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(Moscow) The University of Idaho ranked 101 overall and fifth in publication
impact in a worldwide study of the biotechnology transfer process at
universities by the Milken Institute. The report, "Mind to Market: A Global
Analysis of University Biotechnology Transfer and Commercialization" released in
September, examined what it called the university innovation pipeline and looked
at publication rankings, patenting activity and office of technology transfer
outcome measures.
Publication rankings were based on 683 universities – 217 in the United States,
303 in Europe, 56 in Japan, 30 in Canada and 11 in China.
The report can be found at milkeninstitute.org.
Micron Patent Pipeline Named
'Most Powerful in the World'
(Boise) The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, known as IEEE,
has named Micron Technology's patent portfolio as the most powerful in the world
in its first annual patent survey.
The organization said that Micron's 1,569 U.S. patents in 2005 were overall more
important than IBM's 2,972 patents. "While IBM's assemblage yelled, Micron's
roared," according to IEEE's report.
The survey looked at 1,027 organizations with the most influential -- and
potentially most lucrative -- patent portfolios. It found that Micron's patent
portfolio beat out not only IBM but also Hewlett-Packard, Intel and Microsoft.
The bottom line, the survey said, was that Micron's innovations more frequently
led to further innovations, both inside and outside of Micron.
The report can be seen at spectrum.ieee.org.
Micron's patenting strength was also cited over the summer by ipIQ, an
independent technology analysis firm, which ranked the firm number one in the
semiconductor industry in its 2006 Patent Scorecard measuring corporate
innovation.
The ipIQ 2006 Patent Scorecard can be seen at ipIQ.com.
NanoSteel Presents New Weld
Overlay Products
(Idaho Falls) The NanoSteel Co., a leading producer of nano-structured steel
alloy materials for industrial applications, recently presented its complete
product line of patented MIG, Open Arc and PTA weld overlay materials at the
2006 FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show in Atlanta, Ga.
NanoSteel's Super Hard Steel weld products have no tungsten-carbide, no nickel
and no matrix yet they offer a unique combination of high hardness greater than
70 Rc and significant toughness. These attributes make NanoSteel's Super Hard
Steel weld products excellent alternatives to WC materials for use in extreme
environments where severe abrasion and impact are encountered.
In addition to participating as a booth exhibitor at the Atlanta show NanoSteel
was also one of several companies making presentations about bringing new
products to market that feature innovative technology. Daniel J. Branagan,
NanoSteel's chief technical officer based in Idaho Falls, led this discussion.
The show is one of the largest metal forming, fabricating and welding tradeshows
in North America.
The NanoSteel Co. Inc. is headquartered in Providence, R.I., and has its
research and development facilities in Idaho Falls. The firm develops and
markets a range of patented Super Hard Steel nano-structured materials that can
be applied with a variety of widely-available industrial processes including
thermal spraying, welding and laser cladding.
More information is at nanosteelco.com.
Idaho Company Announces
Breakthrough in Nanotube Manufacturing
(Boise) Idaho Space Materials Inc., a startup firm in Boise, announced
development of a manufacturing process for uncontaminated, high-purity,
single-walled carbon nanotubes at a very high production rate.
While the high production rates are a significant advancement, generating the
material without harmful metal contaminants allows the nanotubes to be easily
incorporated into applications requiring this material.
Most processes use a metal catalyst to form the nanotubes. Idaho Space Materials
uses a consistent, dependable, high-yield, high-volume, safe method to create
these nanotubes without any metal catalysts. Metal contamination is problematic
for many commercial applications due to toxic effects or harmful impact on the
nanotube's characteristics. Metal contamination is costly and time-consuming to
remove.
Idaho Space Materials identifies and commercializes existing patents in advanced
materials, reducing overall time and cost of commercialization.
More information is at idahospace.com.
BSU Student Receives
Fellowship to Study Nuclear Fuel Cycle
(Boise) A Boise State University student has been selected as one of 12 graduate
students from universities across the nation to receive a $42,500 fellowship
from the U.S. Department of Energy to study the nuclear fuel cycle.
Brian Jaques, a graduate student in the Department of Materials Science and
Engineering, competed against 130 other applicants for the prestigious
fellowship. It is awarded under the Office of Nuclear Energy's Advanced Fuel
Cycle Initiative, which looks at ways to close the nuclear fuel cycle and
recycle components of used reactor fuel.
