Archive for February, 2012

Google offers free “Get Your Business Online” session March 8 in Sandy

Monday, February 27th, 2012

In collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Google is offering a free “Get Your Business Online” event March 8 at the Miller Campus of Salt Lake Community College.

Hands on workshops for website building are first come, first serve for the first 80 people who register. Use one of the college’s computers or feel free to bring your own laptop.

The session takes place from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Miller Free Enterprise Center, 9750 South 300 West Sandy, UT 84070.

Register at: http://www.americagetonline.com/utah/event-registration?event=623066

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USTAR regional offices have statewide impact

Friday, February 24th, 2012

More than 300 commercialization projects in all corners of Utah, 11 new companies launched, and helping entrepreneurs successfully raise more than $24 million in outside funding. These are some of the impacts of USTAR’s four Technology Outreach and Innovation Program regional offices.

To update legislators and the public, USTAR has published one-page summaries highlighting key achievements. From energy to outdoor products, USTAR’s regional offices are helping business grow. See the one pagers here:

USTAR’s Technology Outreach is designed as a resource to:

  • Collaborate with Universities to commercialize innovations
  • Assist Utah entrepreneurs businesses and innovators through technology outreach centers at regional higher education institutions
  • Maximize economic impact of new technologies created in Utah

The regional program provides help to companies by offering services in:

  • Business consulting
  • Business plan development
  • Market / Opportunity analysis
  • Industry and university networking
  • Product development, testing and patent research
  • Presentations and connections to investor groups

For more detail and contact information, visit http://innovationutah.com/outreach.html

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USTAR Science Fair highlights research and business growth

Saturday, February 18th, 2012

On Feb. 16, under the watchful eyes of the “Science & Technology” sculpture in the Utah Capitol Rotunda, USTAR researchers and USTAR-supported entrepreneurs held a Science Fair. More than 20 lawmakers stopped by, and one representative said something to the effect of “Well, that’s the most impressive Rotunda display I’ve ever seen.”

The event received a good amount of media coverage:

Prior to the Science Fair, the business community held a press conference in support of USTAR funding. You can view it here: http://tinyurl.com/7zsmttn

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USTAR researcher wins prestigious NSF award for wearable air pollution detector

Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently announced that University of Utah USTAR researcher Hanseup Kim has won a $399,999 five-year grant to develop a wearable or easily portable air pollution detector.

The proposal centers on novel micro gas chromatography technology to enable real-time, on-the-spot, and personal monitoring of a class of airborne pollutants called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

“Increasingly, in government policy and the marketplace, there are emerging demands to detect environmental conditions in real-time at the workplace, public spaces, and home,” Kim said. “The project is expected to bring micro systems technology, analytical chemistry, and environmental education together to provide a new solution.”

The NSF CAREER project – entitled “Next-Generation Micro Gas Chromatography System Toward Ultra-High Capacity, Selectivity, and Portability For Distributed Environmental Awareness” – represents the miniaturization of gas chromatography technology.

Hanseup Kim

“Hanseup seeks to move well beyond current technology, overcome a major barrier in miniaturization, and enable individuals to carry small devices that provide an early warning of unhealthy levels of air pollution,” said Gianluca Lazzi, Department Chair, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Kim is an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering in the College of Engineering. He received his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Seoul National University in 1997, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2002 and 2006, respectively. His Ph.D. thesis contributed to scientific investigation on how to efficiently pump compressible gases in the micro domain and to innovative engineering of developing the first practical gas micropump.

In September 2011, he was named a 2011 Young Faculty Award from the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Kim is among only 39 young faculty nationwide recognized by this year’s awards, which DARPA says are meant “identify and engage rising research stars in junior faculty positions … who will focus a significant portion of their career on Department of Defense and national security issues.”

For an abstract of the award, visit: http://nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=1150988.

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Not your kid’s Science Fair – USTAR at the Capitol

Monday, February 13th, 2012

On Thursday, Feb. 16, USTAR researchers and client entrepreneurs will stage an exhibit in the Capitol Rotunda of some of the most exciting technologies emerging in Utah.

The event will showcase eight USTAR research teams, and six commercialization projects supported by USTAR’s regional Technology Outreach offices and related services.

Taking place from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, the session is open to the public. You can meet scientists associated with the following research teams:

-          Utah State University(USU) Applied Nutrition team

-          USU Synthetic Bio-Manufacturing team

-          USU STORM team

-          USU Wireless Power Transfer team

-          University of Utah (U of U) Nanotechnology Biosensors team

-          U of U Energy: Fossil and Renewable team

-          U of U Diagnostic Neuroimaging team

-          U of U Wireless Nanosystems team

Entrepreneurs and other representatives from different parts of the state will be on hand as well:

-          Southern Utah – SmackDab Technologies (digital tool for construction industry)

-          Eastern Utah – Native Asphalt project (Uintah Basin oil sands for pavement)

-          Central Utah – H2O TECH (waterjet dental drill)

-          Northern Utah – Utah Center for Aviation Innovation and Design (various projects)

-          SBIR-STTR Assistance Center – Aribex, Inc. (Handheld x-ray device)

-          BioInnovations Gateway – BloXR (lead-free radiation protection for doctors and  clinical staff)

At 10:30 am, members of the business community will speak at a press conference in support of the USTAR initiative. The event is underwritten with private funds from business supporters of USTAR.

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“Utah: Mixing Business and Pleasure” – A video to help your recruitment efforts

Monday, February 6th, 2012

Looking to persuade someone to move to Utah to work for your business? Looking to convince the folks at headquarters to move more operations to Utah? Put this fun and fast-paced video into the mix!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3VRC3_bEno&feature=youtube_gdata_player

On Jan. 26, Zions Bank hosted its “Business + Technology Connection” reception at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City. The Governor’s Office of Economic Development and USTAR were supporting sponsors of the event, which attracted several hundred people from the film, digital media and general business community, both in and out of the state.

The Governor addressed the audience, along with actor/producer Danny Glover, Adobe chairman John Warnock, and other luminaries.

Another high point of the event was this short “whirlwind tour” video that showcases why Utah is a great place to visit, and a great place to move to and do business.

The video was underwritten by Zions Bank and produced by Love Communications. It promises to be used by USTAR in attracting new researchers to our state. (By the way, the test tube scene was filmed in the lab of University of Utah USTAR researcher Ling Zang.)

USTAR has several spare copies of the DVD available as supplies last. Email ustarinfo@utah.gov if you would like a copy. Include your postal address.

Final note: The actual presentation at the Connection event was a blend of street theater and video, with the video’s actor standing in the live audience and coming forward to interrupt the Governor. You can see how it all plays out in this version. Note how Danny Glover reacts to the Governor’s acting skills. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ6euza44mg&feature=related

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