Lasers at the Cutting Edge of Science
Larry Greenemeier, Scientific American

"When you flash a laser for the first time…it's like you've created something magical." Tom Baer, executive director of the Stanford Photonics Research Center, said this to me recently when I asked him why he's spent the past three decades both studying and developing the technology.

Aesthetics aside, Baer says he's seeing a "renaissance" in laser technology in recent years... Read more...

Patent Snafus Cost U.S. $6.4 Billion Yearly
John Schmid, Journal Sentinel

The United States wastes at least $6.4 billion each year in "forgone innovation" - legitimate technologies that cannot get licensed and start-ups that cannot get funding - because of backlogs and dysfunction at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office... Read more...

DARPA's Genetic Diagnostic Suite Will Know You're Sick Before You Do
Rebecca Boyle, Popular Science

Long before you even feel sick, a new Darpa-funded bio-sensor will know what ails you. Researchers at Duke University are developing a device that can betray exposure to a virus even before a person's first sneeze... Read more...

2nd Annual Ag Innovation Showcase is a Success

For the second year, the Ag Innovation Showcase proved to be the premier event convening players in the Ag and Ag-bio “space”.  By wide acclaim from industry figures, emerging innovators, investors and opinion-leaders, the event has come into its own.  At the Danforth Plant Sciences Center in St. Louis, Larta Institute, Danforth, Nidus and BRDG Park kicked off the event on Monday, May 24 with luncheon keynote speaker Jerry Caulder (Executive Chairman of Finistere Ventures and considered the “father of Ag-bio”) speaking to how things have changed and calling out the industry as a bellwether for a range of developments central to global concerns.

But more than an annual event, the Showcase is shaping up to be the place where the dialogue on evolving, critical issues that face governments and industry alike are presented and discussed.  By design, the size of the audience was small, thus maintaining an intimate environment throughout the event. Three excellent panels covered the Nexus of Energy and Ag, The future of Ag with an emphasis on global issues and the confluence of cleantech and Ag as an area for investment.  Seventeen top-notch presenters, mostly emerging companies, drawn from around the world, were grouped in sections covering Renewable Energy and Biomaterials, Ag Biotech and Food Production, Farming Technology & Livestock Productivity and Crop Inputs, Water Technologies and other.

The event’s global profile was enhanced by the presence of a Malaysian delegation, comprising three presenting companies and senior executives from the Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation, a government-owned organization which serves as the catalyst for the development and nurturing of industry in Malaysia.  Dr. Wan, the COO of Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation, an eminent figure in Ag bio, also shared his thoughts on the global panel, declaring that the age of foreign direct investment was now increasingly morphing into an age of distributed collaboration.   That point neatly captures the value and the essence of the Showcase, where the exposure to innovations in an exciting age of experimentation and discovery is celebrated by large incumbents in the traditional agriculture space, investors increasingly interested in the “bleed over” from Ag to energy, policy makers motivated by the need for action on issues of global concern and entrepreneurs providing insightful innovations as solutions to a host of problems.

The organizers are grateful to sponsors, supporters, presenters and attendees for continuing to invest their confidence in the Showcase as THE premier event of its kind.

Larta Secures Department of Energy Project
Pilot will perform commercial reviews on DOE SBIR grantees

Larta Institute has been selected by the Department of Energy’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) division to review Phase II SBIR applications from grantees supported through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding.  The Larta team will assess companies proposing solutions in a wide range of technology areas including utility and distributed generation, advanced water power technology, advanced gas turbines  & materials for nuclear and high temperature applications, smart grid, sensors/controls, and commercial and industrial/manufacturing energy efficiency.

Larta CEO, Rohit Shukla, noted “We’re enthusiastic about playing a key role in supporting the commercial pathway for innovations in the energy efficiency space.  It aligns well with our current efforts supporting the business outreach activities of major utilities in the region.  Along with our NIH and USDA commercialization programs, it’s also core to our mission of building a strong ecosystem for entrepreneurs making an impact in the energy, medical, and agricultural sectors."

Larta Finalizes Global Malaysia Commercialization Assistance Program

Larta has just received approval to launch the first full year of the Global Malaysia Commercialization Assistance Program (CAP2), which will feature 20 full-fledged companies and university spin-outs focused on establishing market-entry strategies across the globe. The program, in partnership with Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation, is expected to launch in September 2010. Stay tuned in this space for further updates.

Larta CEO Meets with Malaysian PM at Roundtable in D.C.

