Archive for July, 2011

Legislators, UTC tour U of U USTAR building

Saturday, July 30th, 2011

On Thursday, July 28, the University of Utah, USTAR, and Layton Construction hosted a hard-hat tour of the James L. Sorenson Molecular Biotechnology Building – A USTAR Innovation Center. The two dozen people who got a sneak preview included legislators, legislative and Governor’s office fiscal analysts, U of U faculty and staff, and members of the Utah Technology Council’s Public Policy Forum.

The 208,000 square foot interdisciplinary research center is slated for occupancy in January 2012. The primary purpose of the building is to give USTAR research teams top-of-the-line facilities in which to conduct their work in USTAR’s key innovation focus areas.

The secondary purpose – also critical – is to foster the connection between industry, entrepreneurship and research. The Sorenson building will serve as an industry magnet, encouraging collaboration between researchers and industry experts to commercialize new discoveries.

Here are some photos from the tour:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget staffer Ryan Starks dons a hard hat in anticipation of the hour-long tour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As part of LEED Certification that requires locally sourced materials, the stone walls were quarried in Summit County.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Layton project manager Kevin Charves talks about the design features of the building that will encourage collaborative work. These features include the café, atrium and other “high transparency” spaces. (more…)

Tags: , ,
Posted in Default | No Comments »

Roy named to economic development associate VP post at UVU

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

Utah Valley University (UVU) is pleased to announce that Steven Roy has been selected to fill the new position of associate vice president for economic development.

The position’s creation coincides with UVU’s emphasis on fulfilling its role as an economic engine and incubator for new and existing businesses in the region. The University recently moved forward with a series of economic development-directed initiatives including UVU President Matthew S. Holland’s unveiling of a business engagement strategy with local leaders and the formation of a technology commercialization office.

“This position will play a key role in the University’s efforts to encourage and cultivate economic growth and opportunities across our region,” Holland said. “It fits perfectly into UVU’s core values of a student success, community-engaged institution.”

Steven Roy

As AVP for economic development, Roy remains director of Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative’s (USTAR) outreach and innovation activities in central Utah. In this capacity, he works with private and public leaders to help businesses in key economic clusters that add to the economic and employment base in the region. Roy has 15 years of experience in organizational development, strategic change management, executive coaching and process re-engineering within the high technology sector. He is currently a member of the board of UVU’s Business Resource Center.

“We are pleased to have an administrator with the experience and talents that Steve possesses to help the University facilitate economic development opportunities in our communities,” said Val Peterson, UVU vice president for finance & administration.

Roy started the position July 1. The USTAR board approved the outreach funding, moving the position to UVU in the form of a grant on July 7.

About UVU
Utah Valley University is located in Orem, Utah, and is home to nearly 33,000 students. UVU began as a vocational school during World War II, and in the seven decades since has evolved into a technical school, community college, state college and, finally, a comprehensive regional teaching university. UVU is one of Utah’s largest institutions of higher learning and offers programs ranging from career training to high-demand master degrees, with emphasis on undergraduate education.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Default | No Comments »

“Innovation Idol” contest takes on nanotechnology

Monday, July 18th, 2011

Statewide competition for cash, glory and free consulting

 The nanoUtah 2011 conference announced today a statewide contest to identify, celebrate and support entrepreneurial ideas that have the most potential as viable and exciting business opportunities. In a fast-paced conference session to be held in Salt Lake City October 13, an “Innovation Idol” will be crowned.

During the session, up to five finalists will compete by presenting their ideas and answering questions from a panel of judges and the audience. The “speed pitch” format is lively, entertaining, and a good way for finalists to get expert feedback on their concepts. The winning “Idol” – based on audience votes – will win a cash prize of $500.

The contest is open to any Utah resident. Entrants may co-apply with another researcher, student, entrepreneur or industry representative.

HOW TO ENTER: If you have an idea for a nanotechnology product or business, complete the three-page application on the conference web site by Sept. 15. The nanoUtah selection committee will evaluate the ideas and invite up to five finalists to present at the session, to be held Oct. 13 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the Hilton City Center in Salt Lake City.

Click here for the contest flyer.

 

THE FINE PRINT: USTAR reserves the right to offer a limited number of applicants (whether finalists or not) consulting services to refine their ideas following the contest. Complete terms and conditions and an application form are available on the conference web site:

http://www.nanofab.utah.edu/nanoutah11/index.php?n=Abstract.Abstract
or http://tinyurl.com/3v59qat

SESSION JUDGES AND EMCEE:

  • Troy D’Ambrosio, Director Educational Programs, Lassonde Center, University of Utah
  • Lisa Davis, Program Director, The Leonardo
  • Dr. Glenn Prestwich, entrepreneur and professor of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Utah
  • Michael O’Malley, marketing director, USTAR (emcee)

Nanotechnology deals with the manipulation of atoms and molecules. This science is impacting everything from medicine and energy to computing and telecommunications. It promises to make drugs, solar panels, computer chips and wireless components faster, cheaper and more effective. The nanoUtah conference is anchored by presentations from international and local leaders in nanoscience and nanotechnology, and fosters collaborations and the exchange of knowledge among scientists, engineers, clinicians, industry leaders, and students. For more information, visit http://www.nanofab.utah.edu/nanoutah11/index.php

“Innovation Idol” was first held in September 2010 as part of “Leonardo After Hours,” a joint production of USTAR and The Leonardo that brings current technology and science topics to the public. That contest focused on general technology. USTAR and The Leonardo plan future iterations of the contest in coming years. For more information on The Leonardo, visit http://www.theleonardo.org

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Default | No Comments »

USTAR funds new MRI at U of U

Thursday, July 14th, 2011

On Wednesday, July 13, the Salt Lake Tribune covered the installation of a new 3 Tesla MRI at the University of Utah. USTAR and U of U Brain Institute researchers Deborah Yurgelun-Todd and Perry Renshaw are interviewed in the piece, written by Julia Lyon.

