News

Idaho Office of Science & Technology October 2006

In this issue:

# PakSense Finalist in Worldwide Innovation Awards

# Winners Announced in Idaho Innovation Awards

# Micron Introduces First 1 Gigabit DDR3 Memory

# BSU TECenter Marks Three Years Incubating Tech Startups

# TenXsys Receives Funding From CIA’s In-Q-Tel

# Mission Aviation Opens Idaho Headquarters

# Technology Designed to Assess, Treat Autism

# Comtech AHA Hires Director of Sales

# IdaCorp, Idaho Power Name King to Boards

# TriGeo Software Earns Editor’s Choice Award

# PCS Edventures Receives Congressional Award

# BSU College of Engineering Ranked 12th in Nation

# UI Acquires Unique Nanoscale Microscope

# UI Professor Working on Trout Vaccine

# Gift Funds Endowed Chair in Biology at BSU

# Ideas Innovations Idaho License Plates For Sale

PakSense Finalist in Worldwide Innovation Awards

(Boise) The Wall Street Journal has named the PakSense TXi Label the runner-up in its 2006 Technology Innovation Awards.
PakSense, a Boise firm making packaging sensors, was named in the Technology Design category. More than 600 applications from two dozen countries were received for the 12 award categories.
PakSense TXi Labels record temperature and time of a product’s environment during the entire distribution cycle. Labels are disposable, about the size of a sugar packet, and can record data for four to eight weeks. Labels feature LED alerts which will signal if temperature specifications have been breached. In addition, all data can be downloaded and graphed.
The sensor can be used to monitor food, pharmaceuticals, medical and other environmentally sensitive products. Customers or their suppliers simply snap the corner of the label to activate it and attach it to product prior to shipment.
More information is at http://www.paksense.com.

Winners Announced in Idaho Innovation Awards

(Statewide) Eight top innovations were honored at the first annual Stoel Rives Idaho Innovation Awards during the Intermountain Venture Forum. A winning innovation was selected for each of eight technology categories. The winners were:
Agriculture/Environmental/Aquaculture – PakSense for its TXi Label, which monitors the time and temperature of perishable goods during shipping.
BioSciences/Medical Devices – The Idaho National Laboratory for the Medical Actinium for Therapeutic Treatment, which can be used for cancer treatment.
Chemicals/Materials Science – Positron Systems for Induced Positron Analysis, a process to test aerospace material for damage at the nanoscale level.
Computer Hardware/Electrical Devices – MetaGeek for the Wi-Spy, a tool for troubleshooting wireless networks.
Computer Software – The Idaho National Laboratory for the Robot Intelligence Kernel, which improves robot autonomy.
Imaging/Optical Technology – Micron Technology for the 8-Megapixel Image Sensor, which improves the performance of digital cameras.
Mechanical Devices – Ugobe for the Pleo-Ugobe Life Forms, an advanced robotic toy that mimics organic movement.
Semiconductor Manufacturing – AMI Semiconductor for its lower power wireless system-on-a-chip, which helps diabetic patients manage glucose levels.
More is at http://www.stoel.com/innovation/home_idaho.asp.

Micron Introduces First 1 Gigabit DDR3 Memory

(Boise) Micron Technology has introduced a 1 gigabit DDR3 memory device that enables the next level of memory performance for applications including personal computer gaming, servers, super computing and high-definition television.
The new double data rate 3 device provides key applications with faster speed, lower power and increased memory density.
"Early 2007 should bring memory thirsty computing and consumer applications such as Microsoft’s anticipated Vista operating system," said Shane Rau, senior analyst of IDC, a market intelligence firm. "DDR3 will initially benefit the server, notebook and desktop markets and will then reach consumer applications such as graphics and HDTVs."Evaluation samples of the new components are available to select customers with production expected to begin early next year.
A 2Gb DDR3 device is also expected to be available from Micron early next year, helping enable even higher density applications.
Micron Technology, based in Boise, is one of the world’s leading semiconductor makers. More information is at http://www.micron.com.

TECenter Marks Three Years Incubating Tech Start-ups

(Nampa) A number of young technology businesses are finding success with help from Boise State University’s Technology and Entrepreneurial Center. The center, which nurtures high-tech startups with high potential, is located on the Boise State West campus in Nampa and has been open for three years.
Its experts help entrepreneurs with great ideas but not all of the knowledge to build a business from the ground up.
During the past three years, TECenter experts have had discussions with more than 500 entrepreneurs in the valley, done formal assessments with more than 100 and assisted more than 50.
"There is definitely a demand in the valley for what we are doing," said TECenter director John Glerum. "We have developed strong momentum in terms of our clients’ ability to generate sales, increase employment and get funding for their products and services."
The TECenter currently serves 35 companies, both in and out of its facility, as well as its anchor tenants. The center also has six pre-incubation clients and three graduate companies. Current clients represent 65 self-employed people and approximately $6 million in annual revenues. Client funding from various sources exceeds $4 million.
The TECenter is full, Glerum said the facility needs another 14,000 square feet to accommodate more resident clients.
For more information about the TECenter, call (208) 562-3636 or visit http://www.bsutecenter.com.