Larta CEO Rohit Shukla was invited to a special roundtable with the Malaysian Prime Minister Hon. Najib Razak. The discussion, held in Washington, D.C. on April 15, 2010, focused on growing an “innovation economy” in Malaysia and the prospects for private capital development. Considered an Asian “tiger” and possessing a significant base of natural assets, Malaysia nonetheless faces challenges in creating and maintaining a knowledge-based economy. How does it “move up the value chain” from a commodity supplier to a value-added engine in the ASEAN region and beyond? Malaysia's world-class infrastructure, educated population, and solid research and a manufacturing base could enable the creation of high-value goods and services. At the roundtable, Shukla spoke about Larta’s work with Malaysian researchers and entrepreneurs in the pilot-scale “2009-10 Global Malaysia CAP” initiative, and provided some input on the road ahead for the country and its plans. Six Larta-invited speakers also attended the event. The Prime Minister, in his closing remarks, acknowledged points made in the discussion by Shukla and others.

Larta CEO Speaks at BIO International Convention

On May 6, Larta Institute CEO, Rohit Shukla, discussed Larta’s NIH-CAP at the BIOPark Theatre at the BIO International Conference in Chicago.  The BIOPark is a spot designated for academic researchers, licensing professionals, small companies, and tech transfer professionals to network at BIO.

NIH-CAP Participant Passes Away at 59

Larta is deeply saddened to share news of the unexpected passing of Dr. Dana John Giulian, MD, PH.D of Inflame Therapeutics Inc. located in Houston, Texas.  Dr. Guilian was the company’s Chief Strategy Officer and a current NIH-CAP participant.  Dr. Giulian was a well-respected neurologist and a dedicated researcher for Baylor College of Medicine. His involvement in the NIH-CAP was focused on the development of markers and drugs for treatment of brain inflammation as found in Alzheimer's disease and HIV dementia. Read his obituary here.

2010 NSF SBIR/STTR Phase II Grantee Conference Held in Baltimore
May 19, 2010

On May 18th and 19th, Larta was present at this year’s NSF SBIR/STTR Phase II Grantee Conference held in Baltimore, MD.  The event, hosted by the NSF, drew nearly 400 attendees including the grantees, the NSF, and representatives from industry and the investment community.

The event included several general sessions that covered a myriad of Phase II supplemental funding options, interactive (and lively) panel discussions with Phase IIB, investor-matched, grantees and Venture Capital Investors, as well as Strategic Alliance Workshop.

In addition to the general sessions, each grantee created a quad chart that described their SBIR grant in terms of Impact, Novelty, Lineage, and Company Mission. In technology breakout sessions, the grantees in their second year gave a 15 minute presentation using quad charts. The first-year grantees provided informal presentations using posters during the evening receptions.

On May 18th and 19th, Larta was present at this year’s NSF SBIR/STTR Phase II Grantee Conference held in Baltimore, MD.  The event, hosted by the NSF, drew nearly 400 attendees including the grantees, the NSF, and representatives from industry and the investment community.

Small Business Lending Plan Advances
May 19, 2010

A $30 billion proposal by President Barack Obama to spur lending to small businesses cleared a U.S. House of Representatives panel on Wednesday with no Republican support... Read more...

GE to Supply Wind Turbine for Lake Erie Project
May 24, 2010

General Electric Co said on Monday it was tapped to sell wind turbines for what is expected to be the first freshwater wind farm in the United States, planned for Lake Erie in the American Midwest... Read more...

21st Annual Venture Capital Investing Conference
June 9-10, 2010 - The Palace Hotel, San Francisco, CA

International Business Forum (IBF) organized the first Venture Capital Investing Conference back in 1989 and has continued to unite venture capitalists and limited partners each June.  Set in San Francisco, this event is consistently regarded as the most important gathering of its kind; attracting hundreds of venture firms which lead the way for the community.  IBF is privileged to celebrate the 21st annual event.  Now more than ever, VC investors and limited partners need to address the changed landscape for investing.

The conference's audience profile includes: Venture capitalists, institutional investors, corporate investors, limited partners, pension funds, endowments and foundations, fund of funds, family offices, investment bankers, and other private equity investors.

2010 Regional Seminar on Program Funding and Grants Administration
June 24-25, 2010 - Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront, Portland, OR

The NIH Regional Seminar is intended to help demystify the application and review process, clarify federal regulations and policies, and highlight current areas of special interest or concern. The seminar serves the NIH mission of providing education and training for the next generation of biomedical and behavioral scientists. NIH policy officials, grant management and program staff, as well as representatives from the Office for Human Research Protections and the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, will interact with seminar participants and provide a broad array of expertise.

Global Security Challenge America West Regional
Sept. 16, 2010 - Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center at San Diego State University, San Diego, CA

The Security Network is pleased to host the GSC America West Regional on Sept. 16. Global Security Challenge is an international security technology competition out of London, UK supported by U.S. Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, UK Home Office and others. Hundreds of companies from around the world submit business plans via website to GSC and they are reviewed by senior government, military and VC representatives in multiple countries. The very best submitting companies from the western U.S. will present in SD in the two competition categories - Start Ups and SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises). The winners in the two categories in each regional competition continue on to the finals in London later in the year for over $500,000 in prizes.

Visit our Events Calendar for a list of Larta's partners' events.