GSA Technology Council

How will tomorrow’s wealth be created? Who will get it and how? Alvin and Heidi Toffler believe there will be an upheaval in our social, political and cultural institutions & values. In their new book, Revolutionary Wealth, they write about everything from education and childrearing to Hollywood and China, from everyday truth and lies to what they call our “Third Job” — the unnoticed work we do without pay for some of the biggest corporations in our country. Join the GSA Technology Council on March 11 as former Kemet President/COO, Terry Weaver offers a technology entrepreneur’s view and guide to Toffler’s latest important work. The public is invited to attend. Learn more or register at www.GSATC.org.

Innoventure 2009 is fast approaching and today the conference President, John Warner, published a video that highlights the events of this year’s conference.

The conference is billed as the annual gathering of the SwampFox community and features entrepreneur business plan presentations as well as presentations by researches seeking teams interested in commercializing their inventions. The conference also regularly presents keynote presentations by local, regional, and national thought leaders in innovation.

InnoVenture 2009 will feature the following speakers

• Robin Karol, Executive Director of Product Development and Management Association, and former Manager of the New Offering Development Process at DuPont, discusses stories from her career and will launch the South Carolina Chapter of PDMA
• Chris Thoen, Director Innovation and Knowledge Management at P&G, discusses lessons from their journey to becoming a world leader in open innovation through their innovative Connect and Develop program.
• Larry Willey, GE Energy Advanced Technology Operations Manager of Wind Systems Conceptual Design, discusses creating a community of Innovation around the wind energy market. This can be a template for creating communities around other significant market opportunities.
• Bernie Dunlap, President of Wofford and Rhodes Scholar discusses the importance of vision and creativity in a time of profound change. Bernie’s presentation will be an inspiring crescendo to end the day.

Watch the video at: www.theswampfoxview.com

The City of Greenville will be offering a number of free seminars for owners, managers and employees of businesses located within the city.  The first of these seminars will be tomorrow; Wednesday February 25th.  The goal of these seminars is to provide participants with information and advice to help them succeed and to promote discussion of real-world challenges of running a business.  Each seminar will be led by local members of the Greenville business community.

Each seminar will be held in the 3rd floor conference room of City Hall, located at 206 South Main Street. Drinks will be provided. For more information or to register for the seminars, contact the City’s Economic Development Department at (864) 467-4401 or send an e-mail to mferguson@greenvillesc.gov.

The seminar schedule is as follows:

Energize Your Business: The DNA of Marketing
Wednesday, February 25
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Presented by: Debbie Nelson, Debbie Nelson & Associates, LLC

Join Debbie Nelson, founder of Debbie Nelson & Associates, LLC, as she shares her tips for developing and implementing a successful, cost-effective marketing strategy. Debbie Nelson & Associates, LLC is a local public relations and marketing firm, specializing in developing effective communication tools for both large and small businesses. In 2005, the firm was honored as Small Business of the Year by the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce.

Crime Prevention & Safety Tips for Your Business
Wednesday, March 25
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Presented by: Deb Wyant & Sergeant Bob Gamble, Greenville Police Department

This seminar is designed to provide business owners with valuable information on how to protect their businesses and their employees. Participants will learn about the City’s Business Watch Program and other initiatives the Police Department has developed to protect businesses and citizens.

Lunch & Learn with Greenville Business Leaders
Wednesday, April 22
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Presenters TBD

Take a seat at the table with some of Greenville’s top business leaders to discuss the real-world challenges of running a business. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to ask questions and hear advice from some of the area’s most successful business owners.

Blackbaud, Inc., a provider of software and related services designed specifically for nonprofit organizations, today announced its President and Chief Executive Officer, Marc Chardon, and its Chief Financial Officer, Timothy Williams, will present at the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference, being held at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco.

Blackbaud’s presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time and will be webcast live and available by visiting the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at: www.blackbaud.com/investorrelations.

The webcast will also be archived on the Company’s website for a limited time.

via Blackbaud

Apple has announced the public beta of Safari 4 for Mac and Windows PCs. The Nitro engine in Safari 4 runs JavaScript 4.2 times faster than Safari 3. New features that make browsing more intuitive include Top Sites, for a visual preview of frequently visited pages; Full History Search, to search through titles, web addresses and the complete text of recently viewed pages; Cover Flow, to easily flip through web history or bookmarks; and Tabs on Top, to make tabbed browsing easier and more intuitive.

