Lockheed Martin Wins Contract to Support U.S. Antarctic Program

Lockheed Martin recently won a contract valued at approximately $2 billion to work with the National Science Foundation (NSF) to operate and maintain support infrastructure for the United States Antarctic Program (USAP). The program enables universities, research institutions and federal agencies to conduct scientific research in the region.

Lockheed Martin has been contracted to work with the NSF to implement cost-effective, streamlined infrastructure for managing work stations and medical facilities, research vessels, construction projects and remote sites in and around Antarctica. Additionally, they will modernize technologies to transport scientists, staff and supplies to and from the Antarctic region.

According to a Lockheed Martin press release, Linda Goodmen, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Information Systems & Global Solutions (IS&GS) business said, “Lockheed Martin is proud to work with more than 3,000 program participants involved in valuable research in Antarctica. We have a longstanding history of supporting customers in remote locations and logistically challenging environments and are committed to fostering scientific and technological innovations that will benefit the world.”

View the full press release

Cornell and Technion Win Bid to Build Groundbreaking New Campus in NYC

Cornell and partner  Technion -- Israel Institute of Technology was announced the winner of a bid to build a groundbreaking new campus in New York City December 9. The creation of an applied sciences and technology campus will spur economic growth, job creation and high-tech entrepreneurship.

According to a Cornell news article, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg congratulated the winners at a press conference at Weill Cornell Medical College. Bloomberg expressed, “We believe this new land grant can help dreamers and entrepreneurs from around the world come to New York and help us become the world’s leading city for technological innovation.”

The Cornell-Technion proposal was impressive. It included an enrollment of 2,500 students, 300 faculty and 2 million square feet of state-of-the-art classroom and research space. According to Bloomberg, the campus is expected to generate $23 billion in economic activity over the next three decades as well as $1.4 billion in tax revenue. Additionally, building the campus will create 20,000 construction jobs and 8,000 permanent jobs to operate it. 

For the full article, view the Cornell Chronicle

Put Your Business Card on the Web!

Web application firm, We Are Mobile, has launched their newest product, Bitpress.me.

Bitpress.me enables users to create individual virtual business cards as well as virtual business cards for employees. The new product is similar to a mobile optimized website, with all of your professional details perfectly organized for clients and sales prospects to easily interact with on the go. As part of the service, customers receive a QR code. This code can be placed on a physical business card, providing a direct link to their Bitpress.me profile.

Additionally, Bitpress.me allows users to expand their social network by directing people to their Linkedin page, become more social by allowing users to easily add Twitter and Facebook accounts, and create lasting relationships by making it possible for clients to quickly add your contact information to their phone. 

For more info visit Bitpress.me

iSchool Partners with Microsoft to Explore New Social Media Software

Syracuse University’s iSchool has partnered with Microsoft to explore and better understand Microsoft’s new social software, So.cl.. So.cl is a research experiment for students focused on combining web browsing, search, and social networking for the purposes of learning. The partnership will focus on how the software can be used with students who study information science, design, communication tools, and are influenced by a generation prompted by social software.

So.cl derived from Microsoft research arm, FUSE Labs. FUSE Labs works in partnership with product research teams to collaborate, develop, and deliver new social, real-time, and media-rich experiences for home and work. 

According to an iSchool news release, professor of social media, Anthony Rotolo, expressed “This is a tremendous opportunity for our students to work with emerging social media tools from our partners at Microsoft. The social media landscape is evolving at a rapid pace, and the iSchool is at the forefront of this area of study. Our students are uniquely positioned to offer innovative ideas and feedback to Microsoft researchers as they develop cutting-edge technologies, and early access to these tools allows our students to develop a forward-looking view of how social media will take shape in the years ahead.” 

For more info view the iSchool's news release

Central New York Awarded $103.7 Million for Economic Development

Central New York was named Best Plan Awardee  and received  $103.7 million for economic development projects this morning (Thursday, December 8). The state made the official announcement after Governor Cuomo made his final selection of the 10 regions that had competed for $785 million in state money awarded through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative earlier this year.

The Central New York Regional Council's plan focused on strengthening core industries in the region, including clean energy and environmental systems, health and financial services, agribusiness and food processing, advanced manufacturing, and tourism.

The council has carefully decided how to invest the money. A detailed list of project investments can be found in Governor Cuomo's press release.

