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(Statewide) For the first time, technology has a place in the Idaho Legislature.
The House Environment Committee added "Technology and Energy" to its name for the 2005 legislative session.
The Committee is chaired by Rep. Dell Raybould, R-Rexburg, and vice-chaired by Rep. R.J. Harwood, R-St. Maries.
For a list of the full committee,
click here
Superhot mustard seeds have a future as pesticides
(Moscow, Idaho) Imagine a mustard seed so hot that you couldn't hold it on your tongue for an instant.
These first-of-a-kind mustard-canola hybrids are part of a new research project at University of Idaho to determine their usage as a biopesticide.
The UI team won a $613,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture National Research Initiative grant for the project. The team consists of UI soil scientists Matt Morra and Jodi Johnson-Maynard, agricultural economist Larry Makus, entomologist Joe
McCaffrey and weed scientist Donn Thill.
The project seeks data necessary to win federal registration of mustard meal as an herbicide and insecticide. It will test the benefits of mustard seed meal in organic strawberry and carrot production as a fertilizer because of the
nitrogen it contains and as a pesticide.
Idaho ranks number one in nation for patents, entrepreneurial activity
(Statewide) Idaho is one of the best places in the nation for entrepreneurial activity, and ranks first in the nation for patents issued per capita, according to the 2004 CFED Report Card for the States.
The Center for Enterprise Development gave Idaho an "A" for its Entrepreneurial Energy, up from a "C" in 2003. Idaho ranked first in the nation for manufacturing investment, third in change in new companies, and 14th in technology industry
employment.
The state also ranked 3rd in energy costs, 5th in long-term employment growth and net migration, 8th in homeownership rate, and 10th in households with computers.
The news wasn't all good. Idaho ranked 47th in business closings, 45th in SBIC financing, 44th in university research and development, and 42 in K-12 education expenditures.
Grant helps women land higher-paying information technology jobs
(Pocatello, Idaho) Idaho's six Centers for New Directions have received a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to help women get higher-paying jobs in information technology.
The centers are located throughout the state and are based at technical schools. They have demonstrated success in helping low-income women achieve economic self-sufficiency.
The Recruiting for the Information Technology Age (RITA) project, conducted by the ISU Center for New Directions, will offer paid internships to women who are current students or graduates from the ISU College of Technology.
The FBI has signed up to partner with the ISU center on internships opportunities.
To find out more about this program or to sign up as an industry partner for internships, call (208) 282-2454.
Micron Technology leads the nation's top corporate givers
(Boise, Idaho) Idaho technology giant Micron Technology Inc. was ranked the nation's 122nd biggest corporate philanthropist by BusinessWeek magazine.
The firm was the only Idaho-based company on the list of 183 companies.
Micron earned its spot by giving $4 million during 2003 to philanthropic organizations.
Hewlett-Packard Co., based in California but with one of its largest worldwide facilities in Idaho, ranked 41st on the list with $21.9 million in gifts.
Wal-Mart Stores was ranked first, with $176 million in corporate donations.
Bill and Melinda Gates ranked first among individual philanthropists, giving Microsoft dividends worth an estimated $3 billion to their foundation.
Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel Corp. and his wife, Betty, came in second after pledging $275 million for ocean research and eradicating hospital errors through nurse training.
Science & tech a topic at 'Director's Forum
(Boise, Idaho) Science and technology will be a topic at the first 2005 Idaho Commerce & Labor Director's Forum, scheduled for Jan. 27 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Doubletree Riverside in Boise.
Hosted by Commerce & Labor Director Roger B. Madsen, the forum allows industry to have a voice on how the department can best support their efforts. Attendees will discuss a variety of issues ranging from workforce development to
international trade and tourism promotion.
For details,
click here and go to "What's New'.'. Seating is limited and registration is requested by Jan. 18.
For more information, call Georgia Smith at (208) 334-2470.
Blue Water Technologies starts research facility project
(Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) Blue Water Technologies announced that construction is underway on the Hayden Wastewater Research Facility located at the Hayden, Idaho wastewater treatment plant.
The research facility is a collaborative effort with the University of Idaho and Blue Water Technologies, and is being built to demonstrate advanced phosphorus removal technology at a 1 MGD flow rate. Additional technologies are also
planned to be demonstrated at this facility.
Completion is expected in March.
Coeur d'Alene-based Blue Water Technologies has installed a Web cam to monitor the construction process. It can be viewed at www.blueh2o.net.
The firm, founded in February 2003 as a spinoff from the University of Idaho, provides technologies for removing phosphorus, arsenic and other contaminants from water.
