Thirsty for Innovation: Arab Countries Tap Alternative Energy Sources to Quench Water Demands
Knowledge@Wharton

Just over a year ago, Saudi Arabia turned on the largest water desalination facility in the world. With a price tag of $3.4 billion, the Jubail II desalination plant produces 800,000 cubic meters of water daily. The plant's opening made it the 28th desalination facility operating in the country. Its output is the lifeblood for Saudi Arabia: Fully 70% of the freshwater used by Saudis is generated by the desalination facilities... Read more...

Antibiotics in Animals Need Limits, F.D.A. Says
Gardiner Harris, The New York Times

WASHINGTON — Federal food regulators took a tentative step Monday toward banning a common use of penicillin and tetracycline in the water and feed given cattle, chickens and pigs in hopes of slowing the growing scourge of killer bacteria... Read more...

The New Drugs Don't Work for Big Pharma, Report Shows
Julia Kollewe, The Guardian

There is fresh evidence of the dwindling pipeline of new drugs from the pharmaceuticals industry in research today showing just 7% of sales come from medicines launched in the past five years.The report by CMR International shows that the bulk of sales at the world's leading pharmaceuticals is derived from an ageing portfolio of drugs, while the number of medicines failing during late-stage testing is sharply on the rise... Read more...

Robots Unite to Defeat Electric Jamming
Grace V. Jean, National Defense

Ground robots are becoming commonplace aids on battlefields and in disaster relief operations around the world. But their effectiveness is being hampered by the proliferation of wireless communication devices... Read more...

 

A Call to Host Highly-Qualified Iraqi Scientists - Looking for a few good institutions or companies

The U.S. State Department’s Iraq Scientist Engagement Program (ISEP) supports the rebuilding of Iraq’s science and technology sectors. ISEP carries out much of its work through one of its implementers – the U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation (CRDF). One of ISEP's sponsors through CRDF is the Iraq Science Fellowship Program (ISFP), which awards fellowships to highly qualified Iraqi engineers, chemists and biologists who will work for 3 to 6 months within a host organization in the U.S.

The impact of such a program cannot be understated. In addition to extension of scientific, educational and business linkages into one of the region’s largest and potentially most diverse economies, it helps create the infrastructure for the full realization of Iraq’s considerable intellectual assets, which have not been fully utilized or discovered in the post-Saddam era.

Larta is pleased to support this important work, and is extending an invitation to universities, colleges and private companies within and outside our network to host one or more fellows, starting in January 2011. All costs associated with the Fellowship are covered by the ISEP program, including coordination for all logistics (lodging, travel, visas, insurance, etc.).

For more information and to register your interest in this compelling opportunity, please click on the following link: http://www.iraqscience.com/host/

 

Larta to Manage 2010-2011 NIH-CAP

The 2009-2010 National Institutes of Health Commercialization Assistance Program (NIH-CAP) has come to a close and Larta Institute is pleased to announce that we will continue to manage the Program for the upcoming 2010-2011 program year. This will be Larta's 7th consecutive year to assist NIH SBIR Phase II-funded life sciences companies transition their technologies from the lab to the marketplace. 80 companies are expected to participate in the program; applications will be open for submission in September 2010.

Larta CEO Conducts Outreach for Malaysia CAP

Larta's CEO Rohit Shukla is currently touring Malaysia as part of a targeted outreach effort with partner Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation. The purpose of the visit is to attract the best and brightest Malaysian ag bio and life sciences companies to apply for participation in the second Global Bridge Commercialization Assistance Program with researchers and entrepreneurs in the country. Mr. Shukla will speak at numerous research institutions, universities, and companies, including University of Malaya, SIRIM Berhad, and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu.

The Malaysia CAP will select up to 20 companies to help maximize their commercial potential by broadening their market reach and significance beyond Malaysia. Larta Institute will provide selected companies with expert advisors and world-class content, enabling them to enhance their commercial profile or accelerate commercial outcomes for their products or technologies globally.

Larta Completes Pilot Review Project for DOE

Larta recently concluded a commercial readiness assessment for 109 Phase II applications for the Department of Energy’s SBIR division under a pilot program. The Larta review team consisted of commercial market experts in a variety of sectors aligned with DOE topic areas. The Phase II SBIR applications focused on technology areas including energy efficiency, power generation, smart grid, water power technologies, and other utility-related technologies.

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, this effort is core to our mission of building a strong ecosystem for entrepreneurs making an impact in the energy, medical, and agricultural sectors."

 

Our pick of Larta-alumni companies that are making the news and already on their way to making it big!

Y-Carbon Named a Top Innovation Winner

Y-Carbon was selected as a winner of the annual New York Venture Summit Top Innovator award by youngStartup Ventures. This award recognizes those that play a leading role in innovation for the Technology, Lifes Sciences, and Clean-tech sectors. James Horan, Chief Executive Officer of Y-Carbon, Inc., will present the company at the exclusive 2010 New York Venture Summit on June 17th at The Hotel Penn in New York City, where a select group of 450 entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate developers will gather to be the first to meet this next wave of leading edge companies... Read more...