Central New York Biotechnology Research Center, a facility dedicated to helping biotech and biomedical for-profit companies become successful and commercialize their products, was included in Central New York's million dollar proposals. Money for projects will also be distributed to Madison, Oswego, Cayuga, and Cortland counties.

View the full release

Clarkson University Hosts Fifth Annual FIRST Championship Tournament

Clarkson University will host the fifth annual FIRST Championship Tournament today, Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3. 

More than 400 students and their coaches, comprising 42 teams, are expected to participate in the two-day event. There are 24 teams from 11 local school districts and two private schools, as well as teams from western New York, New Jersey,Connecticut   and Pennsylvania.

On Friday, high school students will participate in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC). This year’s game, “Bowled Over,” requires students to design, build and program a robot that can place racquet balls into crates and then stack the crates.

Middle school students, ages nine to 14, will compete on Saturday, December 3, in the FIRST Lego League (FLL) challenge. The theme this year, “Food Factor,” features food safety and examines the possible points of contamination our food encounters -- from exposure to insects and creatures, to unsterile processing and transportation, to unsanitary preparation and storage -- then finds ways to prevent or combat these.

View the full article, FIRST Robotics Championship

Hacking-4-Muzik 48 Hour Coding Marathon

The Tech Garden and the Syracuse Innovators Guild are joining forces to invite creative technical minds to participate in a free Hacking-4-Muzik 48-hour coding marathon. The 54-hour event at The Tech Garden features a $2,500 grand prize for a team of software developers, coders and designers who are invited to help develop software for MyMuzik – a revolutionary, digital interactive touch screen music stand.

There is a strong connection between technology and music, and evidence suggests that scientists, engineers and programmers often turn out to be great musicians. “There's a very rich acoustic and mechanical world that supports our musical impulses, and it extends through things like iPods and computers and everything else,” notes MIT professor Michael Hawley. “Science and engineering have enabled us to express our musical sentiment better.”

Creating and composing are synergistic skills, and Robert Cessna, founder of MyMuzik, is striving to bring both together to create a transformative change in the music industry and music education. It’s been suggested that MyMuzik’s technology could transform the music industry in a similar way that the iPod, iPad and iPhone revolutionized personal electronic devices. 

MyMuzik features a digital music stand, as well as on-board versatile software that can network an ensemble for a perfectly integrated performance. Additionally, the digital, wireless music stand will provide access to a database equipped with more than 200,000 scores of sheet music for instant download – expanding the repertoire of performance pieces available for performance orchestras as well as schools and colleges. 

As part of the coding marathon, MyMuzik will provide the hardware platform while participants will be asked to work in teams on an intuitive software solution during the three day event.  Involvement in the project will help open the opportunity for national and local media exposure as part of a global product launch in 2012, as well as the cash grand prize, and job opportunities with the company as it expands. 

“MIT’s Media Lab has been at the leading-edge convergence of music, innovation and technology for nearly three decades,” says Linda Hartsock, Vice President, Innovation and Technology, CenterState CEO, “and festival events like South by Southwest have now become a creative magnet for the best and brightest young technical talent in the country.  These kinds of projects are exciting approaches to creating transformative technologies that can shape new ways of interacting with the world, and with each other.  We see this region emerging as a place with similar potential – given the large pool of creative technical talent we have here.”  

All events are open free of charge.  For a full event schedule and to sign-up, visit www.sig315.org/hacking-4-muzik

SBA Successfully Brings Emerging 200 Initiative to Syracuse

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), an agency of the federal government that aids, counsels, assists, and protects the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation, recently graduated its first class of Emerging 200 (e200) business leaders in Syracuse.

The e200 initiative is to identify 200 inner-city businesses across the country that show a high potential for growth. The chosen businesses are provided with the network, resources, motivation and opportunity to participate in an intensive curriculum focused on developing a winning expansion strategy for their business, including options for capital access and contracting, required to build a sustainable business of size and scale. As the program was a first for Syracuse this year, the overall success encouraged the SBA to begin developing plans to hold the program in the city again next year.

According to The Central New York Business Journal, SBA associate administrator for entrepreneurial development, Michael Chodos expressed their satisfaction with bringing e200 to Syracuse. "Syracuse is incredibly blessed with a very active university and college community, a very active business community, and a lot of folks who are really interested in providing coordinated support."

After participating in and completing a seven month program, The Syracuse e200 program graduated 13 local business leaders in a November 2 ceremony at Marhsall Hall at the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF).

