Connecticut Technology Council

Governor Rell: State Gets $3.1 Million from U.S. EPA for Brownfields

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the state is receiving more than $3.1 million in federal funding to help assess, clean up and re-use “brownfields” – contaminated and often long-abandoned properties that can be remediated and turned into productive sites for economic development or other public uses.

 

The $3,124,500 in grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to nine projects in eight Connecticut cities and towns are part of more than $16 million in brownfields grants distributed to New England communities. The grant money will assist efforts to reclaim sites such as old textile mills, sites containing hazardous substances and other abandoned industrial and commercial properties.

 

“These federal funds are welcome additions to my Administration’s efforts to make the most of brownfields,” Governor Rell said. “These properties are almost always located where new development, new jobs, new tax dollars and new vitality are needed most. And, by reusing brownfields instead of previously untouched property, we are preserving open space and maintaining the natural character of the rest of our state.

 

“The national economy is showing the first faint signs of recovery – but we still have a long way to go,” the Governor said. “These grants will help us move projects along all across Connecticut. Recycling these sites is sound policy for the entire state – and that’s why it’s a key component of my responsible growth agenda.”

 

The grants were awarded to:

 

• East Hampton, $200,000 (community wide assessment)
• Griswold, $200,000 (clean-up at former Triangle Plastic Wire and Cable Co.)
• Hartford, $124,500 (clean-up at Ramon Qurious Park)
• Middletown, $200,000 (clean-up at Remington Rand Complex)
• New Haven, $200,000 (clean-up at 10 Wall Street site)
• New Haven, $1 million (community wide revolving loan fund)
• Preston Redevelopment Agency, $600,000 (three clean-up grants for work at the former Norwich State Hospital property)
• Shelton, $200,000 (clean-up at Former Cel-lastik Parcel)
• Waterbury Development Corp., $400,000 (community-wide assessment

In all, New England received 58 of the 304 grants issued nationally.

 

Contact: Rich Harris, 860-524-7313, [email protected]

 

 

 

Three Collegiate Teams Win Cash Awards from Connecticut Innovations

 Connecticut Innovations (CI), the state’s quasi-public authority responsible for technology investing and innovation development, today announced that it will award $10,000 in cash prizes to help launch three technology business concepts presented recently at the Spring 2010 You Belong in Connecticut Collegiate Business Plan Competition. The CI cash awards, presented in the Best Technology Business Plans category, will go to:

• SilviaTerra – Yale University and Yale School of Forestry ($5,000).
• Shizzlr – University of Connecticut School of Business ($3,000).
• Green Splinter Company – University of Bridgeport School of Engineering ($2,000).

“The business plan competition is intended to encourage students to formally develop their business plans and take the initial steps to launch their businesses in Connecticut,” said Charlie Moret, managing director of business development for CI. “CI is particularly interested in the technology-oriented business plans, and by awarding cash prizes to the top tech teams and working with them under our Pre-Seed Support Services Program, we can help cultivate promising startup ventures.”

The Spring 2010 You Belong in Connecticut Collegiate Business Plan Competition was held at the New Haven Lawn Club on April 23, 2010. Over 100 business plans were received from student management teams from colleges and universities around the state. A judging panel reviewed the submissions and selected 15 finalists. On April 23, the finalists, who hailed from eight Connecticut colleges and universities, delivered three-minute multimedia presentations to a second panel of judges. CI’s cash prize winners were selected from this group of finalists.

SilviaTerra, a business concept conceived by a team from Yale University and Yale School of Forestry and presented by team leader Max Uhlenhuth, a Yale College sophomore, will use remote sensing and satellite imagery to quickly and accurately assess forest inventories for its customers – large forest owners. (Photo available here. Caption available here.)

Shizzlr will be a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company offering an online social planning tool to help college students gather and organize information about social events, gatherings and activities. The business concept was presented by team leader and company co-founder Keith Bessette, a second-year MBA candidate at the University of Connecticut School of Business. (Photo available here. Caption available here.)

