Idaho Office of Science & Technology April 2008

http://technology.idaho.gov

In this issue:

# Tax Incentives Signed

# Micron Creates Aptina Imaging: A CMOS Image Sensor Division

# New Federal Grant Incentive Program

# MPC Corporation Wins $10 Million Defense Contract

# U of I Engineering Design Expo

# Idaho Energy Complex Changes Sites

# Idaho State Science Olympiad

# Pacific Ethanol Announces Target Date for Production

# Ideas Innovations Idaho License Plates For Sale

Tax Incentives Signed

On March 25th, Governor Otter signed two pieces of tax incentive legislation into law. HB561 and HB562–widely dubbed "The Areva Bills" because of their intent to attract an uranium enrichment facility that the French firm has proposed–could nevertheless be available to any firm that meets the bills’ eligibility requirements. HB561 will offer sales tax relief for equipment purchased to produce or process material that will be used as fuel to produce energy. HB562 will cap property value of facilities at $400 million when a company invests at least $1 Billion to develop those facilities. Neither bill precludes a juristictional local government from levying additional fees or taxation at the local level through the conditional use permit (CUP) process.

Micron Creates Aptina Imaging: A CMOS Image Sensor Division

(Nampa) On March 4th, Micron Technology, Inc. announced the launch of Aptina Imaging, a new image sensor division. Aptina Imaging will be headquartered in San Jose but, imaging sensors will be manufactured at other Micron locations, including Nampa, Idaho. Bob Gove, Micron’s vice president of imaging, will be president of Aptina Imaging.

Aptina’s pixel technology will bring high-quality picture and video capabilities to mobile phones, digital still cameras, security and surveillance cameras, PC cameras, automotive applications, and other imaging devices. Aptina also announced a new higher-resolution, nine-megapixel image sensor that Aptina plans to have in production later this year.
For more information on Aptina Imaging, visit http://www.aptina.com/.

New Federal Grant Incentive Program

(Statewide) On Thursday, March 27, 2008, Governor Otter signed into law a bill creating a $150,000 fund to help entrepreneurs and small businesses apply for federal grants such as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants. The fund will be administered by the Idaho Department of Commerce in cooperation with Idaho TechConnect, and is called the Idaho Grant Proposal Incentive (GPI) Fund. To qualify, businesses must intend to apply for federal research and development grants with a potential for commercialization. The fund will provide up to $3,000 to reimburse companies for the expenses incurred in applying, offer additional matching incentives for firms that win awards, and will be available starting on July 1, 2008. For additional information, contact Idaho’s Federal Funding Coordinator, Mark Strait, Department of Commerce at [email protected]. Additional details will be available on the Office of Science & Technology website soon!

MPC Corporation Wins $10 Million Defense Contract

(Nampa) MPC Corporation announced on March 25th that it has been awarded a contract with the Defense Logistics Agency to provide desktop, notebook, and tablet computers. The contract names MPC as the sole provider for the agency and is expected to generate $10 M a year in sales.
MPC acquired Gateway’s professional business in October ’07 and PCs from both the MPC and Gateway Pro product lines will be available.

Mark Cox, MPC Computer’s area vice president of federal sales stated, "This contract speaks to the strength of the relationships that both MPC and Gateway have formed throughout the government sector."
For more information, go to http://www.mpccorp.com.

U of I Engineering Design Expo

(Moscow) The University of Idaho will be hosting its Engineering Design Expo on April 25, 2008. Student teams from the university will present their exhibits, posters, and technical demonstrations in a showcase, applying education to "real world" challenges as part of the Senior Capstone Design Course. Opening ceremonies will take place at 8:45 a.m. in the Micron Exhibit Hall and awards will be presented between 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Topics to be covered are: Transportation & Technology, Space Exploration & Beyond, Energy & Electronics, and Land and Water Resources. Some sponsors include the Department of Defense, Hewlett-Packard, Idaho National Laboratory, and NASA.

The 2008 Engineering Design Expo will also include a new outreach program that will allow many elementary, middle-school, and high-school students to attend. Through the assistance of the Micron Foundation, these students will have the opportunity to visit the expo, as well as watch presentations and participate in competitions. The desire of the outreach program is to expose young students to applications of science and mathematics and raise interests in engineering careers.

Check the Design Expo website (http://www.engr.uidaho.edu/expo) or contact [email protected] for more information.

Idaho Energy Complex Changes Sites

(Mountain Home) The Idaho Energy Complex has announced a new Southwest Idaho location for its 1,600-megawatt nuclear reactor.

The new 1400-acre site is in Elmore County, near the north shore of the Snake River, and only 15 miles upstream from the original site in Owyhee County on the south shore of the Snake River.