The Syracuse e200 program partnered with a number of local organizations, including CenterState CEO and The Tech Garden.

For the full article, view The Central New York Business Journal's November 18, 2011 issue.

Clarkson University and AECOM form Academic Alliance

Clarkson University, an institution with a strong technologically rich curriculum and state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities, and AECOM, a global provider of professional technical and management support services, have teamed up to explore innovation, research and development, technical excellence and advancement, recruiting, diversity, social responsibility, and educational partnerships.

Water research will be a main focal point of the alliance as both organizations view it as an important topic.

In a Central New York Business Journal article, Clarkson President Tony Collins expressed the importance of the partnership in evolving the University's core values. "This important partnership with AECOM will address one of our key institutional priories, 'Technology Serving Humanity.' Academic alliances with key corporate partners such as AECOM allow Clarkson to enhance and accelerate our institution's evolution to excellence in education and research."

For more info, view the full article at CNYBJ

Brand Yourself CEO Patrick Ambron Named to the “Empact 100” List

BrandYourself, an incubating company at The Tech Garden, and its CEO Patrick Ambron are being honored this week at the White House for being named to the “Empact100” list. The list recognizes the top 100 companies run by young entrepreneurs age 30 or younger who are making a significant impact on the economy and inspiring others to launch entrepreneurial ventures.

The list is compiled by a group of partners including Empact, the Kauffman Foundation, Opportunity International and the Startup American Partnership.  To be eligible, candidate U.S. companies must have 100% of the founders under 30 years of age, and more than $100,000 in revenue in 2010, or 2011 year-to-date.

“The entire team is incredibly humbled to be put on this list,” said Ambron.  “The Syracuse community has been an incredibly important part of our success and more than anything else, I think it shows that Syracuse is ahead of the curve in reshaping the nation’s economy. This entire event is about honoring growing small businesses that will spur economic growth, and about putting our hope and resources behind them. I don’t think any place reflects that mission more authentically than Syracuse.”

BrandYourself will be honored at the invite-only White House event on November 17, 2011 as part of The Future of Entrepreneurship Education Summit. The Summit is designed to convey the message that entrepreneurship a viable career pathway, and a solution to solving the national job crisis. Event participants were chosen for their unique ability to contribute from a high level perspective.  They will be encouraged to build sustainable and meaningful relationships that last beyond the Summit. The event will be streamed at www.whitehouse.gov

For  more info visit Empact

Polaris Library Systems Announces the Great App Challenge!

Polaris Library Systems have announced their Great App Challenge which will extend through February 20, 2012. 


The contest will challenge entrepreneurs and startup developers to build unique, innovative software applications using the Polaris application programming interface (API).  The Polaris API is a web-based service comprised of a set of universal resource identifiers (URIs) which return data from the Polaris application database. This interface provides controlled access to Polaris software so that customers, third party vendors – and now students -- may build their own Polaris-integrated applications for the web or for desktop and mobile devices. One individual or team judged to have the best application ready for deployment will win $5,000.  If a winner is sponsored by another organization, that organization will be awarded an additional $1,000.

The competition is intended to incent talented software developers from regional colleges and universities, as well as startup entrepreneurs and existing Polaris customers, to create a dynamic new mobile application based on the Polaris API.

"When we give people the tools to customize our technology and a license to be as creative as they want, we get really innovative, useful ideas as a result," said Bill Schickling, president and CEO, Polaris Library Systems. “The best thing about this Challenge is that we will have students competing who may not know a thing about the library software business, and that kind of fresh thinking is bound to generate some incredible applications that none of us may have ever thought possible.” 

For more information and/or to register visit the Great App Challenge

Clarkson University Designated Lead Site for Identification Technology Research

The National Science Foundation has designated Clarkson University as the lead site for its Center for Identification Technology Research (CITeR), one of NSF’s Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers. 

Clarkson’s site focuses on biometric vulnerabilities and intelligences. CITeR advances identification technology by focusing on biometric systems and credibility assessment. The center performs research on emerging technologies, interdisciplinary training of scientists and engineers, and technology transfer to the private and government sectors through its affiliates. 

For more info visit the Center for Identification Technology Research

SRC Receives Contract to Develop OWL Radar System

SRC Inc. has been contracted to develop an Omni-Directional Weapon (OWL) radar system. The U.S. Army's Intelligence and Information Warfare Directorate issued the 32-month contract with a value at approximately $9 million.