TenXsys Receives Funding From CIA’s In-Q-Tel

(Eagle) TenXsys Inc., a provider of telemetry systems for remote monitoring of physiology, environment and location, has made a strategic investment and development agreement with In-Q-Tel. In-Q-Tel is the independent strategic venture capital fund that identifies innovative technologies to support the missions of the Central Intelligence Agency and the larger intelligence community.
"In-Q-Tel’s investment will allow TenXsys to further product development and take this advanced technology to market," said Frank Riskey, president of TenXsys.
TenXsys provides a system of advanced, configurable telemetry devices that allow people to collect physiologic, environmental and location data such as heart rate, skin surface temperature, ambient noise amplitude and audio recordings. In 2006 in conjunction with the Center for Orthopedic and Biomechanics Research, TenXsys produced a field-capable Sensor Monitoring and Relay Transmission system that improved amputee monitoring and decreased the likelihood of injuries due to overexertion and loss of balance.
More information is at http://www.tenxsys.com and http://www.in-q-tel.org.

Mission Aviation Opens Idaho Headquarters

(Nampa) A former Redlands, Calif., organization estimates it will save up to $1 million a year in overhead expenses with its move to Idaho.
Mission Aviation Fellowship, which does ministry "through aviation and technology" around the world, opened its Training and Mobilization Headquarters in Nampa in September.
In 2005, its fleet of 54 aircraft executed 36,761 flights, logged nearly 3.5 million miles, transported over 111,000 passengers and delivered 10.8 million pounds of cargo – all on 1,700 rough, unimproved dirt and grass airstrips and waterways.
The organization also provides technology to deliver reliable and affordable communications to frontline workers.
In some locales, it uses high frequency and very high frequency radios for e-mail communications, allowing a large number of fellowship users to collaborate effectively with colleagues around the world. The group’s high-speed Internet connections via broadband satellite bring e-mail, fax and voice communications wherever people work.
In many developing nations, cellular phones are actually leapfrogging the telephone systems used in the West, and the Mission Aviation Fellowship is helping leverage specific cell phone networks to provide personal, mobile voice and data communications.
More information is a http://www.maf.org.

Technology Designed to Assess, Treat Autism

(Boise) Caring Technologies announced encouraging results from its pilot study of a novel video capture technology designed to better assess and treat children with autism.
The Boise firm’s study was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health. The firm’s technology, called BI Capture, records, annotates and electronically facilitates review of children with autism’s behaviors.
"Being able to successfully deploy this technology shows genuine promise to help educators not only record behavioral events but pinpoint what preceded the event and the aftermath. It’s difficult to underestimate what this potentially means for educators currently under pressure to produce pen and paper reports based on their own visual observations over the course of a school day," said Gregory Abowd, professor of computing at Georgia Tech University and co-inventor of BI Capture’s technology.
In the pilot study, four teachers with varied experience in teaching children with special needs were randomly assigned to eight students each. Each used both traditional pen and paper and "technology-enhanced" methods with BI Capture. They were asked to provide Functional Behavior Assessments , which in most schools across the country are routinely required measurements for children with behavioral and mental disorders. With cameras unobtrusively installed in their classrooms, they were able to use "clickers" similar in design to car remotes, to capture a video clip before and after they clicked.
The technology does pose legal, privacy and social questions that other states and school systems will need to address, said Caring Technologies Chief Executive Ron Oberleitner, who also founded and co-manages TalkAutism Internet services.
"It was important for us to see the teacher’s preference for this tool," says Oberleitner. "If adopted, BI Capture could eventually assist authorized behavior professionals to remotely view behaviors when they occurred. This in turn would particularly help families and teachers in rural locations who lack access to specialists."
More information is at http://www.caringtechnologies.com.

Comtech AHA Hires Director of Sales

(Moscow) Comtech AHA Corp. has named Gerry Simmons director of sales. Simmons comes from Epic Technical Sales, where he managed sales of Altera, TI and LSI Logic products in the Northwest.
Simmons is responsible for the global sales initiatives for AHA’s complete product line including forward error correction and data compression integrated circuits, networking, storage, imaging and satellite communications. Simmons has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of
Washington in Seattle.
Comtech AHA develops and markets integrated circuits and intellectual property core technology for communications systems architects worldwide.
More information is at http://www.aha.com.

