Sunday, February 15, 2009

DOE's Small Business Technology Transfer Program

DOE's Small Business Technology Transfer Program provides Phase II awards not to exceed $750,000 each to small business concerns located in the U.S. for research or research and development on advanced concepts concerning important mission-related scientific or engineering problems and opportunities that could lead to significant public benefit. STTR grants must involve substantial cooperative research collaboration between the small business and a single non-profit research institution. The funding is provided for the second phase of a three-phase program. Visit https://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/50936FAD3010A97685257555006801F9/$file/FOA_Notice_09-09_SBIR_Phase_II.pdf

DOE's Small Business Innovation Research Program

DOE's Small Business Innovation Research Program supports research or research and development regarding advanced concepts on energy-related scientific or engineering problems and opportunities that could lead to significant public benefit. Eligible applicants are small business concerns located in the U.S. Visit https://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/50936FAD3010A97685257555006801F9/$file/FOA_Notice_09-09_SBIR_Phase_II.pdf

U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) SBIR

On or about Feb. 16, the Volpe National Transportation System Center of the Department of Transportation will release its 2009 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program solicitation for Phase I proposals. Only U.S. businesses with fewer than 500 employees may respond. Response will be due on Apr. 15. More information is available on the DOT SBIR website: http://www.volpe.dot.gov/sbir

Offer of free and discounted newsletters to FPC members

Information Gatekeepers Inc(IGI) is a publisher and consultant in the telecommunications and fiber optics fields. IGI publishes 35 newsletters in the these fields, eight are in fiber optics and optical networks. These newsletters deal with markets, applications and technology worldwide.

IGI is offering a one year free subscription to one of these newsletters to members of the FPC. If members would like to subscribe to other newsletters, they can at a 50% discount. You can down load samples of these newsletters from our web site http://www.igigroup.com/.

The process is simple. member only need to send IGI an e-mail to Jaime Perez listing the newsletter they would like to receive and the free subscription would be started immediately.

Photonics West 2010

For those of you considering exhibiting at Photonics West next year at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, here is some information from this year's show:

  • There will be ~130,000 sq ft more exhibit space. SPIE will not have any growth restrictions on space, nor restrictions on the number of companies that can be part of the Florida Cluster grouping. So there should be plenty of room for more companies to join the Florida Cluster grouping. Info should be on the web soon.
  • Early Bird Contract deadline is 12 March 2009. If you want to be located in the Florida Cluster grouping, just indicate this on your contract. And add any conditions such as corner, option to see location than if you go with your priority points rather than cluster, etc. If you didn't get a contract document, contact Al Ragan at SPIE (alr@spie.org, 360/676-3290)
  • At this year's show, attendance was nearly 1,000 greater than last year: 4500 technical attendees, 7900 exhibit-only attendees, 5150 exhibit reps; total of 17,550
  • "Hot Topics" identified by SPIE at the Exhibitor breakfast on the last day of the show: OCT; Multi-photon spectroscopy; Ultrasound; fiber lasers; Hi-power diode lasers; Solic-state lasers; LEDs, particularly for lighting; Silicon photonics

Please send me an email indicating your interest in being part of the Florida Cluster grouping if you choose this option.

Hope to see you at PW 2010, and perhaps at SPIE's DSS meeting in Orlando in April.

Jim Pearson

FPC Executive Director

Friday, February 6, 2009

ASTRA support of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)

Dear Friend of ASTRA:

The Senate recently began debate on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The bill supports robust increases for America's scientific and engineering communities through targeted investments in talent, facilities and critically important projects. These R&D investments will create jobs, grow the economy, promote energy independence, and redress years of stagnant or declining funding for much of the nation's innovation ecosystem.

Voting "yes" for R&D funding contained in the ARRA will also help get our economy back on track. Its passage will help Americans who are suffering through these difficult times. America needs to move forward by creating jobs, inventing new industries, and developing a well-trained scientific, engineering and technical talent pool for the global challenges ahead.

ASTRA supports the package on the table offered by the Senate Leadership and the new Administration. New R&D investments will directly help people, create jobs, provide a jolt to our economy, and restore America's competitive position in world markets.

Please join ASTRA in saying "yes" to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act package as it currently exists by signing the petition found
www.usinnovation.org (just click on this link to the Petition found on our Web Site, read it, and then click on "Sign the Petition" if you agree with us).

This message is being sent to more than 33,000 Friends of ASTRA - please share it with others. Please tell your friends and associates about our efforts to support robust funding for scientific and engineering R&D and STEM Education funding.

Thank you!

Robert S. BoegeExecutive Director
ASTRA,The Alliance for Science & Technology Research in America

Additional information:The Senate version of ARRA contains nearly $13 billion in one-time R&D funding, slightly less than the amount contained in the recently passed House version of the legislation. For a comparison between the House and Senate versions of the bill, see our latest analysis: www.usinnovation.org/files/ASTRACompEconomRecAct209.pdf

For an excellent analysis of how R&D spending creates jobs, see the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) study completed by Daniel Castro and Dr. Robert Atkinson. It can be downloaded by clicking this link: www.usinnovation.org/files/ITIF2009Stimnovation.pdf

This e-mail was sent by ASTRA, located at 1155 16th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 (USA). To receive no further e-mails, please click here or reply to this e-mail with "unlist" in the Subject line.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

UCF Career Services: TAPPING THE TALENT AT UCF

Thursday, February 19th
Time: 3:00 - 5:00
Location: Human Resources training room # 123
12365 Research Parkway, Suite 360, Orlando, FL., 32826
Fee: $20 ( Free to Incubator Clients)
Please RSVP to Renee Ayala at 407-882-0202 or by email, rayala@mail.ucf.edu

Are you interested in hiring UCF students but don't know how to navigate the system? Would you like to know what partnerships exist to connect with students and faculty? Looking for opportunities to get your name out there in front of students?

The Departments of Experiential Learning, Career Services and the College of Business Administration's Office of Corporate Partnerships and Career Management are collaborating to provide a comprehensive workshop on resources and services for community businesses interested in tapping UCF student talent.

This session will outline an overview of the structure of the university system with a focus on the two colleges from which companies primarily recruit: College of Engineering and Computer Science and College of Business Administration.

This session will cover how to
  • recruit student interns and co-ops,
  • search for qualified new graduates,
  • connect with faculty and departments,
  • identify ways you can make your company name a household word, and
  • learn about the annual calendar of recruiting events.

You will discover the differences between internships and co-ops and the value they bring to your business. Presenters will also showcase specialized services we offer, such as advice on how to be competitive, what students look for, and how to host an open house or information session.


You will be amazed at the number of resources available and surprised to learn that many are free of charge! You don't have to be a Fortune 500 member to recruit like one! Come and meet the faculty and staff that work directly with your future workforce!