SRC is excited about the contract award for OWL as it exemplifies their leadership in radar development. The affordable OWL radar will provide the Army with the ability to detect, track and locate mortar, cannon and rocket firing positions with exceptional accuracy over a wide variety of threat trajectories. SRC is expected to produce a technology demonstrator prototype for evaluation in 2013.

SRC's press release quotes Senator Charles E. Schumer applauding Central New York's commitment to implementing innovative technolgy. "We know our highly skilled workforce can compete amongst the best of the best and win. SRC's award reaffirms Central New York's commitment to innovating and succeeding in the highly competitive defence industry and their work with the OWL radar contract will keep our  service members safe, our local workforce on the job and our nation protected."

For the full press release view, Contract for OWL Radar Prototype Development

$200K Emerging Business Competition

New York’s Creative Core© Emerging Business Competition is now accepting applications for the 2012 competition. New York’s Creative Core hosts the largest, privately funded cash competition of its kind in the nation.

This year, the NY Creative Core is pleased to award $200,000 in grand prizes, a $15,000 agribusiness prize and $5,000 student prize for early stage businesses and entrepreneurs who are developing innovative technologies or products with high growth potential.

For more info and application procedure, visit the Competition Site

NY Listed in Top 10 Global Ranking for Innovation Cities

New York was recently ranked 4th in the list of top 100 world cities for an innovation economy in 2011.

The top 5 cities in order included: Boston, San Francisco Bay Area, Paris, New York, and Vienna.

For more details and the full list of cities, visit Innovation Cities Top 100 Index 2011

Entrepreneurial Thought, Process, and Training Sweeps SUNY Campuses

Entrepreneurial thought, process, and training is spreading across New York State community colleges while entrepreneurial programs are under-way on SUNY campuses. SUNY ENGINE (Educational Network to Grow Innovation and Entrepreneurship) has gathered students, faculty, and administrators to report on entrepreneurial initiatives on their campus and devise an action plan to develop a consortium.
The November 4 event has been organized by Dr. Daniel P. Larson, President of Cayuga Community College and will be held at the The Tech Garden, preceding the Syracuse Startup Weekend.

SUNY ENGINE hopes to take a step towards creating a chapter of the National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship as well as holding a larger regional conference in the Spring of 2012.

For more information and to sign up for the event, visit SUNY ENGINE

The NYSERDA Receives Funding for Technology and Market-Developing Programs

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has received 5 years of approved funding for technology and market-developing programs from the NYS Public Service Commission (PSC). Programs based on their potential to reduce energy use, increase reliability and safety, moderate wholesale prices, check delivery cost increases, and diversify energy resources will be emphasized.
The set of programs are split into 3 categories including: power supply and delivery, building systems, and clean energy infrastructure.
The PSC hopes that by funding these programs, it will help build state-wide market infrastructure for clean-energy delivery.

View the full article at CNYBJ

K-Max to be Deployed in Afghanistan

Two of the previously blogged about K-Max helicopters, developed by Lockheed Martin and Kaman, are expected to be deployed in Afghanistan this November. The K-Max will be the first unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to be deployed by the Marine Corps. The U.S. military relies heavily on technology such as robotic cameras and aerial drones, particularly in Afghanistan. The K-Max helicopter will expand their inventory in this aspect. 
Lockheed Martin devised a training program that included classroom, simulator, and hands on technology in order to prepare for the six-month deployment. 
According to Lockheed Martin's story, Rear Admiral Bill Shannon, Program Executive Officer for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons expressed, “K-MAX has the capability to quickly deliver cargo, thus getting troops off of the roads and allowing them to focus on other missions.” 


To learn more about the unmanned systems deployment to Afghanistan, view the full K-Max Story

Steve Jobs Triubte Exhibition Calls on Local Artists

The Gallery at the Tech Garden is organizing an exhibition titled: “Memoriam: an aesthetic homage to Steve Jobs.” The exhibit, created by artist in residence and curator of the Gallery at The Tech Garden, Ty Marshal, is inviting artists to show Steve Jobs tribute artwork for a November/December 2011 exhibit. Artists, illustrators, and animators of all mediums are encouraged to submit. 
Steve Jobs, an American computer entrepreneur and inventor, was the leading visionary and innovator of our time. He was co-founder, chairman and chief executive of Apple Inc., and chief executive of Pixar Animation Studios.
“For all of us who were so inspired by Steve Jobs’ vision and legacy, this is such a wonderful way to empower the creative community – both artists and technologists, to honor a singular man who truly reshaped how we view the world.”  Says Linda Hartsock, Vice President of Innovation and Technology Initiatives at The Tech Garden.  