“When a massive new MRI machine slid into place Wednesday at the University of Utah, researchers gained a promising tool in the quest to better understand mental illness. The machine housed at the University Neuropsychiatric Institute (UNI) will be the first at the school dedicated solely to human brain scanning research. Studies have shown that mental illness can be associated with physical changes in the brain, raising hopes that scans will one day help determine a patient’s disorder.”

Read the rest of the story here.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Default | No Comments »

Top Mobile Apps Professionals Can’t Live Without!

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

Which mobile phone apps increase your productivity the most?  Which apps make life simpler?  Join the Women Tech Council as Kim Jones, of Vérité; Alison Wistner, of Mercato Partners; and Brian Lampright of Marketstar, share their favorite apps and lead the discussion of what works and what doesn’t. 

Bring your mobile phone and join in the interactive portion of the program as we ask questions and tabulate audience responses. Click here to register

Due to popular demand Women Tech Council has moved this tech talk to a larger location to accommodate the response!  Please note the new address at Westminster College in Salt Lake City.

Kimberley Jones founded Vérité based upon a vision for taking media to a digital communications platform. After over twelve years in Silicon Valley marketing and selling everything from high-end file servers and workstations to programmable chips, Kim Jones moved to Utah for a change.

Upon arriving she immediately began working in the Broadcast Film and Video production market selling Sony Broadcast for a reseller based in Salt Lake City. Now as CEO of Vérité she is focused on digital production for sales, marketing and training communications as well as web-based business applications.

For over fifteen years she has been the driving force behind the company’s growth and project accomplishments. She is also the Chairman of the Board for the Utah Women Tech Council and a Trustee on Westminster College’s MBA Advisory Board.

Alison Wistner is a Principal at Mercato Partners, a private equity firm that invests in high growth technology and consumer businesses. As a member of the investment team and the investment committee, Alison leads deal flow and due diligence efforts and is actively involved in the oversight and management of the portfolio.

Alison currently serves as Chairman of the Board at Cymphonix, Inc. and as a board advisor for two other portfolio companies.  Prior to Mercato Partners, Alison was a Principal at Prospector Equity Capital (PEC), a private equity firm based in Park City, Utah. At PEC, Alison served on the investment committee and investment team and oversaw six portfolio investments. Alison was also the CFO of a portfolio company, Zane Benefits, a healthcare administration technology company for three years.

Previously, Alison was a Vice President at Hunter Capital, focused on middle market investment banking transactions. Prior to joining Hunter Capital, Alison worked for Bank of America Securities in mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance. Alison received a B.S. in Business Finance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Brian Lampright is a Digital Solutions Architect at Marketstar, the global leader in outsourced sales and marketing solutions. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from University of Alaska. Brian has 15 years experience in software development and he is currently working in LG’s Digital Marketing group leading and Android App project. His favorite app is Evernote because his notes are available to him from anywhere on any device.

Sponsored by Vérité

 

July 20, 2011
12:00-1:30
Lunch and Speaker
$20 per person /member
$30 per person / non –member

Hosted by Westminster College
1840 South 1300 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84105
In the Gore School of Business
Parking in Lot A, B, or C is free
http://www.westminstercollege.edu/campus_map/

Tags: ,
Posted in Default | 2 Comments »

Utah companies invited to US-Korea science and technology conference coming to Park City

Monday, July 11th, 2011

If you are interested in expanding your overseas business and technology interchange, an important event is taking place in Park City August 10-14. The UKC 2011 conference will include one-on-one sessions between Utah and Korean companies in attendance.

It is anticipated that more than 1,000 scientists and engineers from academia, governments and industries will attend UKC 2011 from the US and Korea.

Over the decades, the UKC has been a unique forum where prominent scientists, engineers, and policy makers come together to explore collaborative research and development opportunities between two great countries. Given a rapidly increasing level of cooperation between the US and Korea, partly due to the upcoming Free Trade Agreement, the UKC 2011 will be even a greater platform where innovative ideas across the Pacific will be openly exchanged.

To be held at the Canyons Resort, the conference is co-organized by the 10,000-member Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA), Korea Federation of Science and Technology Societies (KOFST) and Korea-US Science Cooperation Center (KUSCO).

Utah-based individuals may attend the Industry forum and related sessions for a special one-day cost of $100. Utah companies may exhibit at the entire conference for $1,000.

Industry forum participants are encouraged to attend all events on Friday, August 12, including:

  • 7:30 – 8:30 am Breakfast at the Pavilion
  • 8:30 – 10:10 am Plenary session featuring the chairman Dae-whan Chang of Korea’s TV and Newspaper media conglomerate, MK
  • 10:10 – 10:30 am Coffee break
  • 10:30 am – 12:10 pm One-on-one matching with Korean companies (multiple meetings, up to 5 at 20 minutes per company)
  • 12:10 – 1:30 pm Lunch at Pavilion
  • 1:30 – 4:30 pm Industry Forum (one speaker about how to do business in Korea and one speaker about how to do business in USA)
  • 5:00 – 6:30 pm Sponsor Dinner (invitation only) at Waldorf Astoria
  • 7:30 – 9:30 pm Utah Symphony at Deer Valley (discounted ticket can be purchased from our website ukc.ksea.org for $20 per person)
  • 10:00 pm on Wine Tasting Party at the Canyons (optional)

Email ustarinfo@utah.gov for registration information. For more information about UKC 2011, please visit ukc.ksea.org/ukc2011.

Posted in Default | 1 Comment »

Recent Blog Posts

Recent Media Coverage

Latest News Releases