Jaques works on surrogate nuclear fuel research in the laboratory of Darryl
Butt, a professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Among
other things, Butt is researching new methods to completely burn nuclear fuel so
no high-level nuclear waste remains. The advanced fuel cycle area has been
identified by the Energy Department as key to nuclear industry growth because it
would greatly reduce the need for high-level radioactive waste storage such as
the proposed Yucca Mountain facility. It would also increase the efficiency of
nuclear energy production.
Butt collaborates with scientists from around the country, including researchers
at the Idaho National Laboratory. Jaques will also have opportunities to work
with INL and other national laboratory researchers as part of his fellowship.
The fellowship includes a stipend, books and travel expenses.
NSF Awards $500,000 for BSU
Engineering Scholarship Program
(Boise) Boise State University freshmen majoring in engineering and computer
science fields are eligible for up to $10,000 in renewable scholarships as part
of a new $500,000 grant awarded to the university by the National Science
Foundation.
The "Idaho Engineering Scholarship Program" will offer scholarships beginning in
fall 2007 for freshmen enrolled in computer science, materials science and
engineering, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering or
civil engineering at Boise State.
Amy Moll, chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, procured
the NSF grant along with engineering professors John Gardner and Sin Ming Loo,
computer science professor Amit Jain and College of Engineering Dean Cheryl
Schrader.
The NSF scholarships will provide up to $10,000 a year for two years for
recipients who reside in the College of Engineering residential college, and up
to $5,000 a year for two years for recipients who don't participate in the
residential college program. Applicants must demonstrate financial need in order
to qualify for the scholarships and will then be selected based on academic
merit.
Along with covering the costs of student fees, books and on-campus housing, a
key part of the scholarship program is a support network to help students
succeed academically and stay in school until they earn their degrees.
Supplemental instruction in math will be offered, and recipients will also have
opportunities for internships and to work with faculty on research projects as
part of the college's first-year engineering program.
Applications for the NSF scholarships will be available in early January on the
College of Engineering Web site at coen.boisestate.edu or by contacting the
college at (208) 426-4432. Scholarship recipients will be notified by early
March 2007.
BlueLine Acquires Web
Development Company
(Nampa) BlueLine Grassroots Marketing of Nampa has acquired Flat Planet LLC, a
Web development company.
The acquisition creates an in-house technology capability that supports the
Web-based components of BlueLine's current marketing programs but also will
speed the creation of software tools the company will use in its grassroots
marketing concepts.
The merger of the two Nampa-based companies brings their combined number of
employees to 17 and expands their current revenue base by 30 percent. Plans call
for consolidating and relocating both organizations to a Boise location that
BlueLine is purchasing.
Founded in May 2005 by Sam Swenson and Ben Whitaker, Flat Planet has created
high-end Web sites for businesses in a wide variety of markets including real
estate development, retail, sports marketing, health and wellness and
professional services. The company has also developed an Internet content
management tool that will now be marketed by BlueLine.
More information is at bluelineresults.com.
Idaho Tech Executive Inducted
into Hall of Fame
(Boise) Nor Rae Spohn, vice president and general manager for Hewlett-Parkard's
personal LaserJet Solutions division, has been named one of the world's most
pioneering women and has been inducted into the Women in Technology
International's Hall of Fame.
The professional organization recognized five women worldwide for their
groundbreaking and extraordinary work in the field of science and technology and
for being mentors and proponents of diversity and the advancement of women.
Spohn, based in Boise, was a member of the team that launched the company's
first personal LaserJet printer and acted as research and development manager
for the personal LaserJet division. She was responsible for the development of
the HP 3100 and 1100A, which launched the company into the personal LaserJet
multi-function market. Spohn serves on multiple community boards, chairs the
Idaho Science, Mathematics and Technology Coalition and is a member of the
advisory board at the Boise State University School of Engineering.
Other inductees were Maria Azua, vice president of technology and innovation at
IBM Corp.; Francoise Barre-Sinoussi, director of the Regulation of Retroviral
Infections Unit at the Institut Pasteur in Paris; Kim Jones, vice president of
global education, government and health sciences for Sun Microsystems; and
Been-Jon Woo, director of technology integration and development for Intel Corp.
More information is at witi.com/sv.
Idaho EPSCoR Offers
Internship Funding for Small Companies
(Statewide) The Idaho Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research is
offering very small science and technology businesses the opportunity to host a
college intern next summer.
