The CTC’s Matthew Nemerson travelled to China this March with a delegation from Connecticut including Marcom LLP senior partner John Schuyler who is also chairman of the Connecticut – US Commerce Department Export Council, senior staff from CT Innovations, a partner from Wiggin & Dana, LLP and Daniel Drew, the new mayor of Middletown. Unlike most trade missions, the goal was not to sell products per se, but instead to seek direct investments from Chinese government and private entities that are looking to purchase or take positions in American firms with technologies that are of interest to the Chinese. Quite a turn of the screw from 25 years ago when Connecticut first set sail for China with an official trade mission led then by Governor William O’Neal. The hope in 1987 was to land big contracts for manufactured goods to sell or make them – inside in a growing country. Now, with trillions of US dollars on hand in various types of organizations and a growing group of internationally savvy investors, China is a legitimate and huge source of venture capital.
Along the way if the companies can find partners to exploit growing Chinese markets that is more upside, but for the forty or so firms – some CI portfolio firms, others clients of Wiggin & Dana or Marcom and seven established CTC members – were all being pitched as if this were the old CVG Crossroads event.
Eighty government officials and curious investors showed up in Jinan City, Shandong Province and two days later nearly 100 were on hand in Shenyang, Liaoning Province – a bulging city of 4 million with a software incubator itself larger than a few northeast corner Connecticut towns.
CTC firms represented by Matthew included Axxun, Directedvision, i-Mark, Secure RF, Spot On Networks, Tribute Creations and VR Sim. All of the companies seemed to be of some curiosity to business people in the two audiences, but no deals have been completed to date.
In addition to the meetings and presentations, the delegation was shown the site of a newly planned 1.7 million person “Bio-Tech City” in Liaoning province. Still under construction, it will be complete in five years time, together with a 180-mph high-speed rail connection to Beijing. They sure seem to do things differently over there!
CTC invites you to join an open house celebrating the magnificent contributions of Paige Rasid during her seven years here as Marketing, Communications & Operations Director.
Please join us for a send-off party in her honor at CTC Offices in East Hartford.
Thursday, May 3, 2012 4:30-6:30pm
RSVP to Ann Discenza, adiscenza@ct.org 860-289-0878, x345
Paige will be joining Connecticut Innovations as a program manager in the CT SBIR Office where she will continue to help CT tech companies!
Registration is open for The Girls of Innovation Science Challenge for girls, grades 7 & 8, to explore science and it's challenges in a fun, interactive way.
There is no fee for the students to attend, but they must pre-register here and get confirmation from CTC.
About the program: An offshoot of CTC's Women of Innovation program, Girls of Innovation inspires today's middle school students to consider studies in science and technology-related research, health services and business areas.
Our sponsor, Covidien Surgical Devices and volunteers actively encourage Connecticut's talented young women to prepare for key roles that will enhance organizational innovation and achievement. We thank them for their support of this effort.
When:Saturday, June 9 - 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Where: Connecticut Science Centre , 200 Columbus Blvd., Hartford CT
Entrepreneurs all over the country are buzzing about crowdfunding. A new federal law will make it possible for small companies to attract investors online. But not everyone in Connecticut is thrilled about the new rules. WNPR’s Harriet Jones reports.
Earlier this month President Obama signed into law the JOBS Act, a measure with rare bipartisan support.
Matthew Nemerson, President of the Connecticut Technology Council, says this new law could potentially speed up the pace of innovation.
“I think what we’re really doing here is reducing some of what have become very onerous costs of going public. And I think we’re looking at pools literally of billions of dollars around the country and around the world that are looking for new technology to invest in.”
Harriet Jones of WNPR reports: Shandong is Connecticut’s sister state and Matthew Nemerson, CEO of the Connecticut Technology Council is among a few of the original delegates from the first mission back in the 1980s to have returned to Shandong this week.
“A very small and hopeful state 25 years ago. Now a larger economy than Germany, it seems.”
Speaking to WNPR from the city of Jinan he says business meetings have been proceeding alongside diplomacy.
MIDDLETOWN — Mayor Dan Drew is returning this weekend from a week-long trip to China meant to recruit possible investors for the Aetna property specifically and Middletown in general.
The week-long trip took the delegates through Beijing, Shanghai and the industrial and technology manufacturing cities in the state of Shandong.
Connecticut Technology Council Announces Winners of the Eighth Annual Women of Innovation Awards Program
Women leaders in technology, science and engineering honored at March 1st gala
Fifty three women from across Connecticut were honored for their innovation and leadership during the eighth annual Women of Innovation awards dinner held March 1st at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington. Category Award winners are listed below.
These women have broken through the glass ceiling. And not only have they broken through it -- they are keeping it open for other women to come through. -Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman
The Connecticut Technology Council held the awards program to recognize women in the workforce who are innovators, role models and leaders in the fields of technology, science and engineering. Outstanding young women in high school and college were also recognized. More than 500 guests attended this year’s event, which was sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim USA Corporation, Covidien, the law firm of Day Pitney LLP, and United Technologies Corporation.
“Many of Connecticut’s most extraordinary and talented women working in technology are here tonight,” said Matthew Nemerson, President and CEO of the Connecticut Technology Council. “This awards event puts a spotlight on exceptional innovators and leaders, while also introducing them to a professional network of peers who are equally accomplished.”