"When you add it all up, the Elmore site has pretty much all the advantages of the Owyhee site, none of the disadvantages and a number of extra advantages that will simplify construction of what is arguably the most complex single land-based structure humans typically build," said IEC Chief Executive Officer, Don Gillispie. "We are ambitious and we are constantly striving to improve what we are doing."
Gillispie and company representatives will be making an informal presentation to the Elmore County Commission soon, date and time to be announced. The company will also announce a new timeline for the project.
For more information: http://www.idahoenergycomplex.com

Idaho State Science Olympiad

(Nampa) Northwest Nazarene University was the site of the Idaho State Science Olympiad for junior high and high school students. The Science Olympiad was founded in 1983 to increase student interest in science. Since 1983, the Olympiad movement has grown to all 50 states and Canada. A team of up to 15 students (there is both a junior high school competition and a senior high competition) compete in a series of individual and team events that encourage learning in biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, problem-solving, and technology.

While some events in The Science Olympiad require scientific knowledge, others rely on science processes, skills, or applications. Every student, whether in a technology class, a general science classes, or advanced classes competes within their areas of interest. All events involve teamwork, group planning, and cooperation. The emphasis is on advanced learning in science through active, hands-on, group participation. And, hey – – it’s FUN!

The top three individual winners of each event are awarded Olympic style gold, silver, or bronze medals. Points are awarded for each place by the team. The top schools in each division are awarded trophies and the coach receives a special recognition. The winning teams from the high school (Division C) and the junior high/middle school (Division B) will represent Idaho at the National Science Olympiad.

Winners:
High School Division: 1st Place: Bishop Kelly, Boise
Junior High Division: 1st Place: St. Joseph’s School, Boise
For more information go to http://nnu.edu/olympiad. For questions about the Olympiad at NNU, contact the Idaho State Director of the Olympiad at: [email protected].

Pacific Ethanol Announces Target Date for Production

(Burley) – California based Pacific Ethanol, Inc. has targeted mid-April to start production at their new $120,000,000 ethanol factory in Burley, Idaho. Housekeeping items and trial runs are underway in preparation for the scheduled start of ethanol production. The ethanol plant will employ 40 workers.
Union Pacific Railroad will deliver about 100 railcar loads of feedstock weekly from the nation’s Corn Belt to be converted to about 60,000,000 gallons of ethanol annually.
Pacific Ethanol, Inc also operates ethanol plants in Boardman, Oregon and Madera, California, with another new plant under construction in Stockton, California.
For more information: http://www.pacificethanol.net/

Ideas Innovations Idaho License Plates For Sale
(Statewide) Specialty license plates that celebrate innovation and support Idaho’s science and technology industry are entering their third year of availability through the Idaho Transportation Department. Continued availability of the plate will depend on total sales.
A portion of the proceeds from each plate sold goes to a fund that is used to develop programs and market the state’s technology sector.
A picture of the license plate, and information on how to purchase one, can be viewed at http://technology.idaho.gov/license.

Have an Idea/Submission for this Newsletter?
Contact Brian Dickens, Administrator of Idaho Department of Commerce’s Office of Science & Technology at (208) 334-2650, ext. 2103, or at [email protected]

Read More Idaho Technology News
Miss last month’s Science & Technology newsletter? Find the complete newsletter archives at http://technology.idaho.gov and click on "news."

2008 Events Calendar

April 10
Kickstand
Boise
Monthly education and networking for innovators. 6 – 7:30 pm at The Power Station, Boise. To register for the event, go to http://www.kickstandidaho.com or contact [email protected].

April 14
GIANTS Awards Luncheon
Discovery Center of Idaho, Boise
Governor Otter and Superintendent Tom Luna will be on hand to present this year’s Governor’s Industry Award for Noteable Teaching in Science (GIANTS). The award recognizes elementary, middle school, and high school science educators who exemplify inspirational science teaching, project-based learning, and industry partnership.

April 25
Engineering Design Expo
Moscow
The University of Idaho hosts its annual Engineering Design Expo at the Micron Exhibit Hall, 8:45am to 4:00pm. For more information contact [email protected] or check out the website at http://www.engr.uidaho.edu/expo.

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

IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
PO Box 83720, Boise, Idaho 83720-0093
Tel: 208-334-2470; Fax: 208-334-2631
Web: technology.idaho.gov
08-62000-250

C.L. "BUTCH" OTTER, GOVERNOR
DON DIETRICH, DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE

Idaho Department of Commerce is an equal opportunity employer.
This document is available upon request in alternative formats for individuals with disabilities.
[email protected] • Idaho Department of Commerce