Green Splinter Company will sell a composite board, produced from recycled agricultural waste, that will offer builders and homeowners a stronger, more eco-friendly option for interior walls and ceilings compared to wooden molded panels and drywall. This business concept was presented by Jawahar Ponnuswami, a textile technologist who is also a candidate for a Master of Science degree in technology and management at the University of Bridgeport School of Engineering. (Photo available here. Caption available here.)

The You Belong in Connecticut Collegiate Business Plan Competition, now is its twelfth year, is administered by the Entrepreneurship Foundation with support from Connecticut Innovations, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, LaunchCapital and Warbros Venture Partners.

About Connecticut Innovations, Inc.
Connecticut Innovations (CI) is a quasi-public organization dedicated to driving a vibrant, entrepreneurial, technology-based economy in Connecticut. CI stimulates high-tech growth by investing in: early-stage Connecticut technology companies, university/industry research collaborations, technology transfer, and clean energy initiatives through the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. CI also fosters collaboration among government, business, nonprofit and academic organizations to advance technology growth and promotes public policies consistent with CI’s mission. For more information on CI, please visit www.ctinnovations.com.

Bioscience Achievement Awards Presented at CURE Annual Meeting

Connecticut’s premier life science award, the CURE Award for Excellence, was presented to Pfizer, Inc. at the April 27 annual meeting of CURE (Connecticut United for Research Excellence) in New Haven. The award went to Pfizer for its investment in “multiple approaches to treating Alzheimer’s Disease.” Pfizer has no fewer than seven Alzheimer’s clinical projects ongoing and several more programs in earlier stages of development at its Groton research site.

Download PDF of release here.

Also presented at the meeting was the CURE Atlas Award for Venture Capital Achievement. It went to Jon Soderstrom of Yale University’s Office of Cooperative Research. Since joining the Yale office, which manages the university’s intellectual assets, Soderstrom has participated in the formation of more than 25 new ventures, collectively raising over $350 million in professional venture capital

The CURE New Operations Award was presented to MannKind Corporation, which operates a manufacturing facility in Danbury. The facility includes custom processes for the manufacture and packing of AFREZZA®, the company’s promising new insulin therapy, a drug-device combination consisting of a pre-metered dose of insulin powder and an easy-to-use inhaler.

The CURE Education Award was presented to Boehringer Ingelheim, the multinational pharmaceutical company with U.S. headquarters in Ridgefield. The company has funded Boehringer Ingelheim Science Quest, a multifaceted science outreach program aimed at elementary school children. The program includes a state-of-the-art mobile laboratory that will visit schools throughout Connecticut.

Following the award presentations, the audience heard from top health care economist Professor Uwe Reinhardt of Yale and Princeton, who spoke on how the bioscience industries may be affected by the new federal health care legislation.

In opening remarks, Paul Pescatello, president and CEO of CURE, said that during the past year, “The strength of Connecticut R&D has allowed Connecticut biotechs to attract a disproportionate share of venture capital investment, Connecticut pharmas to redouble their investments in new medicines, and Connecticut research institutions to win grants for an array of novel and exciting projects. Connecticut stem cell research serves the public interest and sows the seeds for future entrepreneurial activity. And CURE’s direct outreach to the public through our BioScience Explorations programs continues to reach Connecticut kids and teachers with state-of-the-art equipment and cutting edge science.”

The CURE Award for Excellence is an annual award given to an individual or organization in recognition of a significant contribution or achievement in Connecticut bioscience. Past winners include Alexion Pharmaceuticals of Cheshire and 454 Life Sciences of Branford.

CURE (Connecticut United for Research Excellence, Inc.) (www.curenet.org ) is a
statewide, member-supported coalition of more than 100 educational and research
institutions, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and other supporting
businesses. It is dedicated to promoting the growth and increasing public understanding of biomedical research and science in Connecticut. 

Governor Rell Announces New Partnership with University of Bridgeport to Grow Jobs

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced a new initiative to spur the development of high-tech start-ups, fostering additional economic development and stimulating job creation in greater Bridgeport and Fairfield County.