All submissions can be made to Ty Marshal at: TyMarshal@gmail.com

When sending submissions please include example of artwork (.jpg file), medium, size of work, contact info and artist statement. No fees!

For more info visit, SteveJobsArt

Syracuse University Student Represents at GreenBuild 2011

This year's SyracuseCoE exhibit for the U.S. Green Building Council international conference in Toronto was designed and built by Nick Garritano, a partner in Helios, a student venture that is incubating in the Sandbox at The Tech Garden. Nick, a Syracuse University student, also worked this year as a CoE intern while helping launch Helios, which is developing a UV sterilization device. Helios recently won the $40,000 first place award in the NYS Business Plan Competition.
 A team from CenterState CEO, the SyracuseCoE and the Clean Tech Center attended the conference this week -- which attracted 23,000 participants from 108 countries.

To learn more about the conference visit, Greenbuild 2011

Three New Companies Launch Operations at The Tech Garden

Three new companies have recently launched operations at The Tech Garden. Rounded LLC, Fluxsauce and Envaulted will take advantage of resources at The Tech Garden while incubating their companies.

Rounded LLC 

The charismatic team of young entrepreneurs are developing cutting-edge websites that integrate advanced tools and social media platforms with unique approaches that define and brand individual clients. Founded by Eric Candino, Andrew Farah, Rob Grazioli, and Benjamin Redfield, the company focuses on emphasizing the functional visual component in web design while considering the individual user experience. Not only does Rounded specialize in web design, but the team is experienced in mobile web development, web applications, and mobile web applications.

“We are a different kind of development shop. We do not outsource.  We do not cut coding corners.  We fuss over final pixels. Most important, we communicate clearly. Come talk to us if you want to do something on the web and need to know how,” says Farah.

FluxSauce 

Founded by Jonathan Peck in June 2011, specializes in the development of customized and interactive web applications that provide data-oriented business solutions. Examples include lead generation, work order tracking, and taking a job from work specifications through sourcing and delivery. Web applications are more complex than brochure sites and call for sophisticated skill sets in terms of software design, development, configuration and deployment.

“I want to grow FluxSauce into a reputable business with a proven, consistent record of high quality products and services,” says Peck. “I strive to deliver quality work that I can be proud to be associated with, and I look forward to developing a brand with that reputation. My ongoing industry and community engagement positions FluxSauce as an active software industry innovator.” 

Envaulted 

Envaulted is an innovative consumer rewards network designed to catalyze changes in shopping habits, using the power of transaction patterns and buying habits. Users sign up through existing credit cards for automatic rewards, and in return, credit card purchase information allows retailers to issue targeted deals to Envaulted members.  Envaulted can measure the effectiveness of deals, much like online ad campaigns measure success. 

Envaulted uses a unique Tiered Cashback model to incentivize users to participate in special deals. Users who actively participate receive between 0.25% and 1.25% cashback on all their credit card purchases, depending on how many of the weekly deals they participate in.

The Envaulted idea was created by Jeff Knight, CEO and Co-founder, while working as an analyst for a major credit card company.  His concept was to empower consumers and let them monetize their own personal information. COO Alex Morgia decided to locate operations in The Tech Garden to take advantage of its co-working facilities and the synergies that come with being located in a creative tech community with similar web application developers.

Learn more about Rounded LLC, FluxSauce, and Envaulted

High-Tech Project Involving Intel and IBM to Create Jobs for NYS

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday a $4.4 billion high-tech project involving five global companies that will create or retain 6,900 jobs in New York State. The announcement was made at the New York Open for Business Statewide Conderence at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany.

The project which involves Intel, IBM Corp., GlobalFoundries, TSMC, and Samsun, is designed to build a next generation of computer chip technology. It was also announced that facilities will be created or expanded at the nanotechology center next to the state University at Albany, in Utica, East Fishkill, Canandaigua, and Yorktown Heights.

Cuomo noted that New York State is providing a matching investment of $400 million in equipment and technology to the state university system.