The program will recruit candidates and pay 75 percent of the employment costs
up to $4,500. The small business is required to contribute the remaining 25
percent. In return, employers are asked to mentor the science or engineering
intern in entrepreneurship. Last summer, the Entrepreneurial Internship program
placed 10 students with small companies throughout the state. Students provided
valuable assistance to the businesses while learning important technical and
entrepreneurial lessons.
For information, contact Nathan Brindza at the Idaho EPSCoR Office, (208)
885-4004 or Brindza@uidaho.edu. Application instructions for hosting a student
are at webs.uidaho.edu/epscor/outreach/internship.htm.
Telemetric Deploys Wireless
Monitoring in Georgia
(Boise) Telemetric Corp., which makes wireless communication solutions for the
electric utility industry, has deployed its technology with Marietta Power in
Georgia.
The technology provides wireless power quality monitoring and an outage
reporting system based on Telemetric's TVM3 voltage monitors and supporting
software applications. Near real-time power quality and power reliability
information is transmitted to Marietta Power operations personnel via cellular
communication to a secure, Web-based application.
To enhance overall system reliability, Marietta Power wanted a system that could
report steady state voltages and over/under voltage events from key points on
its electric distribution system. In addition, distribution operations wanted
automated outage reporting from these key points to supplement information from
the existing system.
Custom alarms notify operations personnel of outage or power quality events
immediately as they happen – via Web, e-mail, phone or pager.
More information is at telemetric.net.
AMIS Introduces Ambient Light
Sensor for Consumer, Automotive Uses
(Pocatello) AMI Semiconductor, which makes state-of-the-art integrated
mixed-signal and structured digital products, has introduced a sensor that
emulates the human eye.
The ambient light sensor, the AMIS-74980x, provides an output proportional to
ambient light, which allows the display controller to adjust the brightness and
contrast. This not only helps reduce eyestrain from glare and reflection but
also controls power dissipation and minimizes frequent battery recharges or
replacements in portable devices.
The CMOS image sensing technology can be used in cell phones, personal digital
assistants and handheld displays, LCD monitors, portable DVD players, notebook
PCs and MP3 players. It is also suitable for in-car entertainment systems, GPS
displays, headlamps, rearview mirrors and dashboards.
More information is at amis.com.
AMIS, FLIR Systems Announce
Agreement
(Pocatello) AMI Semiconductor and FLIR Systems announced an agreement for high
volume manufacturing of uncooled microbolometer infrared detectors.
Under the agreement, FLIR will install its proprietary microbolometer detector
process at AMI Semiconductor's Class 1, eight-inch fabrication facility in
Pocatello. The agreement will expand current microbolometer detector
manufacturing capability and will also provide an opportunity to improve yield
by installing the process in a Class 1 fabrication plant.
Installation of FLIR's proprietary microbolometer production process further
demonstrates AMI Semiconductor's value as a foundry for complex semiconductor
components. The growth of thermal imaging equipment in both the commercial and
military markets requires the high-volume, high-yield and low-cost capabilities
that the foundry model offers.
Bolometers measure electromagnetic radiation.
More information is at amis.com.
Micron Showcases Future
Automobile Technology at Baja Race
(Boise) Future automobiles will have between five and 10 cameras, doing
everything from helping drivers back up to keeping the vehicle on the road.
That is the future, according to Micron Technology Inc., which is showcasing how
the driving experience will change by sponsoring specially equipped vehicles in
a race through Baja California in November.
Micron has a portfolio of dedicated automotive image sensors that were designed
specifically to meet the stringent performance requirements for today's evolving
"smart car."
The Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 race will be held Nov.15-18 along Mexico's Baja
California Peninsula. Micron will test the limits of its imaging and NAND
technology in the Wide Open Challenge class. The company will have four teams of
executives commanding off-road vehicles specially outfitted with Micron image
sensors and Lexar Professional CompactFlash memory cards. Lexar is a Micron
subsidiary.
More about the race is at baja.micron.com.
UI Researcher Looks at Bugs
That Find Waste Tasty
(Moscow) A University of Idaho
professor is looking at ways tiny bugs can be used to clean up wastewater.
Erik Coats, assistant professor of civil engineering, has focused on microbial
wastewater treatment processes. If better understood at the molecular level, he
said his research could potentially save the state and region hundreds of
millions of dollars.