“Apple created Safari to bring innovation, speed and open standards back into web browsers, and today it takes another big step forward,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Safari 4 is the fastest and most efficient browser for Mac and Windows, with great integration of HTML 5 and CSS 3 web standards that enables the next generation of interactive web applications.”

Safari 4 is built on the Nitro JavaScript engine that executes JavaScript up to 30 times faster than IE 7 and more than three times faster than Firefox 3. Safari loads HTML web pages three times faster than IE 7 and almost three times faster than Firefox 3.

Safari for Mac, Windows, iPhone and iPod touch are all built on Apple’s WebKit.  Apple developed WebKit as an open source project to create the browser engine and to advance the adoption of modern web standards. Most recently, WebKit led the introduction of HTML 5 and CSS 3 web standards and is known for its fast, modern code-base. The industry’s newest browsers are based on WebKit including Google Chrome, the Google Android browser, the Nokia Series 60 browser and Palm webOS. 

Features of Safari 4 include:

• Top Sites, a display of frequently visited pages in a stunning wall of previews so users can jump to their favorite sites with a single click;
• Full History Search, where users search through titles, web addresses and the complete text of recently viewed pages to easily return to sites they’ve seen before;
• Cover Flow, to make searching web history or bookmarks as fun and easy as paging through album art in iTunes;
• Tabs on Top, for better tabbed browsing with easy drag-and-drop tab management tools and an intuitive button for opening new ones;
• Smart Address Field, that automatically completes web addresses by displaying an easy-to-read list of suggestions from Top Sites, bookmarks and browsing history;
• Smart Search Field, where users fine-tune searches with recommendations from Google Suggest or a list of recent searches;
• Full Page Zoom, for a closer look at any website without degrading the quality of the site’s layout and text;
• built-in web developer tools to debug, tweak and optimize a website for peak performance and compatibility; and
• a new Windows-native look in Safari for Windows, that uses standard Windows font rendering and native title bar, borders and toolbars so Safari fits the look and feel of other Windows XP and Windows Vista applications.

via Apple

Collexis Holdings, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CLXS), a leading developer of semantic search and knowledge discovery software, announced the launch of the world’s first Hydrogen Fuel Knowledge Dashboard made possible through a partnership with Thomson Reuters and the University of South Carolina. This partnership brings together the Collexis proprietary technology, Web of Science data from Thomson Reuters and the institutional subject matter expertise from the University of South Carolina.

“The University of South Carolina is very proud to play an integral role in the development of the Hydrogen Fuel Knowledge Dashboard. Together with our partners at Thomson Reuters and Collexis we have created a pioneering and robust application that will help our research community greatly improve the effectiveness of research through its unique trend analysis and hypothesis generation in the Hydrogen Fuel area,” states Dr. Harris Pastides, President of the University of South Carolina.

“This partnership represents a unique opportunity for all of us. The Science business of Thomson Reuters has the leading content in alternative energy. The University of South Carolina has pulled together the top echelon of scientific minds from around the world to study alternative energy sources and to drive development of new applications, and Collexis has the key software to combine brainpower and content into unique discovery tools,” said Bill Kirkland, Chief Executive Officer of Collexis. “The Hydrogen Fuel Research Dashboard demonstrates how cooperation between academic research leaders and the private sector can create new technologies to address our energy challenges.”

“Investigating alternative energy sources has become a priority for researchers around the world,” said Keith MacGregor, executive vice president of Academic and Government Markets at Thomson Reuters. “The Hydrogen Fuel Research Dashboard combines the data and analysis to pave the way toward innovative solutions.”

SC Launch, an SCRA affiliate, provided Collexis with early-stage seed funding to assist the company with product development. Additionally, SC Launch helped drive the collaboration among Collexis and the University of South Carolina. “The Collexus Hydrogen Fuel Research Dashboard is a perfect fit with the SC Launch mission to help commercialize alternative energy research licensed through our SC research university foundations,” said Bill Mahoney, SCRA Chief Executive Officer. “The Dashboard illustrates how collaboration among the SC Centers of Economic Excellence, SCRA and a commercial landing party, Collexis, supports the state’s innovation pipeline and accelerates knowledge-based economic development in South Carolina.”

The Collexis Knowledge Dashboard approach to key subject areas has become popular with research intensive institutions including Johns Hopkins, the National Institutes of Health and the University of South Carolina as they seek to provide their research community with new and innovative tools to enhance their research effectiveness and collaboration.