 

The “CTech IncUBator” is a partnership between Connecticut Innovations (CI), the state’s quasi-public authority for technology investing and innovation development, and the University of Bridgeport (UB). To be based at UB, the CTech IncUBator will be Fairfield County’s first and only university-based incubator for high-tech start-ups.

 

“Small businesses account for eight out of 10 of our state’s new jobs every year,” Governor Rell said. “In these economic times, it is more important than ever to cultivate entrepreneurial, start-up businesses – our primary engine of job creation. There is strong evidence showing businesses that participate in incubators like CTech tend to do better over the long haul, so we expect this initiative to go a long way toward ensuring the success of the next generation of high-tech leaders in our state.

 

“New businesses will benefit from a full range of resources provided by the University and CI,” the Governor said. “That includes access to mentors, UB research facilities and faculty, student interns and pro bono or discounted business advice from partner sponsors. The IncUBator will be a one-stop answer shop for entrepreneurs.”

 

CTech IncUBator offices will be located on the UB campus at 250 Myrtle Avenue in Bridgeport and are scheduled to be ready for occupancy by early summer.

 

“It is very appropriate to have a technology incubator on this campus, given the well-known history of the University of Bridgeport in developing high-technology, innovative interdisciplinary-research projects, and cutting-edge products and services,” said Dr. Tarek Sobh, Dean of the UB School of Engineering and Vice President for research and graduate studies. “The University is home to the largest graduate engineering school in the state of Connecticut. Its faculty and students are involved in major research endeavors, including the development of the U.S. Army’s next generation of unmanned aerial vehicles and sponsored projects in the areas of biomedical engineering, nanotechnology, and wireless computing. It is a partner with the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technologies (CCAT) and is home to CCAT’s Center for Robotic Simulation, which was founded at UB in 2008.”

 

The incubator will initially focus on attracting participants from the several key industry sectors: information technology, digital media, advanced materials and clean tech. Businesses in the STEM classifications (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) will eventually be considered.

 

While priority will be given to projects launched by UB students, alumni or faculty as well as companies supported by CI initiatives, the CTech IncUBator also will welcome businesses that are developed independently.

 

“We are delighted to collaborate with the University of Bridgeport on this important project,” said Joan McDonald, chair of CI. “This latest CTech initiative strengthens CI’s support for very early-stage companies and will help generate prospective pre-seed and seed funding opportunities for CI.”

 

Entrepreneurs or start-up ventures interested in obtaining more information about the incubator or applying to participate may contact Dr. Gad Selig, Associate Dean of Business Development and Outreach in the Graduate Studies and Research Division of the University of Bridgeport, (203) 576-4870 or [email protected]; or Charles Moret, Managing Director, Business Development at Connecticut Innovations, (860) 257-2333 or [email protected] .

 

 

 

Contact: Rich Harris, 860-524-7313, [email protected]

 

About University of Bridgeport

 

The University of Bridgeport offers career-oriented undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees and award-winning academic programs in an international, culturally diverse supportive learning environment that prepares graduates for life and leadership in an increasingly interconnected world. There are 400 full- and part-time faculty members, including Fulbright Scholars, National Science Foundation Fellows, Ford Fellows, National Endowment for the Humanities Fellows, American Council for Learned Societies Scholars, and Phi Beta Kappa Scholars. Committed to creating new learning venues, the University of Bridgeport’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies and its Office of Distance Learning pioneered the first online graduate degree program in the state of Connecticut. A variety of online courses and certificate programs are also available. The University is independent and non-sectarian. For more information on UB, please visit www.bridgeport.edu.

 

 

About Connecticut Innovations, Inc.

 

Connecticut Innovations (CI) is a quasi-public organization dedicated to driving a vibrant, entrepreneurial, technology-based economy in Connecticut. CI stimulates high-tech growth by investing in: early-stage Connecticut technology companies, university/industry research collaborations, technology transfer, and clean energy initiatives through the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. CI also fosters collaboration among government, business, nonprofit and academic organizations to advance technology growth and promotes public policies consistent with CI’s mission. CI directs the activities of CTech New Haven in partnership with founding sponsors, Launch Capital, The United Illuminating Company and Yale University. For more information on CI, please visit www.ctinnovations.com. For more information on CTech New Haven, please visit www.ctinnovations.com/ctech.

