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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Oct 19, 2007 |
"It's an honor for a school the size of MSU to be recognized for its tech transfer activities. It reflects the great work the researchers do. That work has commercial potential, and we have licensed and built companies around those technologies." Becky Mahurin, director of MSU's Technology Transfer's Office
Congratulations to all involved in the incredible success of the tech transfer program at Montana State University. Tech Transfer is the life blood of a new economy and MSU is showing that just receiving R&D funds isn't the end of the process. Successfully moving their R&D success to the commercial marketplace is and will continue to generate major benefits for Montana. "Small Schools' Big Tech Transfer Dreams and Successes. Montana State University Makes Top 10 List. Congratulations!!! " http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html -- Here's a great opportunity to learn more " “Leaving The Ivory Tower – From Lab To Wall Street”, 10/22, University Of Montana - Missoula" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Come Home Montana
Come Home Washington
- Classic Cars Come to Montana - “Going to the Sun” Car Rally Honors Participants with Perpetual Trophy and $3000 Madison Valley Hospital Donation
The biggest beneficiary of the Going to the Sun Rally is the Montana Highway Patrol Fallen Officers Fund.
Funding and Building your Business
- Walla Walla bing bang
The city and environs are now defined by the grape. Vineyards and wineries are everywhere.
University TechTransfer
- Making More Informed Hiring Decisions
Making a poor hiring decision from a productivity, customer service, and liability prospective have been widely studied and has been estimated to be three times the annual salary of the individual involved.
- The 'Eldercare Generation' Cares About Continuing to Work: Are Companies Interested in Keeping Them?
Focusing on an aging employee's personal needs makes "good business sense" and pays dividends to companies that value the knowledge and experience of older workers.
- Startups Get The Spotlight At Web 2.0 Summit
Those born in the next-generation Internet are taking advantage of the growing use of broadband and better technology for building browser-based applications.
- Firms Increasingly Offer 'Voluntary' Benefits
The signature character of these voluntary benefits is that employees pay for them, but at a discounted rate obtained by the employer.
- Why Employers Should Care About Their Workplace
Employees who feel respected tend to enrich the lives of all those around them.
- Microsoft’s Ballmer: MSFT will acquire 20 companies a year for the next 5 years
By declaring you are hungry, you get entrepreneurs coming to you to show you their wares — letting you get a glimpse of emerging technology even if you’re not going to buy it.
- Inside Entrepreneurship: Partnership tiffs can kill a startup
Consider these business-saving suggestions
Connectivity & Communications
- Small Schools' Big Tech Transfer Dreams and Successes. Montana State University Makes Top 10 List. Congratulations!!!
A good combination of partnerships, incentives, and federal and local funding can help move research into the commercial arena, even when a school's R&D budget is modest.
Incubators and R&D
- Maybe e-mail isn't such a great idea, after all
"I don't even have an e-mail account," he says. "When I tell that to the executives I work with, first they look at me with surprise, and then they look at me with envy."
- When it comes to giving up data, Verizon has its own roll-over policy
- Verizon Wireless Subscribers - Did you read the fine print?
Verizon just sent out a letter, telling customers it plans to start sharing some of their personal information. Unless, they call within the next 30 days and tell Verizon not to.
- Identity thieves targeting Missoula, Bozeman, Whitefish and Lolo
The Better Business Bureau's http://spokane.bbb.org/ Jan Quintrall says it shows ID thieves love operating in our well-known and rural communities.
- UWB may redefine wireless
In the long term we could purchase a printer with UWB built in so that it can connect to any computer without any cables.
Regional Business
- Doctors study how brains stay sharp
"I don't think we've recognized, as scientists or a society, (that) this is the front-and-center public health issue we face as a nation."
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- Top 15 Small Workplaces: Outshining the Big Names. Congratulations to Healthwise of Boise, Idaho
Many employers claim to "walk the talk," but few do it as literally as Healthwise Inc.
- Nice businesses don't finish last
This year, we are conducting our Third Annual Torch Awards for Marketplace Ethics process, and are calling for nominations from both member and nonmember businesses in all three states we serve.
- Past Meets Present - Wyoming, Montana and Idaho are magnets for groups seeking wonderful experiences.
Whatever attendees desire in a true Western locale, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho fill the bill with myriad experiences and facilities that run the gamut from luxury mountain hideaways and guest ranches to golf resorts and historic urban hotels.
Montana Business
- Can't VCs and angels just get along?
They described a suspicion on the part of the angels that they would be squeezed out in later-stage funding rounds, as well as a common perception of the angel as a retiree looking for a hobby rather than a dedicated team member willing to put in the hard work to see a business from concept through to commercialization.
Montana Biotech
- Billings Business: Owner finds extraordinary people on way to success
He made each one a promise, a promise that became his business model and recipe for success.
Montana Economic Development
- “Leaving The Ivory Tower – From Lab To Wall Street”, 10/22, University Of Montana - Missoula
“Given that I am at the crossroads of biomedical academic research and the capital markets, I think my presentation will add an interesting dimension and new outlook for many scientists, teachers, researchers, administrators and students,” Jasuja said.