The Hydrogen Fuel Knowledge Dashboard will be showcased at the upcoming National Hydrogen Association Conference and Expo to be held on March 30 – April 2 in Columbia, SC, near the University South Carolina campus.

via: Hydrogen Association Conference

The South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SCMEP) has launched an online survey of the state’s manufacturers to assess their progress in adopting strategies to help them compete globally. The study is the first step in a long-term effort to help manufacturers weather today’s recession and improve manufacturing competitiveness over the next decade. The SC Technical College System, the SC Manufacturers Alliance, and USC’s Center for Manufacturing and Technology are joining with SCMEP to sponsor the study.

The web-based Next Generation Manufacturing Study questionnaire can be accessed at www.NGMStudy-SouthCarolina.com. Any manufacturing owner, CEO or senior level executive is eligible to participate. Participation in the study is confidential and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Participation also can be anonymous. Deadline for participation is March 15. Study participants will receive a customized benchmarking report comparing their progress to the overall results as well as to other respondents of similar revenue and number of employees.

The study asks manufacturers to rank their progress toward the world-class performance benchmarks of Next Generation Manufacturing, a framework of strategies that will drive manufacturing growth and profitability in the 21st century. The elements of Next Generation Manufacturing are customer-focused innovation, systemic continuous improvement, advanced talent management, global engagement, extended enterprise management and sustainable products and processes.

“We are strongly encouraging every manufacturer in South Carolina to participate, regardless of the size of their facilities,” says SCMEP President John Irion. “Study participants will receive a benchmarking report comparing their facilities to others the same size in South Carolina and to the general manufacturing base. Participants will be contributing to regional and national policy discussions regarding the outlook for manufacturing in South Carolina, the U.S., and overseas.”

The study is part of a national effort announced by the American Small Manufacturers Coalition (ASMC) being spearheaded by 17 states. “The adoption of Next Generation Manufacturing strategies represents an historic opportunity to strengthen and improve the nation’s manufacturing base and achieve a long-term competitive advantage across all industries and sectors,” said Mike Klonsinski, ASMC board chair.

“The study results will provide a scorecard, and the scorecard will tell us what we need to do to improve,” says Klonsinski. For example, a low score on global engagement may indicate to policymakers actions are needed to help manufacturers sell into overseas markets,” he said.

InnoVenture 2009, the sixth annual southeastern innovation conference, today announced entrepreneurial companies who will present elevator pitches to corporate anchors and investors. InnoVenture 2009 will be held on March 24, 2009, at the Carolina First Center in Greenville, SC.

InnoVenture presenting entrepreneurs represent a variety of business disciplines, from information technology to sustainability and advanced materials. Geographically entrepreneurs, along with Swamp Fox Anchors and Sponsors, come from across Georgia, Tennessee, and North and South Carolina, collectively the eighth largest mega-region in the world.

The first eight companies chosen to present at InnoVenture 2009 include the following:

• Green Wizard (Charleston, SC – greenwizard.com) is an online solution for the green construction industry that simplifies product research, product comparison, green specifications, quoting, purchase and documentation.
• Hoowaki (Greenville, SC) transforms surfaces to mimic the look, feel, and performance of natural surfaces, beginning by targeting large markets seeking hydrophobic surfaces that repel water and ice.
• InnerOptic (Hillsboro, NC – www.inneroptic.com) markets the InVision System, a “GPS” for minimally-invasive surgery and biopsy, which through 3D stereoscopic guidance results in easier, faster and safer interventions.
• Invenca (Greenville, SC- /www.invenca.com) is an emerging advanced materials company, focused on innovations in separation science beginning with a new type of HPLC column for use in liquid chromatography of proteins and other large molecules.
• Nexnet (Knoxville, TN – thenexnet.com) is commercializing revolutionary Pearl technology which connects the television viewer with the internet, focusing initially in multi-system operators (MSOs) of cable television distribution networks.
• SensorTech (Greenville, SC – www.sensortechllc.com) is commercializing a new contact sensing technology, targeted initially markets for medical prosthetics sensors, and industrial load cells and pressure distribution sensors.
• TracLok (Knoxville, TN – traklok.net) is deploying the GeoLokTM, a device that secures a container against unauthorized entry, by providing access to the location and condition information of a given container to improve the efficient management of these assets.
• X2Order (Waxhaw, SC – www.r2xo.com) provides a unique software-as-a-service (SaaS) framework that enables manufacturers to grow their profits by automating, enforcing, and sustaining Lean Manufacturing practices.