Thank You for Supporting: Angel Investment Tax Credit and Fund, Pre-Seed Center, Venture Capital

Dear Connecticut Technology Community leader,

I’m writing to give a well-earned thank you to those of you who helped on Friday with an email to your Connecticut legislators. Your support helped reinforce our position, and with a good discussion we had with legislators and staff we appear to have made it through the crucial Senate Finance committee.

As the legislative session continues, we’re hoping to be able to mobilize good grass roots company leader support at different times for positions that will be good for the Connecticut technology community. This will likely involve more such requests in the next two weeks to you for support. I hope that when you agree with our position you will take the small amount of time required to use our capwiz system to send out an email to your legislators. We’re only starting to explore the impact this may have, but ultimately the legislature wants to serve the expressed needs of its constituents, and so your reinforcement of specific positions is crucial to our success and also crucial to Connecticut’s success.

I think you will also find that your willingness to reach out and communicate with your representatives will serve two others good objectives:

1. it will help you get to know your legislators a little better, for your potential future interests, and
2. it will help your legislators get to know you a little better, which will also serve you while reinforcing Connecticut’s need to recognize that the State has a key interest in your ability to create new jobs.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Matt Nemerson
The Connecticut Technology Council

Flashback: 
4/23/2010 - call for action to support: Angel Investment Tax Credit and Fund, Pre-Seed Center, Venture Capital

 

New biz incubator for tech start-ups announced by Univ. of Bridgeport and Connecticut Innovaitons

Governor Rell Announces New Partnership with University of Bridgeport to Grow Jobs

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced a new initiative to spur the development of high-tech start-ups, fostering additional economic development and stimulating job creation in greater Bridgeport and Fairfield County.

 

The “CTech IncUBator” is a partnership between Connecticut Innovations (CI), the state’s quasi-public authority for technology investing and innovation development, and the University of Bridgeport (UB). To be based at UB, the CTech IncUBator will be Fairfield County’s first and only university-based incubator for high-tech start-ups.

 

“Small businesses account for eight out of 10 of our state’s new jobs every year,” Governor Rell said. “In these economic times, it is more important than ever to cultivate entrepreneurial, start-up businesses – our primary engine of job creation. There is strong evidence showing businesses that participate in incubators like CTech tend to do better over the long haul, so we expect this initiative to go a long way toward ensuring the success of the next generation of high-tech leaders in our state.

 

“New businesses will benefit from a full range of resources provided by the University and CI,” the Governor said. “That includes access to mentors, UB research facilities and faculty, student interns and pro bono or discounted business advice from partner sponsors. The IncUBator will be a one-stop answer shop for entrepreneurs.”

 

CTech IncUBator offices will be located on the UB campus at 250 Myrtle Avenue in Bridgeport and are scheduled to be ready for occupancy by early summer.

 

“It is very appropriate to have a technology incubator on this campus, given the well-known history of the University of Bridgeport in developing high-technology, innovative interdisciplinary-research projects, and cutting-edge products and services,” said Dr. Tarek Sobh, Dean of the UB School of Engineering and Vice President for research and graduate studies. “The University is home to the largest graduate engineering school in the state of Connecticut. Its faculty and students are involved in major research endeavors, including the development of the U.S. Army’s next generation of unmanned aerial vehicles and sponsored projects in the areas of biomedical engineering, nanotechnology, and wireless computing. It is a partner with the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technologies (CCAT) and is home to CCAT’s Center for Robotic Simulation, which was founded at UB in 2008.”

 

The incubator will initially focus on attracting participants from the several key industry sectors: information technology, digital media, advanced materials and clean tech. Businesses in the STEM classifications (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) will eventually be considered.

 

While priority will be given to projects launched by UB students, alumni or faculty as well as companies supported by CI initiatives, the CTech IncUBator also will welcome businesses that are developed independently.