IdaCorp, Idaho Power Name King to Boards

(Boise) Christine King, the chief executive of AMI Semiconductor in Pocatello, has been elected to the IdaCorp and Idaho Power boards of directors effective Nov. 1.
King, the first woman chief executive of a semiconductor company, has led AMI since 2001, overseeing five years of growth and diversification of the company’s technology and product offerings.
AMI designs and manufactures semiconductor products for customers in the automotive, medical and industrial markets. The company has a network of sales, design and manufacturing locations in North America, Europe and Asia.
During King’s tenure, the company has made several key acquisitions including Dspfactory, the mixed-signal division of Alcatel Microelectronics, and the semiconductor division of Flextronics.
Prior to joining AMI, King was vice president of Semiconductor Products for IBM’s microelectronics division. Her 23 years of experience at IBM included launching the company’s application specific integrated circuit business in 1993 and building it into the top ASIC business in the world.
King earned her bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, N.J.

TriGeo Software Earns Editor’s Choice Award

(Post Falls) TriGeo Network Security, a provider of security information management solutions, has won Security Week magazine’s 2006 Editor’s Choice Award for its Security Information Manager.
The product got a 5-star rating – the highest score for products reviewed in the magazine’s Aug. 28 issue.
The Security Information Manager was designed for mid-market enterprises to effectively monitor and manage activity inside the organization’s network. It provides reporting and analysis that supports the organization’s information technology security, audit and compliance functions and real-time security incident analysis and response. "Even smaller enterprises that lack a dedicated network security staff can rely on TriGeo to resolve serious security events as they happen," said Ken Durham, Security Week editor. "This product is like adding a digital watchdog to your network."
More information is at http://www.trigeo.com.

PCS Edventures Receives Congressional Award

(Boise) PCS Edventures has received the annual Education Technology Think Tank TEC Championship Leadership Award.
The award was presented as part of the 36th CBC Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., in September. The theme for this year’s symposium was "Education Partners Ensuring America’s Competitiveness."
The awards honor visionary leaders, who foster ecology of community transformation and establish a legacy of education and economic empowerment in traditionally underserved communities across America.
PCS Edventures was nominated by the Education Technology Think Tank with its partner organizations, The NetGeneration of Youth Learning Community and the Verizon Foundation, in recognition of its efforts to create science and engineering educational opportunities for the youth of the United States.
More information is at http://www.edventures.com.

BSU College of Engineering Ranked 12th in Nation
(Boise) Boise State University’s College of Engineering moved up seven slots – from 19th to 12th – on U.S. News and World Report’s list of best engineering programs among public, comprehensive universities.
The list is included in the 2007 edition of "America’s Best Colleges," published by U.S. News. The engineering programs are ranked based on a peer survey of deans and senior faculty at engineering schools across the nation.
"To be ranked in 12th place in this national survey only 10 years after the college began is quite an accomplishment," said College of Engineering Dean Cheryl Schrader.
Boise State’s College of Engineering tied with the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth and California State University-Los Angeles. While the College of Engineering began offering a doctorate in electrical and computer engineering in 2006, it is ranked against master’s and undergraduate schools because its doctoral program is just starting.
The college also offers 13 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. The college enrolls more than 1,400 students. Its researchers have $16.8 million in active research grants, a 50 percent increase over the past year. In 2004, 68 percent of the engineering graduates from Boise State obtained employment in Idaho industries, according to statistics gathered by the college.

UI Acquires Unique Nanoscale Microscope
(Moscow) The University of Idaho has received a grant from the National Science Foundation’s Major Research Instrumentation program for $527,050 to acquire an "all-in-one" microscope and spectroscopy system for physical and chemical analysis of materials with very high spatial resolutions.
The new microscope will provide cutting-edge interdisciplinary science and engineering at the nanoscale. The only one of its kind in the Northwest and among only a handful in the world, the scope can view images roughly 10,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair. Objects of this size-range fall in between the dimensions of large molecules and things seen with traditional optical microscopes, such as plant and animal cells.
The new instrument will integrate conventional optical microscopy modes such as fluorescence and confocal scanning with Raman spectroscopy and the nanoscale imaging techniques of scanning near-field optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy. These combined capabilities may be operated in air or liquid environments to study anything from simple metal or ceramic films to complex biological materials systems.

