of workshops at Boise State University. The workshops are geared toward helping entrepreneurs and innovators. Event is in conjunction with the Northwest Venture Championships, an international student business plan competition. Limited tickets left! Visit kickstartidaho.com for details.

April 7
Third Annual Area Business Connection
Idaho Falls
Event runs from noon to 8 p.m. at the Shilo Inn Convention Center in Idaho Falls. click here for details.

April 7-9
Annual Meeting/Symposium of the Idaho Academy of Science
Northwest Nazarene University, Nampa, Idaho
Program information will be posted at IAS Web site as it becomes available – click here. For more information, contact IAS President Dr. Tom Mangum at [email protected].

April 12
Business Leadership Course
Boise
"Employing Maneuver In Your Business: A Strategy For Achieving Maximum Impact Results In An Uncertain World," is designed to teach business managers how to apply leadership and strategy concepts from the book "The Marine Corps Way." The course will be taught by Vincent Marino and Jason Santamaria, co-authors of the book.
For more information, click here

May 8-12
Nanotech Conference and Trade Show
Anaheim, Calif.
For more information, click here

June 7-9
SCP Global Technologies International Symposium
Boise Centre on the Grove
Event features presentations, panel discussions, the annual Werner Kern Award, a poster session and more.
For more information on this event, click here

For more calendar information, visit Conferences and Events at cl.idaho.gov

"We Create Jobs, Strengthen Communities and Market Idaho."

IDAHO COMMERCE & LABOR
PO Box 83720, Boise, Idaho 83720-0093
Tel: 208-334-2470; Fax: 208-334-2631
Web: cl.idaho.gov
05-62000-250

DIRK KEMPTHORNE, GOVERNOR
ROGER MADSEN, DIRECTOR
KARL TUELLER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR & OST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Idaho Commerce & Labor is an equal opportunity employer.
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[email protected] • Idaho Commerce & Labor

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