GSA Technology Council

South Carolinians have big business goals and great ideas! Open to all South Carolina residents at least 18 years old, dreamers and would-be entrepreneurs have until May 1 to enter for the chance to win seed money and access to FastTrac programs to make their business idea a reality.

“It would be a shame for someone to have a great idea and not get it into the committee on time” says GSA Technology Council Executive Director, Phil Yanov. “The contest is designed to get people thinking about what could be and to put their ideas in writing. The best of those ideas get both cash rewards and access to award winning training. Whether the idea wins or not, the would be entrepreneur will be on her way to validating, planning and then executing her dream.”

Prizes for the 2008 contest have increased significantly over last year and will be awarded at the ThinkTEC Innovation Summit June 4 at Trident Technical College in the categories of engineering, information technology, bioscience, environmental sustainability and a wild card category. There will be one $5,000 grand prize, four $2,500 first place winners and five $1,000 runner-ups. Winners are chosen based on the idea’s viability, innovation/vision and profit/revenue potential.

To enter your business idea visit www.newideassc.com. Time is running out — entries must be received by May 1.

As part of its Sustainable Computing Program, Microsoft Corp. today announced it will support four academic research projects focused on energy efficiency in computing in the areas of datacenter power efficiency, power management and the creation of parallel computing architecture with decreased power demands.

Through this program, Microsoft Research is stimulating research across a broad range of areas with the potential to significantly improve energy efficiency. And considering that a single 100-watt incandescent light bulb left on around the clock for a year costs more than $80 to power and releases 1,350 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere — roughly the same amount of power that an idle PC uses in that same timeframe — finding ways to lessen humankind’s impact on the environment is critical.

“We want to open new avenues of research and raise the awareness of power as a critical resource that needs to be managed,” said Sailesh Chutani, senior director of Microsoft External Research. “Through this program, we are encouraging novel thinking about how to reduce that power consumption and how to make technology more environmentally friendly into the future.”

The Sustainable Computing Program explores two main areas of research that can have a major impact. The first is the principle of “pay for play,” which is the idea that the power consumed by a computing device should be proportional to the demand placed upon it, lowering the amount of energy consumed at low load and idle. Secondly, energy efficiency, even at peak loads, is equally important in reducing the overall consumption of electricity and should be managed as a first-class resource. The program encourages researchers to use novel approaches in hardware design, software, networking, benchmarking, analysis, virtualization and any other avenue that might provide improvements in the field.

Under the program, a total of $500,000 will be awarded among the four winners. A summary of the winners and descriptions of their projects follows:

• “Control-Theoretic Power and Performance Management for Green Data Centers”; University of Tennessee; aimed at developing frameworks for integrating power and performance improvements in virtualized datacenters
• “Building a Building-scale Power Analysis Infrastructure”; Stanford University; for the design and deployment of a dense sensor network for power analysis, producing data for future research on power-aware computing
• “A Synergistic Approach to Adaptive Power Management”; Harvard University; for the development of a dynamic runtime environment that ensures that power consumption is proportional to the computational demands made on the system
• “Simulating Low Power x86 Architectures with Sooner, a Phoenix-based Simulation Framework”; University of Oklahoma; for the development of a simulation framework that supports the study of low-power microarchitectures for innovative multicore systems

 Microsoft Research is committed to delivering breakthrough innovations in research in the areas of energy efficiency and conservation, weather study and prediction, air pollution and quality, climate change, and hydrology. Other efforts range from sensor networks to assist scientists in understanding global ecological issues by tracking animals, to Web-enabled sensors that could be used in businesses and homes to monitor energy consumption. For example, research with the Berkeley Water Center, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and National Marine Fisheries Service will use these technologies to help form a “digital” picture of watershed health.

In February, Microsoft Research Cambridge announced new technology to help understand sensitive species’ responses to changing environments, in an effort to enhance conservation strategies. In March, at the company’s annual TechFest event, several new environmentally friendly projects were on display, including a new server-provisioning strategy to reduce the power consumed by large networks and a Web service designed to replace batteries used in smoke detectors and other household devices.

“We applaud the efforts of these academic researchers to develop new, innovative technologies to reduce energy usage and lessen the impact on the environment,” said Rob Bernard, chief environmental strategist at Microsoft. “Microsoft believes in the potential of software to help create a more sustainable environment, and the Sustainable Computing Program is just one example of Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to help businesses and consumers drive change through energy efficiency.”

via Microsoft

Clemson University — Clemson University has inducted three new members into its prestigious engineering and science academy while honoring the contributions of two young alumni.

At the 13th annual Engineering and Science Banquet, the Thomas Green Clemson Academy of Engineers and Scientists recognized the following three individuals for outstanding career success, contributions to community and notable contributions to engineering and science.