Recent national attention to the Spokane River's phosphorus levels, along with
changing local waste management requirements, has increased the visibility of
this research. Coats said proposed Spokane River phosphorus limits are the
lowest in the nation, making additional research timely and vital to long-term
planning.
Scientists researching biological wastewater treatment seek to create conditions
that mimic nature to learn how to better use microorganisms to remove phosphorus
and other nutrients from wastewater. This process does not use chemicals or
outside elements but enhances naturally occurring processes.
"Really, the microbes are not unlike humans. They need to eat. However, with
microbes, if we give them the right constituents – waste products – they'll
actually clean the water for us while they eat," said Coats. "With a better
understanding of how microbes function in these engineered environments, we can
better design systems to accomplish treatment goals."
Coats wants to create a consortium of seven to 10 regional wastewater treatment
plants that will allow funding for a graduate research program in biotreatment
of wastewater.
The National Science Foundation recently selected Coats' wastewater proposal out
of 130 nationwide for nearly $140,000 in startup money. Coats will investigate
biological phosphorus removal using proteomic methods. With the support of the
grant and nearly $25,000 from the foundation's Experimental Program to Stimulate
Competitive Research, Coats has begun working with Idaho civil engineering
students on the first steps toward carrying out the research project.
Camera Phone Photography,
Video Contest Launched by Micron
(Boise) Twenty Boise State
University business students and 20 students from Drexel University in
Pennsylvania will vie for cash prizes and an all expense-paid trip to Barcelona,
Spain, in a contest sponsored by Micron Technology Inc. to showcase the
photography potential of today's camera phones.
The "Micron Mobile Theater Contest" challenges student teams to capture the
extraordinary, inspirational and intriguing in single-frame shots and continuous
video on cell phones using Micron memory and image sensors.
The students from both schools will be divided into five teams of four each. The
Boise State students live in the College of Business and Economics residential
college in Keiser Hall and operate "Dawson's 4.0," an entirely student-run
coffee shop located in the lobby of the Multipurpose Classroom Building.
Micron is providing each team with four phones that feature its imaging and
memory technology including video graphics array, 1.3-megapixel, 2-megapixel and
3-megapixel. Each team member will be asked to capture one video clip and one
still image with the phone.
The members of the winning team, to be announced in January, will receive the
trip to Barcelona, where they will display their winning entries in Micron's
booth at the 3GSM World Conference Feb. 13-17. Additionally, each winning team
member will be presented with $1,250.
Boise State and Drexel were chosen for the contest based on their relationship
with Micron's university outreach programs. Three guest judges will select the
winning team, subjectively rating creativity, uniqueness, execution, humor and
impact of each video clip and still photo. The judges are Mike McNamara,
executive technology editor for Popular Photography & Imaging magazine; Rick
Decker, a professional photographer; and a Micron imaging executive.
ISU Scientist Publishes
Sasquatch Book
(Pocatello) Does Big Foot exist?
Dr. Jeff Meldrum, associate professor of anatomy and anthropology in the Idaho
State University Department of Biological Sciences, is the author of the newly
released book, "Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science," published by Forge/Tom Doherty
Associates.
The book expands on the Discovery Channel documentary by the same name.
The book presents the findings of a number of respected scientists, who
objectively assessed the evidence offered for the possible existence of a relict
ape, Meldrum said. The Idaho State professor includes his own perspectives from
his 10-year investigation into the whether the creature exists.
In endorsing the book, noted primatologist Jane Goodall said, "Jeff Meldrum's
book, ‘Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science,' brings a much needed level of
scientific analysis to the Sasquatch – or Bigfoot – debate."
Meldrum has published widely on the paleontology and locomotor adaptions of
primates. Most recently, his attention has returned to the emergence of modern
human bipedalism. He co-edited and contributed to "From Biped to Strider: the
Emergence of Modern Human Walking, Running, and Resource Transport." This past
summer he traveled to China's prestigious Peking University to collaborate on
the study of the foot skeleton of a Middle Pleistocene fossil hominid.
His interests in bipedalism encompass the evaluation of hominid footprints,
including those attributed to Sasquatch, both in the laboratory and in the
field. Meldrum has assembled and examined hundreds of casts and photos of
footprints ascribed to Sasquatch. His findings in this regard constitute a
significant chapter of his book.