 

“We are delighted to collaborate with the University of Bridgeport on this important project,” said Joan McDonald, chair of CI. “This latest CTech initiative strengthens CI’s support for very early-stage companies and will help generate prospective pre-seed and seed funding opportunities for CI.”

 

Entrepreneurs or start-up ventures interested in obtaining more information about the incubator or applying to participate may contact Dr. Gad Selig, Associate Dean of Business Development and Outreach in the Graduate Studies and Research Division of the University of Bridgeport, (203) 576-4870 or [email protected]; or Charles Moret, Managing Director, Business Development at Connecticut Innovations, (860) 257-2333 or [email protected] .

 

 

About University of Bridgeport

The University of Bridgeport offers career-oriented undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees and award-winning academic programs in an international, culturally diverse supportive learning environment that prepares graduates for life and leadership in an increasingly interconnected world. There are 400 full- and part-time faculty members, including Fulbright Scholars, National Science Foundation Fellows, Ford Fellows, National Endowment for the Humanities Fellows, American Council for Learned Societies Scholars, and Phi Beta Kappa Scholars. Committed to creating new learning venues, the University of Bridgeport’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies and its Office of Distance Learning pioneered the first online graduate degree program in the state of Connecticut. A variety of online courses and certificate programs are also available. The University is independent and non-sectarian. For more information on UB, please visit www.bridgeport.edu.

 

 

About Connecticut Innovations, Inc.

Connecticut Innovations (CI) is a quasi-public organization dedicated to driving a vibrant, entrepreneurial, technology-based economy in Connecticut. CI stimulates high-tech growth by investing in: early-stage Connecticut technology companies, university/industry research collaborations, technology transfer, and clean energy initiatives through the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. CI also fosters collaboration among government, business, nonprofit and academic organizations to advance technology growth and promotes public policies consistent with CI’s mission. CI directs the activities of CTech New Haven in partnership with founding sponsors, Launch Capital, The United Illuminating Company and Yale University. For more information on CI, please visit www.ctinnovations.com. For more information on CTech New Haven, please visit www.ctinnovations.com/ctech.

See also: Article in Hartford Business Journal 4/27/2010:  www.hartfordbusiness.com/news12920.html

See also: Article in The Hour, 4/27/2010: University of Bridgeport will be "incubator" for tech start-ups

Manufacturing: Innovation and Product Development in the 21st Century

The Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board (MEP Advisory Board) released a report that looks at the "realities of the manufacturing industry, identifies responses of successful firms to the dynamic technological and economic changes in front of them, and suggests opportunities for action..."

Download MEP_advisory_report_4_24l 

Act Now to Urge Your Representatives to Support: Angel Investment Tax Credit and Fund, Pre-Seed Center, Venture Capital

update 4/27: the ideal timing for this action alert has passed - thank you for your interest. Over 300 letters went to the CT State Capitol thanks to our swift community action.  Gov. Rell and Lt. Gov. Fedele each got over 80 letters sent to them through our system.  
Click here to read: Thank You Letter from Matthew Nemerson  
____

Act Now to Urge Your Representatives to Support: Angel Investment Tax Credit and Fund, Pre-Seed Center, Venture Capital   House Bill 5435 and Senate Bill 323.   GO--->>>>

Negotiations are now taking place between the Governor's staff and staff of the legislative leadership. Now is the time your support will have highest leverage. On Friday, we sent a request for quick action - and this weekend, over 200 letters have been sent to the Hill from the CT Tech Community, WOW!  Did you send one yet? In these last few hours, you can still make a difference - we will pull the action alert later today.

We ask you to take 5 minutes on our legislative action tool to send a note of support - to voice your support of technology jobs growth legislation that the CTC has worked to advance and that will promote job creation in Connecticut.  Use the tool to quickly create your own or use our sample letter, to send a note to your legislators....

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Background and full letter request from the CTC President & Grassroots Task Force:

4/23/2010

 

TODAY, I'm going to ask you to take five minutes to voice your support of technology jobs growth legislation that the CTC has worked to advance and that will promote job creation in Connecticut.  If you can, please act on this TODAY - our window for success may be this weekend.