Tom Keinath, a native of Michigan who now lives in Seneca, S.C., is a scientist and leader in the field of environmental engineering, most notably wastewater treatment, as well as an academic administrator. As its first dean, he provided leadership to the College of Engineering and Science at Clemson. Under his tenure, Keinath helped merge the two colleges into a model of multidisciplinary collaboration. Also in this capacity, Keinath worked to launch several academic and research centers, perhaps the most ambitious of these is the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). 

John Petersen, a native of Los Angeles who lives in Knoxville, Tenn., holds a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from California State University-Los Angeles and a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California-Santa Barbara. He came to Clemson as a member of the chemistry faculty in 1980 and was appointed associate dean of research in the college. Research grew dramatically during his tenure and he oversaw the Electron Microscope Facility. The multi-user facility is the backbone of Clemson’s Advanced Materials Research Laboratory and attracts clients from automotive, pharmaceutical, textile, electronics, environmental and medical industries. Today, Petersen serves as president of the University of Tennessee, leading a statewide system.

Michael L. Watt of Atlanta, Ga., is the president and chief executive officer of Scientific Research Corp., which provides electronic systems and engineering services to public and private sectors in countries around the world. He has directed the development of air-traffic control, communication, air defense, electronic surveillance and industrial controls systems. SRC has a heritage in national defense and the global war on terror. It also has made notable contributions to the international peace process and securing a sustainable environment for future generations. Watt serves on numerous boards for corporations and academic institutions, including the Clemson University Advisory Board for the department of electrical and computer engineering. Watt earned a bachelor of science degree in computer engineering at Clemson and a master’s in electrical engineering from Georgia Tech.

In honoring the inductees, Esin Gulari, dean of Clemson’s College of Engineering and Science, said, “Those singled out for inclusion in the academy illustrate what can be attained through diligent application of talent, hard work and dedication. We are extremely proud of all of these individuals.”

Two outstanding alumni were recognized for making significant contributions to the world around them. They received an Outstanding Young Alumni Award for 2008 for significant career success and notable contributions to society.

Robert Ross, a resident of Argonne, Ill., received a bachelor of science in computer engineering in 1994 from Clemson, followed with a Ph.D. in 2000. He’s been recognized with a Presidential Early Career Award and R&D 100 Award, a mark of excellence recognizing the most innovative ideas of the year. His work with MPICH2, a high-performance software application, enables developers to run the same code on a wide variety of platforms, from laptops and workstations to the largest and fastest parallel computers in the world. Applications include materials science, combustion simulation, astrophysics, climate modeling and bioinformatics.

Andrew Sowder, a resident of Charleston, S.C., is a physical scientist whose research has focused on the environmental behavior and effects of uranium and nickel. He has served as technical liaison in the U.S. effort to assist with the Chernobyl cleanup and stabilization. Recently, as a foreign affairs officer, he has helped negotiate agreements through which foreign countries and the United States cooperate to keep nuclear materials out of the hands of terrorists. Sowder obtained his Ph.D. in environmental engineering and science from Clemson in 1998.

via Clemson

Clemson University — Krishna P.C. Madhavan, assistant professor of engineering and science education in the School of Computing has received a $511,824 National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award for research on how cyber-tools and cyber-environments better enable learning in engineering disciplines.

“With this award to Dr. Madhavan, NSF has recognized a tremendous idea that illustrates the importance of information technology in education,” said Esin Gulari, dean of the College of Engineering and Science.

Madhavan’s research looks at how virtual environments that focus on cutting-edge engineering problems can be better designed to produce positive learning outcomes for engineering students. The larger vision of his work is to bridge the gap between advanced engineering research and the engineering curricula where the focus is on students and how they learn.
 
“This research will lead to the creation of highly adaptive and customizable learning experiences when using cyber-tools and cyber-environments as part of the engineering curricula,” said Madhavan. “In other words, we want our education tools to match the level of information richness and sophistication that our students are accustomed to in their everyday cyber-social interactions.”

The professor says the research has the potential to increase interest and spark new careers in engineering and in computing.

The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program offers the National Science Foundation’s most prestigious awards in support of the early career-development activities of teacher-scholars who most effectively integrate research and education within the context of the mission of their organizations. Madhavan’s award is from the Engineering Education and Centers Division.

via Clemson

Greenville, SC — ScanSource, Inc., a distributor of specialty technology products, continues to move up Fortune Magazine’s annual list of America’s largest corporations, landing at #901 for 2008. ScanSource Inc.’s sales were $1.999 billion for its 2007 fiscal year ending June 30, 2007.

ScanSource is one of only four South Carolina companies and eleven Electronics and Office Equipment Wholesalers included in the Fortune 1000. The Fortune 1000 is based on a number of criteria, including company revenue, profits, market value, and earnings per share.