The keynote speaker for the awards ceremony was Dr. Alicia Abella, executive director of the Innovative Services Research Department at AT&T Labs and chair of its Fellowship program. Dr. Abella manages a group of researchers specializing in data mining, user interfaces, IPTV, mobile services, SIP/VoIP technology, and environmental sustainability. She is also executive vice president for the Young Science Achievers program and a strong advocate of fostering the development of minorities and women in science and engineering. In 2011, President Obama named Dr. Abella to his Presidential Advisory Commission for Educational Excellence for Hispanics.
The 2012 Women of Innovation category award winners:
Academic Innovation and Leadership
Susan Brown, Teacher - Applied Technology, New Haven Public Schools-Mauro Sheridan Magnet School. As a science, technology and robotics teacher for middle school students in New Haven, Ms. Brown is passionate about teaching children how to think, create, and find their authentic selves.
Joan Feigenbaum,The Grace Murray Hopper Professor of Computer Science, Yale University. Ms. Feigenbaum conducts research that includes Internet algorithmics, security and privacy, massive data-set algorithmics and the interplay of economics and computation.
Collegian Innovation and Leadership
Nicole Wagner, Graduate Student- Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut. As CEO of LambdaVision, a company that is a direct outgrowth of her graduate studies, Ms. Wagner is working on getting her company’s protein-based retinal implant through preclinical trials.
Community Innovation and Leadership
Kimberley McLean, Principal Engineer, Electric Boat. Ms. McLean has been working with the Girl Scouts for almost 20 years to develop and present STEM programs for girls of all ages. She has provided opportunities for girls at camp to learn about astronomy and the use of telescopes.
Entrepreneurial Innovation and Leadership
Jyl Camhi,Founder and President, Great Play. Ms. Camhi has developed a unique interactive children's gym called Great Play that helps develop motor skills, sport skills, fitness and coordination. Great Play has been named one of the most innovative brands in youth fitness worldwide.
Small Business Innovation and Leadership
Betsy Didan, Vice President, COCC. Ms. Didan develops, promotes and supports technologies to reduce paper and increase payment speed and security for community banks and credit unions for COCC customers in the Northeast.
Large Business Innovation and Leadership
Elizabeth Garypie,Black Hawk Chief Engineer, Sikorsky Aircraft. As chief engineer for Sikorsky’s Army & Air Force programs, Ms. Garypie provides overall technical leadership for domestic BLACK HAWK development and production programs, including the UH-60M, HH-60M MEDEVAC, UH-60M Upgrade, and future product requirements.
Research Innovation and Leadership
Amy Anderson, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut. Ms. Anderson leads a UCONN research group to discover and develop novel drugs for treating infectious diseases and cancer as well as understand and overcome mechanisms of drug resistance.
Youth Innovation and Leadership
Mary Kuchenbrod, High School Student, GHAMAS (Greater Hartford Academy of Math and Science). Ms. Kuchenbrod conducted her own high school research to test the early development of zebra fish embryos in environments that mimic that of a developing human fetus whose mother is consuming alcohol or caffeine, as well as environments that test the effects of progesterone pollution in water systems.
Public Sector Innovation and Leadership
Deb Santy, Director, Connecticut SBIR Office. Under Ms. Santy’s leadership, the Connecticut SBIR Office has helped high-tech small businesses and entrepreneurs compete for and win federal SBIR/STTR awards. Her office also facilitates commercialization by collaborating with industry, government and academia.
About the Connecticut Technology Council
The Connecticut Technology Council (www.ct.org) is Connecticut’s industry association for the technology sector. CTC’s mission is to “connect people, ideas and opportunities to the global technology and innovation community.” CTC provides members with business assistance and specialized programs, in addition to promoting and supporting public policies that globally position Connecticut’s “culture of innovation” that helps attract great ideas and entrepreneurs to develop new jobs and wealth for the state.
Attention Media: Photos and full bios for each winner are available upon request.
CONTACT: Michael Scricca Connecticut Technology Council 860-289-0878, x334; mscricca@ct.org
A state tax credit passed in 2010 and revised last year shows promise of directing money to small startup companies that traditional venture capital firms may avoid as too risky.
The state income tax credit is 25 percent of investments as high as $250,000. When passed in 2010, an investment of at least $100,000 was required to be eligible for the tax credit. Last year, the investment threshold was lowered to $25,000 to qualify for the credit.
"There is an explosion in entrepreneurship and people want to get in on it," said Matthew Nemerson, president of the Connecticut Technology Council, which started lobbying for a tax credit for angel investors more than five years ago. "The legislation came at the right time to throw fuel on the fire. Because of the $100,000 limit, the fuel [was] a little bit watered down."
"Thirty companies have gotten investments since a law took effect 18 months ago allowing investors who put at least $100,000 into young, small Connecticut firms in certain technology and science fields to deduct a quarter of that investment from their state income taxes.
Two months ago, the state loosened the angel investor tax credit to $25,000, and nine of the 30 deals have closed just since then, for a total of $2.1 million."
CTC Membership Help us build a vibrant culture of innovation in Connecticut today! Join Connecticut's largest technology trade association today! To become a member please contact mscricca@ct.org or enroll online.
These women have broken through the glass ceiling. And not only have they broken through it -- they are keeping it open for other women to come through.
