Washington Technology Center Awards $512,269 in Research Funding

Seven company-researcher projects have been awarded state funding for the development of innovative commercial technology applications.

Washington Technology Center http://www.watechcenter.org awarded Research and Technology Development funding totaling $512,269 to seven projects developed between companies and Washington researchers.

Companies with winning projects for July 2008 are: CHROMiX, of Seattle; EKOS Corporation, of Bothell; Healionics Corporation, of Redmond; Hummingbird Scientific, of Lacey; Impulse Accelerated Technologies, Inc., of Kirkland; Northstar Neuroscience, Inc., of Seattle; and Plant Care Technologies Corporation, of Pullman. Winning proposals described breakthrough research in computer systems and microelectronics, forest products, advanced materials and manufacturing, and biotechnology and biomedical devices.

"Washington’s culture of innovation is world renowned," said Washington Governor Chris Gregoire in support of this year’s award winners. "And these companies are exploring bold new innovations that will help take our state another step into the future. Congratulations to each of you."

Washington Technology Center competitively awards around $1 million in state funding annually as part of the Research and Technology Development program. State funding enables collaboration between companies and non-profit research institutions on technology projects that show strong potential for commercializing products and creating jobs. Since 1996, the state has funded 324 Research and Technology Development projects.

Each project team is comprised of a Washington company partner and a researcher from a university or research nonprofit in the state. The company defines the research challenge and provides access to the commercial market. The university or nonprofit researcher executes the research with funding from both Washington Technology Center and the company partner.

This round of funding is anticipated to generate more than 160 full-time technology jobs in Washington during the next five years. Washington Technology Center estimates that through its work with entrepreneurs, more than 7,000 new technology jobs have been created in Washington state, many of these from award recipients. New project funding is awarded twice annually.

This round of projects addresses a wide range of innovation:

CHROMiX, a Seattle-based provider of color management software, is collaborating with the University of Washington Department of Electrical Engineering to improve an online color management profiling service for high-end imaging customers. Research and Technology Development funding to UW: $19,999. Read more http://watechcenter.org/?s=1569

EKOS Corporation, a Bothell-based medical device company, is teamed with the University of Washington Department of Chemical Engineering to improve the company’s proprietary catheter-based drug-delivery system. Research and Technology Development funding to UW: $30,000. Read more http://watechcenter.org/?s=128

Healionics Corporation, a start-up biomaterials company in Redmond, is partnered with the University of Washington Department of Medicine to commercialize technology that will reduce infection from skin-breaching devices such as catheters. Research and Technology Development funding to UW: $82,500. Read more http://watechcenter.org/?s=1573

Hummingbird Scientific, a developer of microscopy products located in Lacey, Washington, is partnered with the University of Washington Department of Electrical Engineering to develop a system for nanoscale imaging of materials in fluid environments. Research and Technology Development funding to UW: $100,000. Read more http://watechcenter.org/?s=1515

Impulse Accelerated Technologies, Inc., a Kirkland-based developer of software-to-hardware tools, is working with the University of Washington Department of Electrical Engineering to create a research and development tool for the medical image processing community. Research and Technology Development funding to UW: $100,000. Read more http://watechcenter.org/?s=198

Northstar Neuroscience, Inc., a Seattle-based medical device company, is partnered with the University of Washington Department of Physiology & Biophysics to further research and develop cortical stimulation as a form of therapy for stroke survivors. Research and Technology Development funding to UW: $79,992. Read more http://watechcenter.org/?s=1576

Plant Care Technologies Corporation, a start-up nursery bioproducts company located in Pullman, is partnered with the Wood Materials and Engineering Laboratory at Washington State University to study the commercial feasibility of using heat treated waste-wood products as an alternative to traditional plant growing media. Research and Technology Development funding to WSU: $99,778. Read more http://watechcenter.org/?s=1577

Annual follow-up surveys show that Research and Technology Development funding has proved effective in helping Washington companies and researchers transition novel technologies from "good ideas" into commercially-viable ventures.

Proposals for the next round of funding are due October 23, 2008. More information about the Research and Technology Development grant program is available online at http://www.watechcenter.org/re/rtd.

About Washington Technology Center

Washington Technology Center is a statewide economic development organization focused on technology and innovation. We spark ideas, form connections between people and resources, and foster job growth to position Washington state as a national technology leader. As an organization, Washington Technology Center channels state, federal, and private resources to help companies develop and commercialize new products and technologies. Our 15,000-square-foot Microfabrication Laboratory provides companies and university researchers access to facilities and specialized equipment for micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) research and product/process development. The impact of Washington Technology Center’s work has generated more than $500 million in additional investment for Washington companies and researchers. For more information how Washington Technology Center can help research and development projects succeed, visit http://www.watechcenter.org or call 206-685-1920.