“We’re honored to be included on the Fortune 1000 for the third consecutive year,” said Mike Baur, CEO of ScanSource, Inc. “Our business growth strategies and our employees’ continued commitment to growing and supporting our customers and vendors with the industry’s leading specialty technology products are evident as we continue to move up this esteemed list.”

via ScanSource

Greer, SC — The Greenville Area Development Corporation and M.C. Tool have announced plans for significant expansion of the company’s operations in Greer, South Carolina, including the addition of more than 20 high-salaried jobs, advanced machining equipment, and aggressive targeting of “niche one-stop-shopping services” to help Aerospace, Automotive, Defense and Energy industries achieve their supply chain goals.

Founded in 1987, M.C. Tool has developed a niche in machining tough exotic materials such as Titanium and Inconel, while holding tolerances of .0002 inch or better on intricate parts. The company recently expanded these capabilities to provide higher volume “lights-out” manufacturing and greater full-service offerings in what company principals stated is a “multimillion dollar capital investment”.

The highly modern one-stop-shop facility includes multi-axis CNC (computer numerical controlled) milling and turning, EDM (electro-discharge machine) wire and ram, CMM (coordinate measuring machine), CAD (computer-aided design) engineering design and build, reverse engineering, certified welding, conventional machining, and ISO9000 / AS9100 / FAR 145 quality capabilities. Examples of the company’s diverse applications include rocket motor and missile prototypes, gas-turbine investment castings, jet engine and wingspan components, and automotive tooling and fixtures.

“Our vision is to provide outstanding personal-touch customer service, excellence in quality and productivity, and rapid just-in-time delivery that growing manufacturers in the southeast need to win more business,” said Jason Premo, a principal in the company. “We are pleased to expand operations in Greenville County, and very appreciative for the support and leadership of the Greenville Area Development Corporation, city of Greer, and everyone in making this announcement a reality.”

The expansion includes significant up-fitting of the existing 12,000 square foot facility, additional capital equipment, and establishing a full 24 hour – 3 shift operation to “create more productive space,” said Premo, a Lean-Six Sigma Master Black Belt whose career has encompassed engineering, operations, sales and executive roles with a variety of small, medium and Fortune 500 organizations around the globe. “We are reorganizing our facility into lean work cells and value-streams, employing modern software technology, and most importantly instilling a mindset of continuous improvement in everyone. In some companies, Lean and Six Sigma are buzz-words. At M.C. Tool, it is part of our DNA.”

“Ultimately, it was the positive economic climate of South Carolina and the commitment of the area’s economic development teams that helped cinch the decision to expand here,” said Sean Witty, also a principal in M.C. Tool. Witty, who met Premo when they were undergraduates at Georgia Tech, began his career at GE’s Gas Turbine plant in Greenville as an engineer and manager, and was most recently a senior partner in a Raleigh-based private equity firm before he and Premo purchased MC Tool last year.

“Before investing in the acquisition and expansion of M.C. Tool, we considered more than 30 businesses from Mississippi to Virginia, yet we kept coming back to this area for its balance of economic opportunity, quality of life, access to talent, and central location to a growing and sophisticated manufacturing base,” said Witty. “We see incredible opportunity in South Carolina and the sky’s-the-limit for M.C. Tool. In our industry, we need the right mix of talent, training, equipment, quality systems and precision processes. Not only did we find it all here in Greenville, we found it all under one roof at M.C. Tool.”

“Early in our decision process, we met with the Greenville Area Development Corporation regarding what resources and assistance they could identify for recruiting, training, expansion of facilities, and for adding quality jobs. They were extremely helpful in walking us through the process. Growing this company here in South Carolina is absolutely the right strategic decision for M.C. Tool,” added Witty. “After acquiring the company in 2007, we’ve grown from 20 employees on one shift to over 40 on three shifts, and expect to end 2008 with potentially 50 total associates and further facility expansion.” The company is also currently working with Ready SC! and Greenville Technical College’s Brashier Industrial Programs in the recruiting and training of master machinists and apprentices, paying well-above-market wages with full benefits based on experience.

“M.C. Tool is a precision tool and advanced machining equipment manufacturer servicing the aerospace, automotive, and a variety of additional industries. Their decision to locate in South Carolina speaks positively to the strength of the state’s market accessibility, quality workforce, and the value that has resulted from improving the business climate to attract investment and encourage job creation. M.C. Tool is a welcomed addition to our business community and we look forward to a long and prosperous relationship in the years ahead,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.

“M.C. Tool’s decision to grow its headquarters and precision manufacturing operations here in Greenville County is the product of a team effort involving many participants at the local and state level,” added H.G. “Butch” Kirven, Jr., chairman of Greenville County Council. “Their specialized capabilities reinforce this area’s attractiveness to Fortune 500 enterprises and tier one and two providers, and affirms that specialty manufacturing companies can thrive and succeed in our state. We’re pleased to have them here in Greenville County.”