John Kelly, senior vice president and director of research at IBM, said the New York-based company's investment in research and development will be $3.6 billion and that the goal is to create the next generation of computer wafer.

For more info, visit here.

SU Named as an Economic Development University Center

Syracuse University, in partnership with CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CenterState CEO), has received a $500,000 award from the U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the designation as an EDA University Center. The award is aimed at igniting innovation and accelerating entrepreneurship, and launching student ventures throughout upstate New York.

SU was one of 21 universities nationwide—and the only one in New York state—to receive the designation. The University Center builds upon a successful Kauffman Foundation demonstration program launched in 2009 that brought together a group of regional colleges and venture development organizations to focus on student startup companies as a regional growth strategy. Together with a $1.7 million endowment to the Raymond von Dran Innovative and Disruptive Entrepreneurship Accelerator (IDEA) Fund at Syracuse University, the gift provides sustaining funding for the effort to help student entrepreneurs start new businesses and nonprofit organizations that will in turn provide economic growth in Central New York.

Bruce Kingma, SU’s associate provost for entrepreneurship and innovation, and Linda Dickerson Hartsock, vice president for innovation and technology, CenterState CEO, and director of industry collaboration for the Syracuse Center of Excellence (SyracuseCoE), collaborated on the proposal on behalf of SU and CenterState CEO, regional colleges and universities and a coalition of community-based resource partners.

Although IDEA is a collaboration between SU and the Tech Garden, it is open to all student entrepreneurs across disciplines from colleges and universities in central upstate New York. IDEA’s educational partners include Binghamton University, Cayuga Community College, Clarkson University, Colgate University, Cornell University, Cortland State College, Le Moyne College, Morrisville State College, Onondaga Community College, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Tompkins Cortland Community College, the University of Rochester, Wells College and Upstate Medical University.

For the full news release visit, SU News

SyracuseCoE and CenterState CEO Announce Next Round of CAP Grants

The Syracuse CoE and CenterState CEO have announced the next round of solicitations for Commercialization Assistance Program (CAP) grants. The grants will be awarded to projects that commercialize new products and services in the fields of indoor environmental quality, water resources, and clean and renewable energy. Up to $50,000 is available for individual projects, with approximately four expected recipients in this round. To qualify for CAP funding, a proposing company must provide matching funds of at least 1 to 1 for every dollar requested. Matching funds can include cash or in-kind services.

The deadline for submission of proposals for this round is November 11, 2011. Projects should start January 1, 2012 and be complete on or before Sept. 30, 2012. Program guidelines and funding applications will be available on the SyracuseCoE website: www.syracusecoe.org The CAP is funded with grants.

To date, the CAP program has awarded more than $1 million to 21 upstate companies for projects that have commercialized new clean tech products and services, and created or retained more than 152 green jobs in New York State. Regional companies that have benefited from CAP grants include: OrthoSystems, Air Innovations, NuClimate Air Quality Systems, O'Brien & Gere, Taitem Engineering, Galson Laboratories, Rupprecht & Patashnick, Double A Willow, Isolation Sciences, VentoTek, Widetronix Semiconductors, e2e Materials, and Orthogonal.

For more the full release visit Next Round of CAP Grants
For a complete CAP application package, visit Syracuse CoE

For more information and to review previous CAP awards view the CAP program

Grants Awarded to Improve Digital Evidence Gathering Software

A news release from U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer revealed that the National Institute of Justice awarded four Electronic and Digital Evidence Recovery grants totaling a sum of $775,000 to Odyssey Research Associations in Ithaca. The grants are intended to improve digital evidence gathering software by funding work on software programs that help law-enforcement officials gather digital evidence from computers, mobile phones, and peer-to-peer file sharing clients.

Odyssey, headquartered in a suburb of Minneapolis, conducts research in computer security and has an information-management research group. Odyssey will use the four grants to improve Mac Marshal software, develop a program known as Mobile Marshal, pay for work on Odyssey’s P2P Marshal software, and update automatic evidence-gathering software known as Mem Marshal. 

View the full article on CNYBJ

What's New at Anaren?

Anaren, a supplier of microwave components and subassemblies to the defense electronics market, has announced their involvement with two exciting events this season. The company is a corporate sponsor of the Syracuse Startup Weekend this November and will exhibit at the annual meeting of the AUSA (Association of the United States Army) this October.

