Building a Regional Knowledge Economy in Northeastern PA Building a Regional Knowledge Economy in Northeastern PA October 23, 2007 October 23, 2007 Kenneth G. Okrepkie Vice-President Northeastern Pennsylvania Technology Institute

Since 2000….. $15M Workforce Innovation and Regional Economic Development (WIRED) Grant from the US Department of Labor. KIZ program includes 3 cities, 13 colleges, 10 econ. dev. organizations and numerous private and public entities. Approved $1.8 M in tax credits for entrepreneurs in start up firms were created by college students. More than $1.6M invested in technology transfer in the last 12 months by small to medium sized colleges. A series of incubators were created. The Commonwealth Medical College opens in September We facilitated a cluster development strategy called STARS- (Strategic Teams Accelerating Regional Stimuli) around Homeland Security, Life Sciences, Nanotechnology, Healthcare and Alternative/Renewable Energy. 12,600 hours logged by interns in early stage companies. Establishment of an Angel Network…. AND MUCH MORE!

Technology Growth Strategy Establish A Technology Institute In 2003 the region’s colleges and universities formally established the Northeastern Pennsylvania Technology Institute (NPTI) In 2003 the region’s colleges and universities formally established the Northeastern Pennsylvania Technology Institute (NPTI) A Business Plan was developed and approved by the Institutes of Higher Education (IHE), a governance structure was agreed upon, and a Board Of Directors was established. A Business Plan was developed and approved by the Institutes of Higher Education (IHE), a governance structure was agreed upon, and a Board Of Directors was established. The resultant collaboration is intended to leverage existing institutional resources and maximize the region’s technology (knowledge) transfer activities. The resultant collaboration is intended to leverage existing institutional resources and maximize the region’s technology (knowledge) transfer activities.

NPTI Founding Members

Innovation Grants $1.6 M invested in the last 12 months in technology transfer initiatives Innovation Grants-Round 1 : –the creation of a Real Time Steganography Scanner –commercial trial completed for the Northeast Wildlife DNA Forensic Laboratory –validation study completed providing a better understanding of protein loss through absorption within pharmaceutical packaging, partnered with Schott Glass Technologies. –development of a prototype Assistive Technology Efficacy Tool that received a technology evaluation from the Penn State University Intellectual Property Office –creation of an LLC called NanoSmart located at Wilkes University that developed three products. Innovation Grants - Round 2: - Wilkes University: Commercialization of NanoSmart Product line. - Wilkes University: Commercialization of NanoSmart Product line. - University of Scranton/College Misericordia: Hydro4ge 4 th Generation Software - University of Scranton/College Misericordia: Hydro4ge 4 th Generation Software - East Stroudsburg University: FD Software Network-centric Early Warning System (Awarded $1MM from DHS for Disaster/First responder alert system.) - East Stroudsburg University: FD Software Network-centric Early Warning System (Awarded $1MM from DHS for Disaster/First responder alert system.) - East Stroudsburg University: Northeast Wildlife DNA Forensics Lab. - East Stroudsburg University: Northeast Wildlife DNA Forensics Lab. - King’s College/University of Scranton: Cellulosic Ethanol Production - King’s College/University of Scranton: Cellulosic Ethanol Production

NPTI Intellectual Property NPTI partners with Penn State University’s Intellectual Property Office PSU will assist in the development of Intellectual Property from NPTI members through a four step process: 1) Assess the market for the Intellectual Property 2) Develop a protection strategy for the Intellectual Property (patents, licensing strategies) 3) Market the technology 4) Negotiate agreements (Confidential Disclosure, Materials Transfer, Options, Licensing agreements) (Confidential Disclosure, Materials Transfer, Options, Licensing agreements)

Ben Franklin Impact Since 1983, BF Northeast has: Started 366 New Companies Developed 698 New Products & Processes Created 11,648 New Jobs Retained 19,622 Existing Jobs Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania links entrepreneurs and companies with people, technology, ideas, and funding to help them succeed in today’s knowledge-based economy. Their mission is to transform our regional economy into a vibrant community that is driven by innovation and collaboration.

Northeastern Pennsylvania Partners with FLC Thursday, March 27, 2008 – FLC will be hosting a one day conference at the Woodlands in Wilkes- Barre, PA. The conference serves to educate the region on the value of working with the Federal Lab Consortium, capabilities of the consortium and an interactive promotion of technology transfer activity in the region.

Web Sites –One stop source for news, information, announcements calendar of activities, and links to partner organizations –Links to POWER! and NOTIE web sites, as well as area Chambers, others –Profiles/pictures of all board members –Archive of monthly e-Nexus –Information for Technology Institute partners including: KIZ program and participants Technology Transfer STARS

Staff Chris Haran, President/CEO (Jan 2003) Therese Maxfield, Office Mgr., POWER! Regional Dir. (June 2007) Ken Okrepkie, Vice President (Jan 2004) Contact information: – –201 Lackawanna Ave Scranton, PA – –7 South Main St. Wilkes-Barre, PA – – –