“MC Tool is a wonderful example of a company that is using world-class technology, lean processes and home-grown talent to succeed here in the Upstate,” said Jay Rogers, Chairman of the Greenville Area Development Corporation Board. “The company is an entrepreneurial business with innovative processes and rapid growth potential, and is a wonderful example of the opportunity to be found here in Greenville County and South Carolina.”

via Greenville Area Development Corporation

Columbia, SC — The South Carolina Department of Commerce’s state office in Shanghai, China was recognized as one of three foreign economic development and investment agencies for efforts in assisting Chinese companies in investing abroad. South Carolina’s state office in Shanghai was recognized at the 2007 “Chinese Enterprises Going Global” National Contribution Award Appraisal event held on Saturday, April 19 in Beijing. South Carolina was both the only U.S. and only regional organization to win the award. The other two winners were the federal organizations of Sweden and Australia.

“The state’s office in Shanghai has proven that South Carolina is a competitive location for attracting investment and for that I’d give real credit to John Ling and the team at Commerce,” said Gov. Mark Sanford. “From day one, this administration has been committed to improving the state’s economic soil conditions to encourage business growth and job creation and this recognition is another sign that those efforts are paying dividends. Our work to cultivate relationships within China will have a lasting impact on our state in terms of job creation, foreign direct investment, and export opportunities for South Carolina businesses.”

Gov. Sanford officially opened South Carolina’s Shanghai office in October 2005. South Carolina’s China office is primarily focused on recruiting Chinese investment to South Carolina and also assists South Carolina companies looking for export opportunities in China.

John Ling is the Director of South Carolina’s state office in Shanghai. Ling is a Chinese native and graduated from the Foreign Affairs Institute of Sichuan University in Chongqing, China. He went on to study in Charleston, South Carolina where he obtained a MBA from Charleston Southern University. After graduating, Ling worked as Managing Director for a U.S./China joint venture, Metallic Building Systems (Asia), Inc. He then worked at the Department of Commerce in Columbia as the Asia-Pacific International Trade Manager where his primary role involved helping South Carolina companies find export markets in the Asia-Pacific. He moved to Shanghai in 2005 to open South Carolina’s first office in China.

China-affiliated and owned companies employ more than 1,400 individuals in South Carolina. China was South Carolina’s fifth largest export market in 2007 with more than $623 million in goods sold to the country.

via SCC

Greer, SC — The Greer Development Corporation has reported that Northstar Creative, a provider of identity/logo, web development, and print design has moved to a new location at 703 W. Pointsett St.  Northstar Creative’s office was formally loacted in the Blue Ridge area. 

for more information visit Northstar Creative

Microsoft Corp. today announced that it has completed settlement of its tender offer for Fast Search & Transfer ASA, a provider of enterprise search solutions. Microsoft’s plans to acquire FAST were originally announced Jan. 8, 2008. FAST will operate as a Microsoft subsidiary, with a dedicated enterprise search research and development center in Oslo, Norway, and offices throughout the world.

“With our companies combined, we’ll be uniquely able to offer customers what they’ve been telling us they want most — a strategy for meeting everything from their basic to most complex enterprise search needs,” said Jeff Teper, corporate vice president for the Office Business Platform at Microsoft. “I’m incredibly excited to have the talented team from FAST joining us.”

John Markus Lervik will transition from his role as FAST CEO to become Microsoft’s corporate vice president of Enterprise Search, reporting to Teper. Under Lervik’s leadership, the group’s charter will include the development of a comprehensive portfolio of enterprise search offerings, including Microsoft Search Server 2008 Express, search for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and FAST ESP, and future delivery of a single enterprise search platform.

“From the moment I started talking to Microsoft about the prospect of bringing our talent and technology together, I realized what a powerful impact we could have on the way companies use search to drive new revenue streams and improve productivity,” Lervik said. “Together we’ll deliver better technologies that make enterprise search a ubiquitous tool, central to how people find and use information.”

Existing FAST customers will continue to be served by their FAST sales, services and support teams, while the combined product lineup immediately extends customer choice.

via Microsoft

Greenville, SC — Aspiring Upstate entrepreneurs have an exciting resource to help them achieve their dream of business ownership. The Clemson University Small Business Development Center is pleased to announce a new interactive workshop designed to supply the information needed before taking the plunge. “JumpStart Your Business, Tips for Start Up Success” will explore the basics of what it takes to go into business, how to set-up a business, forms of business organization, legal requirements, the elements of an effective business plan, how to obtain financing and improve the odds of success, and the most important information to make informed business decisions. Pre-registration is required. Call 864.370.1545.

When:  Monday May 19th, 2008: 6:30 - 8:00 pm

Where: University Center, 225 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville

Cost: $25

For more information visit www.clemson.edu/sbdc