Syracuse Startup Weekend is an intense 54-hour event held at The Tech Garden. The event aims at encouraging innovation and entrepreneurial activity in Central New York. Participants focus on building a web or mobile application with the potential to be business ready by the end of the weekend. Anaren is pleased to serve as a corporate sponsor at the event, November 4-6.

AUSA works to support all aspects of national security while advancing the interests of America’s Army and the men and women who serve. Anaren’s Space and Defense Group team will be present at the AUSA’s annual meeting this October 10-12. Prime defense contractors will be able to meet with the team.

For more information regarding Anaren's upcoming events, visit Anaren

SU to Receive $1.5 Million Grant for Manufacturing and Energy Efficiency

The U.S. Department of Energy will award Syracuse University with a $1.5 million grant to recruit and train a new generation of engineers who specialize in manufacturing and energy efficiency.

New York Senator Charles Schumer noted that the grant money will be combined with an additional $250,000 that SU will invest to expand its program at its Industrial Assessment Center. He also stated that SU was one of only 24 university-based centers nationwide selected to receive federal support. The center trains undergraduate and graduate-level students in manufacturing efficiency, industrial processes and energy assessment procedures.

"I applaud the Department of Energy for selecting Syracuse for this exciting opportunity and for making this important investment in Central New York, "Schumer said. "This training program opens the door to good-paying jobs for thousands of students, all while providing a boost to the local economy and clean-energy projects."

In its article about the Energy Grant, Syracuse.com states that SU's center currently graduates 10 to 15 students per year and the new federal support will allow the center to educate and train 75 students over the five-year grant period.

Schumer went on to state, "This only confirms what we already knew: that Syracuse University is on the cutting edge of energy efficiency innovation."

For more info, visit the full Syracuse.com article.

CenterState CEO to Receive 2011Chamber of the Year Award

The Center State Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CEO) has been nominated to receive one of this year's Chamber of the Year Awards from the Business Council of New York State. The Business Council presents Platinum, Gold, and Silver Chamber Awards to exceptional chamber organizations each year.

According to CNYBJ, Heather Briccetti, acting president and CEO of the council stated that, "CenterState CEO, under the leadership of [President] Robert Simpson, emphasizes member growth and engagement, as well as regional economic development. Through a strategy that targets key industry sectors, innovation and entrepreneurship, and regional assets such as the area's high concentration of colleges and universities, CenterState CEO supports the well-being of its members and the entire community."

This year's awards will be announced during the Business Council's Annual Meeting at 7pm on Wednesday, September 21.

For the full article, visit CNYBJ or learn more from The Business Council

SU Recieves Patent to Pursue Research on Wing Design, Wind Turbines

Syracuse University professors Mark Glauser and Hiroshi Higuchi headed a project that could lead to better air craft wing design and applications in wind turbine research. The duo’s work led to a patent received by Syracuse University for research, funded by the Department of Defense.

According to the Central New York Business Journal, the research could lead to more maneuverable aircraft and faster adjustments to changing weather conditions for wind turbines.

"It is really quite gratifying to see this basic research, originally funded by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, evolve to the point where the technology can positively impact actual aerospace vehicles, as well as its potential for dual use in the renewable energy sector with application to the next generation of wind turbines,'' stated Glauser.  

For more info, view CNYBJ's article

Lockheed Martin and Kaman Develops Unmanned Helicopter

Kaman

K-MAX, an unmanned helicopter designed and developed by Lockheed Martin and Kaman Helicopters successfully passed its operational assessment. The tests were designed to determine its cargo-carrying capacity and its susceptibility to certain electromagnetic frequencies that can interfere with flight systems.

Kaman describes K-MAX as, "Designed as a working helicopter, the K-MAX excels under pressure, lifting 6,000 pounds and precisely placing critical supplies in confirned areas. What's more, the K-MAX delivers superior performance, even at high altitudes and high temperatures." Lockheed Martin states the K-MAX will resupply Marines on the battlefield and in remote locations.

Lockheed Martin designed the helicopter's mission management and control systems at its Owego branch while Kaman designed the K-MAX platform. Lockheed employs 2,900 people in Owego and another 2,300 employees at its Salina location. Kaman Helicopters is part of Connecticut-based Kaman Corp.

For more info, view CNYBJ's article, or the K-MAX webpage.

