News

Idaho Office of Science & Technology May 2008

In this issue:

# Areva Chooses Idaho

# American Semiconductor Named Supplier of the Year

# Pets Best Insurance Fires Up The Web

# Gary Stringham & Associates Promotes Collaborative Engineering

# E3 Fuels Considers Idaho For Production Facility

# Federal Grant Proposal Assistance

# Syringa Networks, LLC Adds Broadband Capacity

# GoNano Technologies, Inc. Exemplifies Regional Collaboration

# Ideas Innovations Idaho License Plates For Sale

http://technology.idaho.gov

Areva Chooses Idaho

(Idaho Falls) For the second straight month, Areva leads Idaho innovation news, as the French energy company announced on May 5th that it had selected Idaho Falls as the site for a proposed $2 billion uranium enrichment facility. U.S. Senator Larry Craig and Idaho State Senator Bart Davis were on hand at the press conference as Areva CEO and President Michael McMurphy announced the Idaho selection.

The proposed enrichment plant, slated to open in 2014, will specialize in the 4th phase of the 5-phase uranium enrichment process. Uranium hexafluoride, a granular solid at room temperature, will be input to the plant and warmed to create uranium hexafluoride gas. The gas will be processed through a cascade of centrifuges where the heavier and lighter uranium isotopes are separated, resulting in enriched uranium. After cooling, the uranium hexafluoride returns to its granular state and will be exported to a reactor fuel fabrication plant in another state, ultimately finding its way to a commercial power reactor supplying electricity to the national grid.

Areva officials predict that the facility will create 500 to 1,000construction jobs over a five year period, and finally result in 250 permanent positions paying annual salaries averaging $80,000.

American Semiconductor Named Supplier of the Year

(Boise) On April 21, 2008, American Semiconductor, Inc. (ASI) announced that it had been recognized as a Supplier of the Year in the Technology category by The Boeing Company. ASI is a U.S. on-shore semiconductor foundry that develops and commercializes process technology. ASI provides unique wafer-scale semiconductor development to support Boeing’s emerging technology needs. Through process simulation, rapid development, high quality prototype fabrication, and a collaborative relationship with Boeing, ASI exceeded its wafer fabrication delivery milestones. In addition to ASI’s work with Boeing, ASI provides advanced technology research for agencies such as the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Energy, and NASA.
For more information on American Semiconductor, Inc. visit http://www.americansemi.com/

Pets Best Insurance Fires Up The Web

(Boise) As more and more companies at home and nationally recognize and build on the power of Internet presence, one Idaho company is experiencing national success for its quick advances in e-commerce.

"Without the Internet, we would not be where we are today," said Pets Best Insurance Chief Operations Officer Brett Johnson, who holds a Master of Science in electronic commerce from Carnegie Mellon University. "Over 60% of our sales are online, and more than just sales, we have a strong presence because of our ranking in Google, among others." The number two search ranking in Google under "pet insurance" is invaluable, according to Johnson, and took what he calls "a good year of hard work."

Pets Best was created in 2004 by the founder of pet insurance in the United States, Dr. Jack Stephens, a veterinarian who owned several successful veterinary hospitals in the 1970s and was driven to create a way for pet owners to be able to afford much needed healthcare for their pets. Before insurance, Stephens says pet owners often felt forced to euthanize their pets because of an inability to pay for their care.

"Because of the Web, we can talk to people 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said Johnson, noting that sales are 100% automated through the web. "Customers can enroll their pets, download forms and manage their policies all online. If they need to talk with us, we’re here, but nearly everything we do can be done electronically and most of our customer communications are implemented through email delivery."

Increased exposure to journalists is an added benefit. "The exposure [the internet] has created has really helped us get to where we are and I’m sure will only strengthen our business as we continue to grow."

Gary Stringham & Associates Promotes Collaborative Engineering

(Boise) Gary Stringham & Associates, LLC, a firm specializing in engineering consulting and training, is on a mission to promote and facilitate collaboration between hardware and software engineers of embedded systemscomputer-based products such as cell phones, printers, network switches, and control systems. President and founder Gary Stringham recently presented principles and practices of cooperative engineering at the Embedded Systems Conference in San Jose, California, and to the Boise Chapter of the IEEE Computer Society.
"Just because hardware and software engineers are working on the same product doesn’t necessarily mean they’re working together," said Stringham. "Hardware engineers often design chips months before software engineers are brought onto a project; this can lead to integration problems in later stages of product development."
Respinning chips to correct design flaws can cost up to $1,000,000 and a three month delay before new chips are available, he said.
The goal of the classes and workshops from Gary Stringham & Associates is to train hardware and software engineers in collaborative design principles and practices that can reduce development costs and delays, and improve product quality.
For more information, go to http://www.garystringham.com/.