UI Professor Working on Trout Vaccine
(Moscow) The worst disease facing the commercial sector of the Idaho trout industry may soon be better controlled by an improved vaccine being developed by a University of Idaho fisheries scientist.
University Aquaculture Institute Associate Director Ken Cain and other collaborators plan to enhance a vaccine and develop improved diagnostic techniques that will help prevent or control large outbreaks of coldwater disease and subsequently decrease the need for antibiotic treatments.
Coldwater disease is a worldwide problem for rainbow trout reared for commercial aquaculture and in resource enhancement fish hatcheries. In recent years, economic losses from this disease in the trout industry are estimated at approximately $10 million, and in the United States only a limited number of therapeutic treatments are available to combat its devastating effects.
Cain’s research will be conducted in part at the university’s new $3.2 million biotechnology aquaculture laboratory located at Hagerman Fish Culture Experiment Station.

Gift Funds Endowed Chair in Biology at BSU
(Boise) Boise State University will establish a new endowed chair in the Department of Biology with a gift of more than $1.5 million from Duane and Lori Stueckle of Boise.
The Stueckles’ gift will provide annual support for an existing faculty member who is involved in research and teaching with biomedical applications, particularly involving the study of proteins and genes, molecular biology and cell biology.
The new endowed chair is the first established in the College of Arts and Sciences at Boise State. The amount of the endowment will be between $1.5 million and $2.3 million, according to university officials.
Boise State scientists are involved in a number of funded projects with biomedical applications, including studies involving the structure and function of cartilage, breast cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, chemotherapeutic drugs and vaccine development. Much of this research involves understanding processes on a molecular level, including studies involving the extracellular matrix, the multi-molecular material that surrounds cells and comprises a scaffold on which tissues are organized.
Duane Stueckle, a longtime Boise businessman and entrepreneur, and his wife have been longtime supporters of Boise State and have now donated nearly $3 million to the university.
After learning about Boise State’s biomedical research program, the Stueckles decided they could make the biggest difference by establishing an endowed chair at Idaho’s urban university rather than investing in programs at Harvard University or other institutions.

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 [email protected]

Read More Idaho Technology News
Miss last month’s Science & Technology newsletter? Find the complete newsletter archives at technology.idaho.gov and click on "news."

2006 Events Calendar

October 4-6
Idaho Energy Conference
Boise
Longest running conference of its kind in the Northwest, the Idaho Energy Conference provides a casual forum where policy makers and technical implementers of code and energy efficiency programs meet to negotiate the future of conservation and energy in Idaho. Information at idahocities.org.

October 12
Health Science Experience Night
ISU Boise Center
Idaho State University will host its first annual "Health Science Experience Night" for high school students and parents, at the school’s Boise Center 6:30 -8 p.m. Participants will explore integrated career opportunities, visit with faculty members, participate in demonstrations and see Lifeflight and ambulance displays. Attendees will be eligible to win a $1,000 scholarship to ISU. For information contact the Idaho State University Boise Center at 373-1796 or 373-1797.

October 12
Kickstand
Boise
Regular gathering of Kickstand, a monthly networking meeting of innovators and entrepreneurs. To join or RSVP, go to kickstand.org.

October 12-13
Applied Creativity Workshop
Boise
Use creativity to solve problems and really think outside the box. Program runs 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day in the Farnsworth Room of the Boise State University Student Union Building. For information and registration, call Carlene Hansen at (208) 426-4205 or email [email protected].

October 18-19
NASA Idaho Space Grant Consortium Research Symposium
Moscow
Symposium will be held on the University of Idaho campus. The deadline to submit an abstract is Sept. 15. For information on how to submit an abstract, visit: http://isgc.uidaho.edu/Information.php?Page=130.
Register by visiting http://isgc.uidaho.edu/information.php?Page=133. There is no registration fee to attend.

November 9
Boise Angel Alliance
Boise
A group of private "angel" investors, meet. Entrepreneurs can apply to present to this group and interested investors can get more information online at http://www.boiseangelalliance.com.

November 21
Governor’s Science & Technology Advisory Council
Boise
Governor’s advisory group on science and technology will hold its quarterly meeting. Agenda TBA. Contact Karen Lewis, at the Office of Science & Technology, for information – (208) 334-2650 ext. 2101.

For more calendar information, visit Conferences and Events at cl.idaho.gov

"We Create Jobs, Strengthen Communities and Market Idaho."

IDAHO COMMERCE & LABOR
PO Box 83720, Boise, Idaho 83720-0093
Tel: 208-334-2470; Fax: 208-334-2631
Web: cl.idaho.gov
06-62000-250

JAMES E. RISCH, GOVERNOR
ROGER B. MADSEN, DIRECTOR
KARL TUELLER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR & OST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Idaho Commerce & Labor is an equal opportunity employer.
This document is available upon request in alternative formats for individuals with disabilities.
[email protected] • Idaho Commerce & Labor

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