NorTech

According to an article published in Crain’s Cleveland Business this week, the University of Akron Research Foundation and Tech Transfer Offices have recently established an Innovation Campus, to accelerate research and commercialization efforts as well as spur public-private partnerships.

University of Akron spinoff companies will have access to the 5,000 square foot Innovation Campus collaboration space and other university resources. Companies and organizations in the community can rent office space or simply use the conference room.

The Akron Innovation campus is housed in two seperate buildings next to the campus, located on the first floor of 411 Wolf Ledges Parkway, but both buildings, 411 and 441 Wolf Ledges Parkway, will serve as the central hub.

For more information about the Akron Innovation Campus, visit the University of Akron website.

As reported in today’s Plain Dealer, the Cuyahoga County Commissioners voted Thursday to select Germany’s leading renewable energy company, Juwi International, to figure out if wind turbines can be built in the waters just off of Lake Erie. The company will get help from, a new institute at Case Western Reserve University, the Great Lake’s Institute for Energy Innovation, a part of the School of Engineering.

An energy-development task force formed by the commissioners one year ago has been advocating for the development of wind turbine farm off the shore of Lake Erie. (Chris Varley, Vice President at NorTech is a member on the commissioners energy task force.) 

If the study proves the installation of wind turbines would be successful, then they would be the first wind turbines on fresh water in the world. This development could attract wind-energy manufacturers and suppliers to the region, with the potential for hundreds of jobs.

Listen the 90.3 WCPN coverage of the Cuyahoga County Commissioners’ press conference.

From Jim Cossler, Chief Evangelist, Youngstown Business Incubator:

Some of you may have wondered why we chose to ignore the fantastic news a few weeks ago that YBI portfolio company Turning Technologies (www.turningtechnologies.com) had been named the 7th fastest growing firm in the country by Entrepreneur magazine.Well…because we knew that an even bigger announcement was coming.Congratulations to Turning Technologies on being named by Inc. magazine as the fastest growing privately-held software company in the country, with a 3,907% increase in revenue over the previous three years! Yes, the number one software company in the country. A phenomenal accomplishment for a truly amazing firm.But, the fact is, we’re working with more than a dozen other companies that may just outpace Turning Technologies some day.Come on over for a visit and see for yourself.

And I’ll bet we can get you to say WOW! at least 10 times while you’re here.

…nah, make that 20 times.

Jim Cossler

900 senior industry executives, entrepreneurs, investors and clinicians will attend the 5th annual Medical Innovation Summit on the Cleveland Clinic campus.

Join Sidney Taurel, Eli Lilly, George Buckley, 3M, Bill Hawkins, Medtronic, Stephen Hemsley, UnitedHealth Group, Tony Zook, AstraZeneca and many other CEOs, top venture investors, medical leaders and network correspondentsas they highlight new technologies, economics and trends in cardiovascular technologies. Also featured will be the Cleveland Clinic’s annual selection of the “Top 10″ health care innovations, interactive surgeries and in-depth debates on industry challenges. Paid registrants are eligible to win an all-expense paid trip to Ireland and visit to Canyon Ranch.

LOCATION: InterContinental Hotel & Bank of America Conference Center | Cleveland, Ohio
DATE: October 1-3, 2007
Click here to register.

Full agenda

Confirmed speakers include:

Sidney Taurel, CEO, Eli Lilly | George Buckley, CEO, 3M | Bill Hawkins, President, Medtronic | Stephen Hemsley, CEO, UnitedHealth Group | Kerry Clark, CEO, Cardinal Health | Tony Zook, U.S. President and CEO, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals | Mike Mussallem, CEO, Edwards Lifesciences | Elizabeth Nabel, M.D., Director, NHLBI | Christine Poon, Vice Chairman, Johnson & Johnson | Tim Johnson, M.D., ABC News | Barnaby Feder, New York Times | Joanne Silberner, NPR | Steve Sternberg, USA Today | Michael McCurry, Partner, Public Strategies Washington | Ed Kania, Flagship Ventures | Bill Harrington, Three Arch Partners | Rich Ferrari, De Novo Ventures | Harry Rein, Foundation Medical Partners | Bill Cook, Founder, Cook Medical | John Capek, Ph.D., President, Abbott Vascular | Sidney Cohen, M.D., Ph.D., Cordis Corporation | Fred Moll, M.D., CEO, Hansen Medical | Waleed Hassanein, M.D., CEO, TransMedics | Bonnie Labosky, CEO, Cardiac Concepts | Randall Mills, CEO, Osiris | Mike Berman, Berman Medical | Judah Folkman , M.D., Harvard Medical School | Gary Becker, Ph.D., Nobel Laureate, University of Chicago

From Crain’s Cleveland Business:

Tom Sudow will lead collaboration between Team NEO and the Cleveland Clinic to attract bioscience and medical device companies to the Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center.Mr. Sudow has been the executive director of the Beachwood Chamber of Commerce for more than five years, a position in which he has lured numerous businesses to that suburb, including more than 20 international firms. He will leave the chamber Sept. 3 and begin his new position as vice president of attraction at Team NEO Sept. 4.The Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center is a joint development between the Clinic, the Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation and about 20 other biomedical and academic institutions. Last December, the Clinic received a $60 million Third Frontier grant from the state to build the new 60,000-square-foot research center, which aims to develop ways to prevent, diagnose and treat heart disease.Team NEO and the Clinic will work together to identify businesses that can work with the center and help them establish a presence in the region.

The Entrepreneurs EDGE, in partnership with NorTech, MAGNET and Case Western Reserve University, is pleased to host Mr. Robert Herbold for a very special luncheon on September 21, 2007.

Mr. Robert Herbold has been a director of Agilent since June 2000. He was an Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Microsoft Corporation from 1994 to April 2001 and served as an Executive Vice President (part-time) of Microsoft until June 2003. Prior to joining Microsoft, Mr. Herbold was employed by The Procter & Gamble Company for twenty-six years, and served as a Senior Vice President at The Procter & Gamble Company from 1990 to 1994.

Mr. Herbold is a director of First Mutual Bank and ICOS Corporation. He is the Managing Director of the consulting firm The Herbold Group, LLC, and is a member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. He is the author of The Fiefdom Syndrome and Seduced by Success. His talk will center around leadership, value creation and organizational performance.

Date and Time:
Friday, September 21, 2007
11:30am - 1:30pm

Location:
Corporate College East
4400 Richmond Road
Warrensville Hts., OH 44128

Cost:
Tickets are $100.
Leading EDGE Award companies may purchase tickets at a 50% discount ($50).

Registration:
Please register by following this link: http://www.edgef.org/HerboldRegForm20070921.pdf or contact Grant Marquit at 216.215.5058 or gmarquit@edgef.org.

Questions:
Please contact Grant Marquit at 216.215.5058 or gmarquit@edgef.org.