Syracuse Tech Garden Adds Curator and Artist in Residence

Local artist, Ty Marshal, has a vision to implement technology into his work. As the Tech Garden recently named Marshal as Curator and Artist in Residence, his vision will become a reality this year. Marshal is an interdisciplinary artist whose work focuses on cultural activism, social sculpture, semiotics and theater - and takes a critical view of social, political, historical and cultural issues through visual commentary on human nature and pop culture. While taking advantage of the gallery and theater space at the Tech Garden, Marshal intends to showcase his work, have panel discussion and show films.

“I will be seeking ways to explore the intersection of art, technology and science through visual displays, film screenings, discussions, collaborations and other events - with a goal of highlighting Central New York’s position as a center of innovation and creativity,” explained Marshal.

The Tech Garden is pleased to partner with Marshal, viewing the opportunity as a chance to expand the creative tech community and create more community linkages for the facility. “We are thrilled to welcome Ty here as our first Curator and Artist and Residence,” proclaimed Linda Hartsock, Vice President Technology and Innovation, CenterState CEO. 

Marshal has an impressive background including, but not limited to participating as an organizer and curator for the Lipe Art Park on West Fayette Street and acting as co-founder of the Evolution Art Studio in the Hudson Valley. “He truly understands the dynamic connection between art, technology and community revitalization, and the ways in which arts are an economic driver,” says Vice President Technology and Innovation, CenterState CEO, Linda Hartsock.

Read what Syracuse.com has to say about Ty Marshal

Cornell MBA Students Invest in Restaurant Tech Firm

Student run BR Venture Fund (BRV), created within Cornell's John Graduate School of Management, have invested an undisclosed amount to Restaurant Revolution Technologies (RRT). RRT is a restaurant oriented technology company founded in 2008 with the intention of helping restaurants with the expanding demand for "off-premise" customers (orders made outside of the physical location). The RRT software takes telephone and online orders efficantly and relies them to the restaurant.

RRT is the latest porfolio company for BR Venture Fund which has already invested in multiple technology companies. The Fund was created by Cornell in order to give MBA students hands-on experience in venure capitalism and entrepreneurship.

For more info, visit the full CNYBJ article, and view BRV's complete portfolio list.

NYS Company ADC USA Awarded Contract by Australian Organization

Lansing, NY based engineering and scientific consulting firm ADC USA (Advanced Design Consulting USA, Inc.), announced this morning that it has been awarded a contract by the Australian Nuclear Sciences and Technology Organization (ANSTO) in Australia to develop a small-angle neutron scattering instrument.

The instrument will be used for looking at sizes and structures of objects like polymer molecules and defect structures in metals and ceramics.    

President and CEO of ADC  Alexander Deyhim stated, “This large contract is a testament to the talent and dedication of our team members. We are thrilled to be selected to design and develop a cutting edge instrument for a world class institution pushing the scientific and research frontier for the human race.” 

ADC USA describes itself as a privately owned company organized and structured to provide technical services to all types of clients from small scientific entrepreneurs to universities, government agencies and private industries. The firm’s expertise and activities are primarily related to engineering design, research and development, testing and custom fabrication. It searches for innovative solutions to difficult problems. ANSTO is an agency within the portfolio of the Commonwealth Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. ANSTO is responsible for delivering specialized advice, scientific services and products to government, industry, academia and other research organizations.

For further info, visit the ADC web site at www.adc9001.com .

MicroGen's Looks to Implement Newest Tech Product

Technology company MicroGen is spotlighted in an article written by Cornell University and published in R&G Magazine. MicroGen recently unveiled their new BOLT energy technology that turns vibrations into electricity. MicroGen is a startup incubating in the Cornell Business and Technology Park and BOLT was developed using tools at the Cornell NanoScale Science and Technology Facility (CNF).

MicroGen plans to provide its technology for a variety of industrial and building applications. An immediate use, according to Robert Andosca, founder, president and CTO of MicroGen, would be in wireless tire pressure monitoring systems required in new automobiles since 2007. (Underinflated tires waste gas and make tire failure more likely.) Current units are powered by batteries that last only about three years, but the company's vibration-powered generator could last up to 20 years and is less expensive to manufacture, Andosca said. He also added that other sensors in cars, such as airbag accelerometers, could also go wireless too, he added. Wireless humidity sensors in clothes dryers are another possible application.

For more info, visit the original article here, and for more info about BOLT, visit the July 11th Tech Innovations article.