Posts for March 10, 2010

WHOLESALE INVENTORIES DROP, SALES RISE

March 10, 2010 – Today in Manufacturing.net

Commerce Dept. said inventories at wholesale level were reduced 0.2 percent in January, even though sales were up a solid 1.3 percent -- the best showing since November... continue the article at http://www.manufacturing.net/article.aspx?id=246166

CALIFORNIA BUSINESSES THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE; GOED GEARS UP TO RECRUIT WEST COAST COMPANIES TO UTAH

March 10, 2010 - EDCUtah

If California were its own country, most estimates would put its economy among the world's top 10. Its government is also in a financial crisis and many large companies have been threatening to move to more "business-friendly" states. With all of that growth and talk of jumping ship, the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) would like California businesses to keep Utah in mind.

(Park Record) at this link http://www.parkrecord.com/summit_county-business/ci_14521115

CEDAR BUSINESS OUTLOOK PROMISING

March 10, 2010 – EDCUtah

The economic problems of the last two years has impacted businesses of all types and sizes in Cedar City and the surrounding area.... Despite appearances, the outlook for 2010 is promising, said Brennan Wood, Iron County/Cedar City economic development director.

(Spectrum) continue at this link http://www.thespectrum.com/article/20100307/NEWS01/3070326/1002/Cedar-business-outlook-promising

CHURNING OUT STARTUPS: UTAH UNIVERSITIES EXCEL IN TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION

March 10, 2010 - EDCUtah

It is no surprise that research universities have become unparalleled engines of economic development -- they crank out technology and commercialize it -- creating business and investment opportunities as well as jobs in the process.

What may come as a surprise is the fact that Utah's leading universities are among the best of the best in terms of creating new startup companies, licensing technology, and patents applications.

Top Honors
Recently, the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) ranked the University of Utah (UofU) #1 -- in a tie with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) -- for creating new startup companies from research-based inventions during 2008.

The UofU has consistently ranked second to MIT, but equaled the latter research university for top honors in the latest survey by AUTM. What is perhaps more significant about tying MIT for the #1 spot is the fact that MIT received almost five times more research funding ($1.3 billion) for the survey period, compared with the UofU's approximately $273 million, yet both institutions achieved the same output: 20 new companies from technology-based research.

Under the Radar
Flying under the radar is Brigham Young University (BYU), a school with a meager budget for technology research, yet it now ranks first in the country in the number of startups, licenses, and patent applications per research dollar spent, according to AUTM. In 2008, BYU-licensed technology led to nine new startup companies on a research budget of approximately $30 million. Stanford, with a research budget of approximately $1.1 billion, created the same number of startups that year.

"We've really stepped up our game," says Dee Anderson, associate director of the Technology Transfer Office at BYU. Indeed. For 2010 the school is on pace to spawn more than 100 disclosures, 35 licenses, 15 startup companies, and 60 utility patent applications.

"There are only two and a half licensing agents in our office, but we are having a lot of fun," Anderson says.

USU Sets a Record
Utah State University (USU) is also actively engaged in technology commercialization. Jacoba Poppleton, public relations specialist for strategic ventures and economic development at USU, says the university set a record in 2009 for its licenses (11) and startup companies (5) spawned, and is on pace to build on that record for 2010. Already known for its Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL), the university created the Energy Dynamics Laboratory (EDL) in late 2009 as a natural outgrowth of research and development in the areas of biofuels and advanced sensing and imaging. In 2008 the SDL spun out its first for-profit company and the university has high expectations that both the SDL and EDL will provide additional opportunities for technology commercialization.

Sources of Success
Brian Cummings, director of the University of Utah's Technology Commercialization Office (TCO), attributes much of the UofU's success in creating startups to the support of the governor's office, the state's pro-business posture, to the USTAR initiative, and to the support of the local business community. He also notes that the university has started more than 20 programs to engage faculty members and help nurture companies so they can get faster product development and faster market entry.

"Although the path to success can be long and challenging, we try to shorten the time frame to success by supporting these young companies," he says.

Interestingly, the success of UofU's technology commercialization office has drawn the attention of other universities. "Other universities visit us all the time—they want to see our model and understand what we are doing," Cummings adds.

Collaboration
While they may be rivals in sports, the UofU, BYU, and USU actually collaborate regularly regarding technology commercialization activities. For example, in 2009 BYU and the UofU collaborated to spin out Sera Prognostics, commercializing a joint invention to establish a diagnostic platform for preeclampsia and pre-term birth.

"We try to partner and license with them, working jointly on some projects. It's quite a collaborative relationship," Cummings says.

OPEC RAISES 2010 OIL FORECAST

March 10, 2010 – Today in Manufacturing.net

World oil demand projected to grow 900,000 barrels per day in 2010, OPEC said, saying increase hinges on sustained global economic rebound, particularly in U.S... continue at this link http://www.manufacturing.net/article.aspx?id=246120

COBRA PREMIUM SUBSIDY AGAIN EXTENDED AND EXPANDED

March 10, 2010 – HRO Alert

Through the Temporary Extension Act of 2010 ("2010 Extension Act"), Congress has once again extended and expanded the COBRA premium subsidy initially enacted under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Under ARRA, "assistance eligible individuals" or AEIs (individuals experiencing an involuntary termination and a loss of health coverage between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009) were eligible for a 65 percent subsidy of COBRA premiums for up to nine months. The Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2010 ("DOD Act") extended the eligibility date through February 28, 2010 and expanded the subsidy period to fifteen months. The 2010 Extension Act once again extends the eligibility period, and makes other important changes to the COBRA subsidy program.
Click here to read the full alert http://www.hro.com/files/file/publications/ALERT-COBRAPremiumSubsidyAGAINExtended.pdf

SCANDAL PROMPTS CHINA TO BOOST FOOD SAFETY MEASURES

March 10, 2010 – Late Wire from Manufacturing.net

China says it will step up food safety efforts in the wake of a massive dairy scandal, expanding supervision to reach more of the country's countless small farms ... continue at this link http://www.manufacturing.net/article.aspx?id=246122