- GlaxoSmithKline opens $137 million facility expansion in Hamilton, Montana
“This signifies a large jump in economic development for not just the Bitterroot Valley, but for Montana as well,” Schweitzer said. “This facility is helping to keep Montana's best and brightest in Montana. I want to thank GSK for choosing the Bitterroot Valley, as they have shown nothing but support for not only for the local community, but for the entire state as well.”
Oregon Business
- Montana Department of Commerce Awards Primary Sector Workforce Training Funds to Businesses in Helena, Missoula, Billings, Kalispell & Great Falls
“Montana’s on the move,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “Montana’s business climate is one of the best in the nation, and these grants will continue to bolster that. They create business growth, more jobs, higher wages, and a stronger economy. All this means more opportunity for Montana.”
- Consultant suggests Helena market itself as arts education destination. “The West’s Learning Center for the Arts.”
“The one thing that struck us was the breadth but not the depth of the art and artisan activity in town, and the intellectual bent of the residents. If there ever was a town with a foundation, you’ve got it. So how do you leverage it so you’re different? Can this be a place people learn? We had to put a spin on it so you’re unique.”
- Missoula Convention and Visitors Bureau proposes bed tax to promote tourism
“We are woefully, inadequately funded through (the current state) bed tax.” bureau Director Barbara Neilan
- Senate approves ‘Last Best' protection measure
“We're going to do whatever it takes to protect that phrase,” Baucus said in a statement. “I'm just baffled that someone would try to gain exclusive rights to it. That's like trying to take the term ‘Big Sky Country' or ‘Treasure State.' It's just not going to fly with Montanans.”
- Montana Phone Companies Offer Community and Economic Development Programs
Triangle Telephone Cooperative (TTC) and its subsidiary company, Central Montana Communications (CMC) are pleased to announce several new community and economic development programs available to residents of the communities served by the telecommunications companies.
- Delegation from Iceland visiting Butte on Sunday to discuss geothermal energy development
They will discuss Montana’s potential for geothermal energy development.
Regional Economic Development
- Silicon Forest is stunted, Oregon's wellspring of homegrown technology business is drying up.
More worrisome is that few high-tech companies have sprung up to take their place.
Utah Business
- Washington Technology Center Admitted to National Angel Capital Association
“We are excited to play a role in early stage investment by joining the other significant ACA members in our region.” Lee Cheatham, Executive Director of Washington Technology Center
Utah Economic Development
- The Generations Network, Parent Company of Ancestry.com, to be Acquired by Spectrum Equity Investors
"Ancestry.com and myfamily.com are clear category leaders in the growing and rapidly evolving family history and family networking markets."
Government Technology
- Tax credits considered for funding incentives in Utah
"The clearest and cleanest way, and what at least a couple of other states are doing, is they've converted this to a tax credit scenario so that you very clearly audit the performance measures over the year. They tell you how many jobs they've created, what the new state revenue was."
Washington State Business
- Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter Consolidates Colorado's IT Operations, Launches Innovation Council
"In state government and in the private sector, the digital age of the 21st century means Colorado must be ambitious, innovative and effective when it comes to maximizing the use of technology," Ritter announced
Wyoming Business
- Bellevue children's education venture raises $7.1 million
Its corporate tagline is "Where Kids Come to Learn" and a slogan on the Web site says the company "envision(s) a future where every student enjoys an individually tailored, world-class learning experience."
- Washington Technology Center Fall 2007 Newsletter
Our work is advancing technology-based economic development throughout Washington.
Experience Tourism Cluster
- Jackson, Wyoming is one of Rural America's 'Sanctuary' Cities for Immigrant Workers
Jackson, Wyoming, and Worthington, Minnesota, are two rural "sanctuary cities." Both depend on immigrant workers to make their economies go.
- High-paying jobs prompt long Wyoming commutes
With a rising cost of living in Gillette and the surrounding areas, plus the worker shortage in the area, the trend is sure to increase in the coming years.
Non-Profit News
- Tax ruling could end a day at the farm
Agritourism operations can qualify for special tax status as long as the land in question is used for commercial production of agricultural, horticultural or forestry products.
2007 Montana Legislature
- 15 staff lose jobs at Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation / Money not coming in, interim CEO says
“The money just hasn't been coming in,” Smith said. “This is an effort to get ahead of the curve, and make sure we can fulfill our mission. Our obligation to our members and volunteers is to invest every nickel we can on the ground.”
Montana Education Excellence
- Montana earns 'F' for campaign disclosure. Washington State First in Nation
Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Dennis Unsworth said he welcomed the study as he works toward a new searchable database expected to debut on the Internet in early 2008.
Leadership Montana
- Disabled student access to some areas of University of Montana campus still inadequate
Under Montana law, public events cannot be held at a location that does not have disabled access. Every year, an e-mail is sent to all University staff by President George Dennison reminding them of the law regarding accessibility, said Jon Pielaet, ADSUM administrative head.
- How to Identify Future Workplace Leaders
"There's ample proof that everybody can become a leader, given the opportunity."
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