Local firms get project funding from Washington Technology Center

BY CHARITY THOMPSON of the VBJ

Washington Technology Center of Seattle announced today that it has awarded $528,978 to eight research and technology development projects in the state.

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Funding went to projects that pair businesses and nonprofit research institutions with the potential to create commercial products and jobs. The projects are expected to generate more than 400 full-time technology jobs in the state over the next five years.

Locally, awards went to nLight Photonics and Efficere Technologies Inc., both of Vancouver, and to Columbia PhytoTechnology of Carson.

nLight Photonics manufactures high-power laser products and is teamed with Washington State University Vancouver's School of Engineering and Computer Science. Their collaboration will improve the cooling of nLight products and is funded by $42,500 awarded to WSU Vancouver.

Efficere Technologies patents technology for high-performance electronics and is working with Xiaolin (Linda) Chen of WSU Vancouver's School of Engineering and Computer Science. They will develop a software tool set to improve electronic systems design processes with $24,788 awarded to WSU Vancouver.

Columbia PhytoTechnology works with nutritional ingredients and is collaborating with Kerry Ringer of the WSU Prosser Irrigated Agricultural Research and Extension Center. They will develop dehydration technology for “nutraceutical” and food ingredients with $45,334 awarded to WSU.

Funding also went to projects at ATS Intelligent Discovery of Silverdale, Greenwood Technologies of Bellevue, Infometrix Inc., of Bothell, Insilicos of Seattle and Omeros Corp., also of Seattle.

Washington Technology Center gives competitive awards twice a year totaling about $1 million in state funding. The program has funded 317 projects since 1996 and has a 24-year history working with companies and researchers.

Charity Thompson can be reached at cthompson@vbjusa.com.

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