Meldrum has made numerous featured expert appearances on television and radio
including the Discovery Channel, the History Channel, the National Geographic
Channel, the Today Show and National Public Radio.
Geothermal Drilling Shows
Extensive Renewable Energy
(Boise) U.S. Geothermal Inc., a
renewable energy development company, announced that recent drilling indicates
that the geothermal resources at Raft River in southeastern Idaho may be
extensive.
The company recently completed the deepening of two existing injection wells as
part of its well improvement program for the power plant it is building there.
The company is on schedule to begin commercial power generation next September,
said Daniel Kunz, president and chief executive officer.
U.S. Geothermal believes Raft River is ideally located to make an important
contribution to the power needs of the Pacific Northwest.
The Raft River geothermal reservoir is the site of a former U.S. Department of
Energy geothermal research facility.
On the basis of a report prepared by the company's independent consultant,
GeothermEx Inc., of Richmond, Calif., the site has a 50 percent probability
producting 15.6 megawatts of power per square mile. That may translate to 100
megawatts or more. U.S. Geothermal has signed a power sales contract for one
10-megawatt plant with the Idaho Power Co., is negotiating an additional 26
megawatts with new customers and has secured transmission for up to 36 megawatts
with the Bonneville Power Administration.
More information is at usgeothermal.com.
Armstrong Heads Up Idaho SBIR
Program
(Statewide) Brandon Armstrong has
joined the Idaho Office of Science & Technology as the Idaho SBIR Program
Coordinator.
The Idaho Small Business Innovation Research Program helps entrepreneurs and
small businesses compete for federal grants to conduct federal research and
development projects with potential for commercialization. Limited financial
assistance is available through the Idaho program.
Armstrong, previously an economic development analyst for Idaho Commerce &
Labor, has experience in working with business startups, Web site development
and research. He has a master's in business administration from Boise State
University and has worked as a research analyst for the Idaho Small Business
Development Center.
Armstrong can be contacted at Brandon.armstrong@cl.idaho.gov.
More on the Idaho SBIR Program is at technology.idaho.gov/sbir.
O'Connell Joins TechHelp in
Eastern Idaho
(Pocatello) Manufacturing
specialist David O'Connell has joined Idaho State University and TechHelp,
Idaho's manufacturing extension center, to assist manufacturers and processors
in eastern Idaho.
O'Connell will offer technical assistance, training and information to
strengthen the competitiveness of manufacturers, processors and inventors
through continuous product and process innovation. O'Connell honed his
manufacturing and operations skills during several assignments with General
Electric's Aircraft Engine division. He deepened his breadth of experience in
materials management, distribution, Lean enterprise and Six Sigma while employed
at RE/MAX, Simplot and, most recently, Heinz in Pocatello, where he was
warehouse and production supervisor.
O'Connell received a Bachelor of Arts degree in business from Mesa State College
in Grand Junction, Colo.
Alhough his primary focus will be on companies in eastern Idaho, he will be
available for consultation statewide. O'Connell can be reached at (208)
282-3928.
TechHelp is a partnership of Idaho's three state universities and an affiliate
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology through the not-for-profit
Manufacturing Extension Partnership. It is also Idaho's Economic Development
Administration University Center, targeting economically distressed areas of
Idaho.
More information is at techhelp.org.
Crucial Receives Top Award
From Shopzilla
(Meridian) Crucial Technology, a
provider of memory upgrades, received the BizRate Research Circle of Excellence
Platinum award from Shopzilla for the fifth time in a row. The annual award
recognizes the very best online retailers in customer satisfaction, as judged by
buyers from those retailers.
Crucial received above average customer ratings on seven key satisfaction
metrics, including overall satisfaction, product satisfaction, ease of finding
products, repurchase intent, product met expectations, on-time delivery and
customer support.
Crucial Technology is a division of Micron Semiconductor Products, Inc., which
is a wholly owned subsidiary of Micron Technology, Inc.
Ideas Innovations Idaho
License Plates For Sale
(Statewide) Specialty license
plates that support Idaho's science and technology industry are for sale through
the Idaho Transportation Department.
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 technology.idaho.gov/license.
Have an Idea/Submission for
this Newsletter?
Contact Julie Howard at the Idaho
Commerce & Labor's Office of Science & Technology at (208) 334-2650, ext. 2147,
or at Julie.howard@cl.idaho.gov
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