Innovation Scorecard and playbook
January 26, 2010
Bill Warner, A technology entrepreneur in Boston posted the following Scorecard and play book for building an innovation economy. Bill is in Boston but this simple methodology is applicable elsewhere including Kentucky. We need plays and metrics with which to judge the success of efforts to boost a technology cluster. Our politicians often tout the work they are doing in these areas but use outdated or no methodology at all to judge their impact and many of the tactics are outdated or ineffective. This might give us a common language.
Scorecard
Nine companies receive matching funds from the state
January 25, 2010
Through the SBIR-STTR matching funds program:
Four Tigers, near Paris, is developing blackberry-based cosmetics, dietary supplements, food and medical products that offer the fruit’s potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
www.four-tigers.com
NaugaNeedles, of Louisville, produces nano-scale probes and electrodes for use in mechanical, electrical, and electrochemical sensing and manipulation at cellular and molecular levels.
www.nauganeedles.com
SCR, of Louisville, is developing a long-term implantable counterpulsation medical device to treat heart failure patients who may be responsive to a moderate level of cardiac assistance.
www.scrdevelopmentgroup.com
Topasol, of Lexington, produces nanoparticles for use in new coatings and composites for sensors, biocides, mar-resistant materials, optical devices, solar cells and colorings.
www.topasol.com
Transposagen, of Lexington, uses mobile DNA technology (transposons) to develop genetically modified laboratory rats that can mimic human diseases and be used for medical research.
www.transposagenbio.com
ApoImmune, of Louisville, is developing vaccines to treat cancer and prevent infectious diseases, as well as therapies to improve patient tolerance to transplanted organs and cells.
www.apoimmune.com
NuForm Materials, near Georgetown, makes ceramic materials for use in automotive and aerospace composites that can help lower cost and improve performance and fuel efficiency.
www.nuformmaterials.com
PGxl Laboratories, of Louisville, is studying how genetics affect the way patients react to medicines to help physicians select drugs and adjust dosages to avoid adverse drug reactions.
www.pgxlab.com
3H Company, of Lexington, is focusing on clean coal technology and testing its carbon sequestration technology designed to capture and store carbon dioxide underground.
Free Innovation Workshops
January 20, 2010
The Eastern ICC at EKU will host a special Innovation training program on Feb. 9.
Eureka Ranch, a nationally recognized Innovation Lab will present two sessions on Innovation-Profit 101 (8:30am-12:30pm) and USA National Innovation Marketplace (1:30-2:30pm) in the EKU Perkins Building on Kit Carson Drive on the south campus at EKU in Richmond.
The first session, Profit 101 Growth program is designed to assist existing organizations get the most out of the creative process (start-ups will also benefit). Find out how to accelerate ideas and successfully diversify into more profitable products, services, markets and/or customers. The session provides a hands-on simulation experience for successfully identifying opportunities, reducing risk and increasing success probability.
www.eurekaranch.com/Profit-101-Training
(8:30am-12:30pm)
The second session, USA National Innovation Marketplace (USA NIM) presents an internet-based Open Innovation Marketplace that connects Innovation Sellers, Buyers, Investors & Distributors-a virtual Tech mining/match service. Listing in this database will give sellers instant Business Credibility as it utilizes the same sales forecasting methodology used by large corporations to screen their own internal innovations. Follow-on participation and registration features an innovation research report that buyers and investors can understand in less than a minute (a potential $2,000 value).
Every time a new innovation is listed in the USA NIM, it will be automatically compared to thousands of companies and matched to their needs.
www.planeteureka.org/marketplace
Contact R. Gary Marshall, Eastern ICC at gary.marshall@eku.edu or 859-622-8577.
(1:30-2:30pm)
Entrepreneurs Foundation creates High-Tech helpHaiti fund
January 17, 2010
Check out the info at EFKY about the High-Tech HelpHaiti fund. An example of the leadership shown by entrepreneurial companies in the US. The funds donated are being matched leading to at least $1.2 million for Haitian relief.
Alltech & UK offer entrepreneurial FastTrac program
January 8, 2010
Alltech and UK are putting on the program for $2500 a person. Details can be found here.
The Fast Trac program was conceived in 1986 at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and the Kaufman Foundation purchased the program’s intellectual property in 1997.
Topics covered include:
- Exploring Entrepreneurship
- Identifying and Meeting Market Needs
- Objectively evaluate your concept and plans for moving forward.
- Develop a working knowledge of business fundamentals such as marketing, product/service development, management, and financials.
- Begin building an infrastructure for your business operations and processes.
- Explore the risk and success factors in the marketplace.
- Understand how to access the human, financial, and business resources.
- Network with entrepreneurs and professionals.
- Respond to changes that can impact your business.
- Build an actionable business plan
Classes will meet every Tuesday and Thursday from 5 pm to 8:30 pm between March 16 and April 22.
The modules will be presented by Gatton staff and senior managers from Alltech
New Media Factory
January 6, 2010
The group behind the IdeaFestival have launched a new media factory. Few details have been released and I have asked Kris Kimel for additional information but one event in the pipeline is a Collective Intelligence/Augmented Reality game design workshop they are hosting on February 26th. I will post more details as they are available. Below is the info from their site:
The IF New Media Factory is a joint venture of future-oriented organizations and companies committed to exploring, developing and creating ways that technology, imaginatively combined with other disciplines, can be employed to enhance the learning and human experience.
Current Project
Working in partnership with the internationally known UC Berkeley Center for New Media, the Factory is now designing a health-centered reality-augmented immersive game. The code name for the project is “Cornerstone”.
New Media Skills and Competencies by Henry Jenkins, Media Studies Program at MIT.
Thomas Malone, MIT Center for Collective Intelligence quote on “new technologies..”