 

The state legislative session is scheduled to end in less than two weeks.   Key issues that will help create job creating new high technology companies will finally be discussed over the next two days.  Negotiations are now taking place between the Governor's staff and staff of the legislative leadership.  Now is the time your support will have highest leverage.

 

We have heard there is a serious risk that some or all of these programs may be taken out of the final jobs bills.  It has taken years to advance to this stage.  We think now is the time for these programs.

 

If you agree with the approach we have encouraged, please email your state senator and state representative, copying key legislative and administration leaders.  Using our linked legislative alert system this is quick and simple.

 

Background: 
Over the past few years and this last fall we worked closely with the legislature to develop four key planks to encourage technology growth: 

1. An angel investment tax credit to leverage and increase the amount of angel investments made each year in Connecticut,
2. A fund to co-invest in angel deals to increase the size and size of angel deals   
3. A focused "Pre-Seed" center to package and help create more start-ups, and
4. Reallocating several large tax credit programs to make more later-stage "venture" capital available for tech firms.

Experience from other states supports that if these four items are passed and funded at some minimal level, Connecticut will see a quick and significant impact on the number of tech start-ups in the state and eventually on the number of new high quality technology jobs.

 

The bills being sent to the Finance Committee are House Bill 5435 and Senate Bill 323.  An analysis is provided by the House at http://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/BA/2010HB-05435-R000415-BA.htm)

 

What we are asking you to do: 
Use this legislative action center to email to your legislators (their names will appear when you enter your zip code), AND copy your email to the leaders we have shown below.  It's easy to use, and the email that is generated will come directly from your email system directly from you.

 

A suggested email is shown.  Feel free to tailor it to reflect your style and any specifics you wish to add, but if you do not have much time, it is ok to simply use the draft shown.  What is most important at this time is for our legislators to receive a number of such messages showing support.

 

Thank you.  If any of you have any questions, feel free to call me or any other others at CTC.

 

Matthew Nemerson, President & CEO, Connecticut Technology Council

Kevin Burns, President & CEO,  Precision Combustion, Co-Chair Grass Roots Taskforce

Richard Leone, President & CEO, COCC, Co-Chair Grass Roots Taskforce

New Boehringer Ingelheim Science Quest Mobile Laboratory Brings Hands-On Science Education to Priority Connecticut Elementary Schools

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Connecticut United for Research Excellence, Inc. (CURE) today announced the launch of Boehringer Ingelheim Science Quest, a comprehensive initiative designed to bring hands-on science education directly to the Connecticut elementary schools that need it most.  Download PDF of release here.

A centerpiece of the effort is the Boehringer Ingelheim Science Quest mobile laboratory – a high-tech science classroom on wheels – that will visit priority school districts across the state.  The program also will include tools and resources to facilitate science instruction in the classroom and encourage family involvement in science together at home. 

The future of science education is a growing concern nationwide.  According to the 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) study, 37 percent of fourth grade students lacked a basic level of science proficiency. The need among Connecticut elementary school students is particularly acute, especially among those from lower-income families.  In fact, a December 2009 report by the Connecticut State Department of Education found that fifth-grade students eligible for free and reduced-price meals scored 44 per­cent lower than non-eligible students in science performance on the 2008 Connecticut Mastery Test, a statewide education assessment test.

The Boehringer Ingelheim Science Quest mobile laboratory will bring science to life by creating an interactive and hands-on experience.  Beginning at Shelter Rock Elementary on May 17 in Danbury, the mobile laboratory will be will be making the first of its visits to Connecticut schools. Scheduled in coming weeks are the Mahan School in Norwich, the Park City Magnet School in Bridgeport, the Bernard School in New Haven, the Annie Fisher STEM Magnet School in Hartford, the Holmes School in New Britain, the Winthrop Elementary School in New London, and the Walsch School in Waterbury.  The program will focus on Connecticut’s priority school districts with the greatest academic need, as defined by the State Department of Education.