“InnoVenture 2009 will present another strong slate of entrepreneurial companies. Prior presenters have raised over $100 million in venture and angel capital, demonstrating that the conference has attracted a pipeline of emerging companies with excellent market opportunities and strong management teams,” said John Warner, President of Swamp Fox LLC. “In addition to capital, entrepreneurs will find excellent opportunities to connect with major companies like Michelin, Milliken, GE, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Zeus; with major universities like Clemson, University of SC, and UNC Charlotte; and with investor partners like SC Launch! and Noro-Moseley Partners.”

Innoventure 2009 will be held March 24, 2009 at the Carolina First Center in Greenville, SC.

via: Innoventure 2009

Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) announces the passing of a significant technical milestone in the development of its Dragon spacecraft with the successful arc jet testing of PICA-X high performance heat shield material.

Subjected to temperatures as high as 1850 degrees Celsius (3360 degrees Fahrenheit), the tests simulated the reentry heating conditions that will be experienced by the Dragon capsule. Panels of the high performance carbon-based material will protect cargo and crew during the spacecraft’s return from Earth orbit.

SpaceX developed the ability to manufacture PICA-X with the assistance of NASA, the originator of PICA (Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator). The “X” stands for the SpaceX-developed variants of the rigid, lightweight material, which has several improved properties and greater ease of manufacture.

“We tested three different variants developed by SpaceX,” said Tom Mueller ,VP of Propulsion, SpaceX. “Compared to the PICA heat shield flown successfully on NASA’s Stardust sample return capsule, our SpaceX versions equaled or improved the performance of the heritage material in all cases.”

The tests were conducted at the Arc Jet Complex at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, which has a rich history in the development of Thermal Protective Systems for NASA spacecraft, including Apollo, Space Shuttle, and robotic missions to Venus, Mars, and Saturn. The NASA Ames Arc Jet Complex is uniquely capable of simulating conditions experienced during reentry.

“The arc jet tests represent the culmination of an aggressive six-month development effort, and our goals have been met or exceeded,” said Elon Musk , CEO and CTO of SpaceX. “Dragon will be the first craft to return from Low Earth Orbit using a PICA-based thermal protection system.”

SpaceX is only the second commercial producer of a PICA-based material. All of SpaceX’s initial production will be used for domestic in-house applications including the heat shields of the Dragon spacecraft, and the Falcon 9 second stage, which is designed to return from orbit for recovery and reuse.

The inaugural Dragon spacecraft flight is scheduled for 2009 aboard SpaceX’s new Falcon 9 launcher.
The Dragon capsule will enter the Earth’s atmosphere at around 7 kilometers per second (15,660 miles per hour), heating the exterior of the shield to up to 1850 degrees Celsius. However, just a few inches of the PICA-X material will keep the interior of the capsule at room temperature.

In January 2006, NASA’s Stardust sample return capsule, equipped with a PICA heat shield, set the record for the fastest reentry speed of a spacecraft into Earth’s atmosphere – experiencing 12.9 kilometers per second (28,900 miles per hour). SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft will return at just over half of that speed, and will experience only one tenth as much heating.

via SpaceX

How will tomorrow’s wealth be created? Who will get it and how? Alvin and Heidi Toffler believe there will be an upheaval in our social, political and cultural institutions & values. In their new book, Revolutionary Wealth, they write about everything from education and childrearing to Hollywood and China, from everyday truth and lies to what they call our “Third Job” — the unnoticed work we do without pay for some of the biggest corporations in our country. Join us in March as former Kemet President/COO, Terry Weaver offers a technology entrepreneur’s view and guide to Toffler’s latest important work.

GSATC Learning Lunch

Topic: Revolutionary Wealth – A Guide for Technology Entrepreneurs
Presented by: Terry Weaver
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Location: (NEW) Embassy Suites (map)

Agenda

11:30 – 11:55 Registration, Networking, Lunch
11:55 – 12:10 Announcements
12:10 – 12:50 Presentation
12:50 – 1:00 Door Prizes, Adjourn

This meeting features easy access from I-385, plenty of free parking, ample networking opportunities, a great presentation, and door prizes. Plan to attend.

Lunch is $20 in advance, $25 at the door.*

RSVP

* We apologize for the increased lunch program prices as of our February meeting. I can’t imagine a more difficult time to deliver this news. While this is a cost driven issue for us, we hope that you will agree that we have been delivering higher and higher quality speakers over the years and that the benefit to you has in fact increased far more dramatically, than this, our first price increase in the lunch program in six years.