Coldwater Creek named "cool" investment by Motley Fool
(Sandpoint, Idaho) Specialty retailer Coldwater Creek, based in Sandpoint, Idaho, has found earnings growth in pulling back from its online model and strengthening its traditional store-based selling.
The Motley Fool investment column called the firm, which has seen 70 percent net income growth over the past year, a "cool" investment. The column said its investors have seen their shares "crush the S&P 500" over the past 12 months.
Coldwater Creek utilizes its e-commerce website, catalogs and more than 100 retail stores for driving sales through multiple channels. The company opened nearly half of those stores during 2004, and plans to open another 60 retail sites in
2005. The firm's e-commerce website, at www.coldwatercreek.com, accounts for about 25 percent of total sales.
Extended Systems leads mobile market
(Boise, Idaho) Global research firm IDC has reaffirmed Extended Systems position in the "leadership" quadrant of its research report on mobile middleware for the enterprise.
The report, Worldwide Mobile Middleware 2004-2008 Forecast and Analysis, is utilized by senior executives at enterprises, network operators, device manufacturers and software providers around the world to assess the mobility market.
Extended Systems makes software for mobile professionals.
According to IDC, "In 2003, Extended Systems grew almost 30 percent within the mobile middleware market."
"We are pleased to be recognized as a leader and one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile middleware market by IDC," said Jeffrey Siegel, chief marketing officer for Extended Systems. "With the addition of OneBridge Mobile Secure
and recent support for BlackBerry devices, we are delivering a secure and flexible mobile middleware platform, which is appealing to both application vendors and enterprises seeking value-driven business solutions."
For more information,
click here
Boise educational software firm announces Asian sale
(Boise, Idaho) PCS Edventures has sold and delivered a set of its Learning Labs into The Federated States of Micronesia.
The labs, which help teach engineering, robotics and science to K-12 students, were installed at the Pohnpei Community Learning Center Consortium in Kolonia, Pohnpei FSM.
PCS Edventures has sold and installed more than 2,000 of its hands-on learning labs worldwide. The labs are supported by an Internet-based program available in multiple languages.
More information is at www.edventures.com.
ProClarity Corp. listed as "visionary"
(Boise, Idaho) Boise software firm ProClarity Corp. has been positioned by research firm Gartner Inc. in the visionary quadrant in a recent report.
Gartner defines vendors listed in the visionary quadrant as having a clear vision of market direction and are focused on preparing for it, but can still improve in terms of optimizing service delivery.
ProClarity develops analytics software and supports more than 2,000 global customers, including AT&T, Ericsson, Hewlett-Packard Co., Roche, and Wells Fargo.
"To be recognized by Gartner, the industry's leading analyst firm, as a 'visionary' on their (report) is a testament to our corporate mission which is to provide the most innovative business intelligence solutions available," said Bob
Lokken, ProClarity president and CEO.
For more information about ProClarity,
click here
News from elsewhere:
The Council on Competitiveness has issued its final report on the National Innovation Initiative. The report sets an action agenda to drive U.S. economic competitiveness and leadership in world markets in order to raise the standard of
living for all Americans. The council focuses on strengthening U.S. innovation, upgrading the workforce, and benchmarking national economic performance. To read the full report,
click here
North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven has included $50 million in his 2005-07 budget request to create Centers of Excellence on each North Dakota college campus.
The centers are envisioned as hubs for education, research, training and job creation. Individual center activities would be focused in targeted sectors, such as technology, aerospace, value-added agriculture, energy, advanced
manufacturing and tourism.
The governor recommended that the initial funds be borrowed from the Bank of North Dakota and repaid through the biennial appropriations to the state's Department of Commerce. (Source: State Science & Technology Institute)
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is proposing a new tax credit for angel investors who help finance companies in that state. Angel investors could receive a personal income tax credit of up to $25,000 on investments up to $500,000.
Vermont has released what may be the nation's first statewide effort to lay out an economic development strategy based on the creative economy theories advanced most prominently by George Mason professor Richard Florida. Advancing
Vermont's Creative Economy, prepared by the Vermont Council on Culture and Innovation (VCCI), offers recommendations that include collaboration among government entities, cultural organizations, and the private sector that utilizes
cultural resources.
An Idaho workshop, headed by Boise State University professor Nancy Napier, recently focused on the "Creative Economy" concept.
Idaho tech fact
Did you know?
Joseph Sherwood, a Fremont County, Idaho settler, built and patented the snowmobile in 1907.
Have an idea/submission for this newsletter?
Contact Julie Howard at the Idaho Office of Science & Technology at (208) 334-2650, ext. 2147, or at Julie.howard@cl.idaho.gov |