“For 125 years, Boehringer Ingelheim has been committed to improving the lives of patients and their families through the discovery of innovative science,” said Jim Baxter, senior vice president of development at Boehringer Ingelheim. “A priority for Boehringer Ingelheim is to further science education and help extend the learning process into the homes and families of the students, in hopes of building a strong pipeline of scientists for the next 125 years. Through the Boehringer Ingelheim Science Quest initiative, we hope to encourage a passion for science in children beginning at an early age.”

“CURE has focused on bringing the highest level of science education to students around Connecticut through a variety of education initiatives,” said Paul Pescatello, president and CEO at CURE.  “Programs like the Boehringer Ingelheim Science Quest are an investment in the future, helping prepare Connecticut children early on for careers in science and technology that will continue to drive our state’s economic engine in the coming decades.”

The official launch of the Science Quest mobile laboratory takes place today in Hartford.  Dr. Thomas Steitz, the 2009 Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry, and state officials will be on site to experience first-hand what the mobile laboratory will bring to schools around Connecticut.  Dr Steitz will lead a science experiment aboard the new vehicle.

On May 17, Boehringer Ingelheim and CURE will host the official dedication ceremony of the Science Quest mobile laboratory at Shelter Rock Elementary in Danbury.  Mark McQuillan, Connecticut Commissioner of Education, and executives from both Boehringer Ingelheim and CURE will be on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by students conducting experiments on the mobile laboratory.

About BioScience Explorations
CURE BioScience Explorations, an award-winning service of CURE (Connecticut United for Research Excellence), includes three main programs:

• Boehringer Ingelheim Science Quest focuses on improving elementary science education through a mobile laboratory and equipment loan program, together with related science curriculum and teacher training.
• The CURE BioBus focuses on improving science education for students in grades 4-12 utilizing a mobile science laboratory, together with bioscience curricula and teacher training.
• CURE BioConnection focuses on improving middle and high school science via an equipment loan program, together with relevant bioscience curricula and teacher training.

The programs, which are offered free of charge thanks to the continuing support of sponsors, have made more than 445 school visits, reached more than 60,000 students, and trained more than 775 teachers since 2001.

About CURE
CURE (Connecticut United for Research Excellence, Inc.) is a member-supported coalition of educational and research institutions, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and other businesses supporting BioScience in the state of Connecticut. It is dedicated to promoting the growth and increased public understanding of biomedical research and science  (http://curenet.org ).

About Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., based in Ridgefield, CT, is the largest U.S. subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation (Ridgefield, CT) and a member of the Boehringer Ingelheim group of companies.

The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 138 affiliates in 47 countries and approximately 41,300 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel products of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.

In 2008, Boehringer Ingelheim posted net sales of US $17 billion (11.6 billion euro) while spending approximately one-fifth of net sales in its largest business segment, Prescription Medicines, on research and development. For more information, please visit http://us.boehringer-ingelheim.com

Media Contacts
Boehringer Ingelheim
Ann Wainright (203) 798-6318
[email protected]

CURE
Bill Kelly (203) 375-2696
[email protected]

Technology Council Supports Amendments to Financial Reform Bill

Amendments to Senator Chris Dodd’s (D-CT) reform bill will allow for efficient capital access for entrepreneurs and also provide fraud protection for investors

East Hartford, April 21, 2010 – The Connecticut Technology Council, supports two amendments that will be offered by Sen. Christopher Dodd on the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010. These amendments will ensure that high growth entrepreneurs have access to a strong pool of angel capital and that investors are better protected from fraud.

CTC has been working with Dodd’s banking staff along with a number of other national pro-entrepreneurship policy support groups, most notably the Angel Capital Association (ACA) based in Kansas City, MO, to make its members’ concerns known about earlier versions of the bill.

According to many experts and especially the Angel investor community, two of the original bill’s sections had the potential of significantly reducing the number of accredited angel investors and also of creating complicated and potentially expensive regulations for entrepreneurs raising angel financing.