AeroFarms Receives Red Herring's North America 100 Award

Aero Farms System, LLC, a leader in aeroponic technology, received the prestigious Red Herring North America 100 Award, which recognizes North American startups for their technologies and innovation in their respective industries. Award recipients were announced on June 28 at a special Red Herring North America awards ceremony in San Diego. Red Herring's Top 100 North America list has become a mark of distinction for identifying promising new companies and entrepreneurs. AeroFarms will join past award winners such as Facebook, eBay, Skype, Twitter, and Google.

"AeroFarms appreciates the recognition from Red Herring and the attention that aeroponic farming is getting in the media," said Ed Harwood, AeroFarms founder and CEO. "We believe that we're solving some of the biggest problems facing the world - the lack of arable land and water, and concern over food safety and security."

Pasteuria Bioscience - Ag Innovation Showcase 2010 High Yield Business Winner

Pasteuria Bioscience, a venture-backed biopesticide company focusing on the development and commercialization of a platform of natural products for the control of nematodes in agriculture, received the Ag Innovation Showcase “2010 High Yield Business Award.”  The award was presented in May at the second annual Ag Innovation Showcase at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, MO.

Pasteuria was one of 17 companies on the frontier of agricultural technology from around the world that were chosen to present to an elite audience of venture capitalists and industry experts focused on commercial plant-tech growth. Company presentations were scored on several factors, including evidence of market opportunity, business model and team management, as well as overall presentation style and content.

In addition to the entrepreneurial companies, attendees at the Ag Innovation Showcase represented a “who’s who in the Ag industry,” ranging from major agricultural companies such as Dow AgroSciences, LLC, Nestle, Syngenta, Monsanto, BASF and ADM to investors such as Finistere Ventures, Prolog Ventures, and CMEA Capital, plus many elite emerging plant science entrepreneurs from around the country and the world.

The Ag Innovation Showcase is a joint enterprise of Larta Institute, BRDG Park, and Nidus.

PGXL Laboratories - Secures Contract with Generation Health

Larta's 08-09 NIH-CAP participant, PGXL Laboratories, received a contract to provide molecular diagnostic test services for Generation Health. See the Business First article below:

PGXL Laboratories has signed a deal to become the preferred genetic testing lab for Geberation Health Inc., a genetic benefit management company partially owned by CVS Caremark Corp... Read more...

AnthroTronix - CEO Named Amongst Top 100 Most Creative People in Business

Larta's 08-09 NIH-CAP participant, AnthroTronix, was recognized by Fast Company, who named AnthroTronix Cofounder and CEO, Corinna Lathan, as the #51 most creative person in business for her work in human-to-computer interface technology. Read more...

 

The Federal Laboratory Consortium Program Committee is seeking session proposals to ensure a comprehensive slate of program offerings at the 2011 national meeting. You are invited to participate in next year’s meeting by submitting a proposal for a panel session. This is an opportunity to share your knowledge and expertise on a wide range of topics relevant to successful implementation of federal technology transfer... Read more...

DARPA Plots Supercomputing Future
June 30, 2010

The Omnipresent High Performance Computing program is seeking proposals to dramatically advance the performance and capabilities of future computing systems and enable ExtremeScale computing... Read more...

US Senators Propose Extending Renewable-Energy Grant Program
June 15, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO -(Dow Jones)- A group of U.S. Senators Tuesday proposed extending a government program that provides cash grants to renewable energy developers in lieu of tax credits, a program developers have said is crucial to keeping the market afloat.

Sens. Maria Cantwell (D., Wash.), Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) and four other Democratic senators proposed extending the renewable tax-credit Treasury grant program another two years, through 2012, as part of a $140 billion bill to extend federal unemployment aid and renew a host of expired tax breaks. Read more...

 

Midwest Clean Tech Conference
Sept. 14 & 15, 2010 - McCormick Place West, Chicago, IL

The third annual Midwest Clean Tech Conference will be held on September 14 & 15 in conjunction with the 2010 International Manufacturing and Technology Show (IMTS). Midwest Clean Tech 2010 is a leading market place for connecting Midwest and international firms and entrepreneurs to opportunities and business interactions. The conference is a high-powered event supported by academic research organizations, business and government throughout the Midwest. We are particularly proud of our annual Brinks Innovation Competition, which provides a showcase for companies which offer new technologies in the area of clean technology.

Participate in the Brinks Innovation Competition designed for “venture ready” technologies in the following areas (but not limited to) environmental technologies, renewable & alternative energy, infrastructure & the community and green building science. Deadline for applications is July 19.

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 .

AdvaMed 2010: The MedTech Conference
Oct. 18-20 - Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.

AdvaMed 2010 is the premier MedTech Conference for CEOs, business executives, policy-makers, financiers, media, and industry stakeholders from around the world.  More than 40 educational panels featuring 160+ thought-leaders will discuss the issues that are important to you, as well as 4 keynote addresses from internationally respected voices.  With extensive business development and capital formation opportunities, AdvaMed 2010 delivers a world-class MedTech Partnering program and Company Presentations program that connect you to the people you need to meet.  AdvaMed 2010 is the only place in North America where you can network with more than 1,500 key MedTech executives from companies in every sector of the industry.

Register now with the discount registration code: SPOMEM121 to register at a reduced rate of $995 until the early deadline of Aug 20th.

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