E3 Fuels Considers Idaho For Production Facility

(Boise) Fuel Science Research Inc. of Central Point, Oregon is looking for a new factory location in Idaho at which to manufacture their patented fuel additive, E3.
On April 29, 2008, Fuel Science Research paid a visit to the Idaho Department of Commerce to seek assistance with locating an ethanol plant in Idaho. E3 Fuels CEO, James Boozell, brought the inventor, Dr. Bob Kurko, and four company executives to present their planned move to Idaho.
E3 manufactures a fuel catalyst additive for use with gasoline or diesel fuel. The proprietary catalyst is blended with ethanol for packaging purposes. Boozell’s team brought several documented test results and testimonials touting the advantages of E3 fuel additive including increased mileage and emissions reduction.
E3’s ethanol distilling process accepts a wide variety of feedstocks, from spoiled fruit to wood and even paper, Dr. Kurko said. The company emphasized they will not use food products as an ethanol feedstock. The company’s goal is to utilize a vacant industrial site and partner with agricultural producers to acquire their waste products for use as feed stock.

Federal Grant Proposal Assistance

(Statewide) If Your Business Has An Innovative Idea, A Federal Grant May Be Right For You! Why apply for a federal grant?

Eleven federal agencies spend approximately $80 billion each year on extramural research and development (R&D). These agencies are looking for companies with innovative ideas and are willing to provide grant funding. If that’s not enough, here are seven additional reasons to include grants in your business plan:
# A federal grant can range from $100,000 to several million dollars.
# Grants are not loans. You do not have to pay back the money.
# Most grants do not require matching funds or equity.
# The intellectual property rights remain with your business.
# You retain all ownership of your business.
# A federal grant award provides validation of your business and idea.
# A federal grant award can be a leveraging tool to attract venture capital.

Here’s how it works! The federal grant process is very competitive. To compete, you must have a truly innovative idea and it must meet needs or solve problems deemed to be vital to our national interests. Fortunately, each agency issues topics that they deem vital. For more information, visit the Department of Commerce website listed below.
State Grant of up to $3,000! Assistance in preparing and developing federal R&D grant proposals – with potential for commercialization – is available to Idahoans statewide through the Idaho Grant Proposal Incentive (GPI) Fund. A small grant, up to $3,000, is available to qualifying businesses to help with the costs of applying for a federal R&D grant. Services include helping to determine the viability of submitting a proposal; assisting in the development of superior proposals; helping to fine tune business and commercialization strategies; and assessment of the final submission package.

For more information concerning federal grants and the $3,000 state grant from the GPI Fund, visit our website at http://commerce.idaho.gov/technology/federal-funding.aspx or contact Mark Strait at [email protected].

Syringa Networks, LLC Adds Broadband Capacity

(Boise) Syringa Networks, LLC, provides advanced communications capabilities to 105 communities, both rural and urban, in southern Idaho. Syringa, owned by twelve rural local telephone companies, recently announced the addition of broadband capacity by adding another frequency (color of light) to its network, increasing its network capacity by an OC-48 (equivalent to 2,488.32 mega bits per second). That’s the capacity to carry 32,256 simultaneous phone calls!
Syringa Networks now operates five OC-48 rings and seven Gigabit Ethernet rings. Each Gigabit Ethernet ring has a capacity of 1,024 mega bits per second which is about one thousand times the capacity of the average DSL connection.

For more information on Syringa Networks, visit http://www.syringanetworks.net/.

GoNano Technologies, Inc. Exemplifies Regional Collaboration

(Moscow) GoNano Technologies, Inc. researches and develops nanomaterials and energy storage solutions. The company has a strong focus on clean-tech energy applications and renewable energy, developing ultra-capacitors, solar cell materials, hydrogen storage and hydrogen conversion. GoNano is capable of producing nanowires, nanoparticles, and patent-pending NanoSprings™, and samples are available for partner testing, independent verification, and prototyping.
Formed in May of 2007 through research collaboration between University of Idaho’s Dr. David N. McIlroy and Washington State University’s Dr. M. Grant Norton, GoNano officially opened its R&D facility in Moscow on February 1, 2008. The company is strategically located in proximity to both U of I and WSU, facilitating research access and opportunities for development and testing of nanomaterials.

For more information, go to: http://www.gonano-9.com/
View GoNano’s latest Newsletter: http://www.gonano-9.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/gonano_news_spring_08.pdf

May 2008 Events Calendar
May 8th
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].

May 28-29
TechLaunch 5.0
Doubletree Riverside, Boise
TechLaunch is an annual event that provides training and education to companies seeking financing. Companies have the chance to practice and hone their pitch in front of potential investors.

The event is organized by Idaho TechConnect, the Idaho National Lab, the Idaho Economic Development Association, the Idaho Office of Science and Technology and private and public organizations throughout the state.

To date, 29 companies have participated in TechLaunch, garnering more than $20 million in R&D and investment capital.

For information on participating in TechLaunch 5.0, please contact your regional TechConnect Office.

May 29
Idavation
Boise
Kickstand presents IdaVation, Idaho’s premier annual education and networking summit for innovators and entrepreneurs. IdaVation is a great opportunity to learn from an ensemble of business luminaries and experienced, successful entrepreneurs. The event promises to be informative, useful, inspiring, exciting and fun. Visit http://www.idavation.com to register.

Ideas Innovations Idaho License Plates For Sale
Click here to find out more

(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."

"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

Sorry, we couldn't find any posts. Please try a different search.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.