“We were fortunate that two key players in the national debate, myself and Elizabeth Karter, ACA’s public policy committee chair, a former president of Connecticut’s Angel Investor Forum and a former senior consultant at the Connecticut Technology Council, were based in Connecticut and had strong connections to Senator Dodd and his staff,” noted Matthew Nemerson, who is both President of the Connecticut Technology Council and current volunteer president of the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) group, “these relationships allowed us to cut through the many voices commenting on the bill and gave us access to key staff at a critical time to suggest improvements to the legislation.”

“There was great concern that the reform bill might seriously cripple the Angel investing world. This was voiced by many parts of the early stage financing community and by the community of 50 state and regional technology councils across the country representing over 20,000 innovation oriented member firms. We got Senator Dodd’s attention and his people were happy to make the changes suggested by the group,” noted Nemerson.

The act would also have the Securities and Exchange Commission review the thresholds at least every four years, with any adjustments considering the protection of investors, the public interest and the state of the economy.

“We appreciate the direction to consider the economic impact of any adjustments to accredited investor standards in the future, as we believe that innovative start-up businesses are some of the most important creators of high quality jobs in the country,” said ACA’s Karter.
Section 926. Regulation D Offerings.

The amendment deletes all previous language and disqualifies individuals who have been determined to be “bad actors” by Federal and State authorities from using Regulation D 506 private offerings (which include angel investments, but many other types of investments as well).

This amendment increases investor protections and ensures uniform regulation of these private offerings across the United States. It also keeps the reporting requirements for entrepreneurs the same as they are currently. The current uniform system is efficient for small businesses that attract angel capital.
The ACA and TECNA will be monitoring the Reform bill over the next few days and weeks as it works its way on the floor of the Senate. Assuming the language stays in as currently written the bill will o negative impact on the ability of new innovative firms to find Angel and informal funding.

-End-

About the Connecticut Technology Council
The Connecticut Technology Council is a state wide business trade association that builds community, supports innovation and growth policies and assists firms to stay and thrive in Connecticut. It speaks for a community of some 2,500 firms and nearly 200,000 technology involved employees.

About the Technology Councils of North America, TECNA
The Technology Councils of North America, TECNA is the trade association representing about 45 technology councils across the USA and Canada. It provides professional development to tech council leaders, runs conferences and when appropriate is the voice of the grass roots technology community across North America.

About the Angel Capital Association
The Angel Capital Association is the trade association of leading angel investment groups in North America. The mission of ACA is to support the growth, financial stability, and investments success of its member groups.

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Flashback / see also: 

4/27/2010 - FYI  Link to current info on the 2010 Obama - Dodd Financial Reform Bill, including full text and amendments - the proposed amendments we want aren't there yet!  Visit:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d111:6:./temp/~bss3oXd::

4/14/2010 Dodd Delivers Floor Statement on Financial Reform http://ct.typepad.com/ctc_blog/2010/04/dodd-delivers-floor-statement-on-financial-reform-.html

4/13/2010 Post:  As volunteer President of the Tech Councils of North America, Matthew Nemerson worked with nine other TBED Organizations to seek changes in Financial Reform Bill in seeking revisions to the Financial Reform Bill, which will be debated soon in the U.S. Senate. In its current form, the bill could make devastating changes to the requirements for accredited U.S. investors, and complicate cross-state investment.  The petitioning organizations ask that two small sections pertaining to accredited investors be removed or modified to prevent unnecessary obstacles to angel investing and entrepreneurship. See full 4/13/2010 post:  http://ct.typepad.com/tecna/2010/04/orgletterfinancialreform.html

3/15/2010 Financial Reform Bill as delivered to the Senate: To promote the financial stability of the United States by improving accountability and transparency in the financial system, to end ‘‘too big to fail’’, to protect the American taxpayer by ending bailouts, to protect
consumers from abusive financial services practices, and for other purposes.  Read the full text at: http://banking.senate.gov/public/_files/ChairmansMark31510AYO10306_xmlFinancialReformLegislationBill.pdf
 

11/11/2009
Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) has released a draft of his Financial Reform Bill. http://ct.typepad.com/ctc_blog/2009/11/senator-chris-dodd-dct-has-released-a-draft-of-his-financial-reform-bill.html___