Good Vibrations – Innovation@rtp

Dr. Lane Miller, VP Global R&D, LORD Corp was the speaker at December 14th's Innovation@rtp event.

What do HAL DHRUV active vibration control systems, rubber to substrate adhesives, jet engine isolation systems, low-odor adhesives, UK-60 rod ends, highly resilient elastomers, and V-22 elastomeric bearings have in common? Well, besides being things for which I have no understanding, they’re all innovative solutions developed by pioneering employees at LORD Corporation.

Headquartered in Cary, LORD Corporation is the leader in the development and implementation of computer controlled systems for managing dynamic loads and motions for vehicles and aircraft. Now, LORD linear and rotary controllable damping technology is implemented on cars, trucks, marine craft, spacecraft, and civil structures worldwide.

On December 14^th, the Innovation@rtp speaker series was delighted to host Dr. Lane Miller, VP Global R&D for LORD Corp with a presentation entitled, “Active Control Solutions for Vibration and Motion (with a Soliloquy on Innovation).” While Dr. Miller gave us some fascinating insight into what his company does (including sharing some fun videos of Humvees on a test track), probably the most important aspect of the presentation was his take on the lessons they’ve learned and some best practices for accelerating innovation.

Dr. Miller's humorous example of someone being inventive, but not very innovative.

One of Dr. Miller’s key messages was to remind us that there is a difference between invention and innovation.  Invention is a clever or unique idea, while innovation deals more with converting technology into stakeholder value.   And often, it takes both of these things to produce results.

And while it’s just common sense to have the right people for the job, Dr. Miller went on to explain what that means in terms of innovation and his company.  He suggested looking for impatient technologists.  As odd as it sounds, it makes sense, because as he pointed out, combining a patient company with an impatient technologist produces results.  LORD Corp also looks for people that are more likely to adapt quickly to changes, more apt to champion someone else’s ideas, and can be introspective regarding their own weaknesses.  Finally, these problem solvers need to understand the business plan, and further, be willing to challenge that plan. Read more »

A Running Start for Triangle Parkway

This past Sunday, 434 people got a chance to travel on North Carolina’s first modern toll road… by foot, as part the Triangle Expressway Trot, and I was lucky enough to be one of them.  The event included food trucks, kids’ activities, equipment demonstrations and supported MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving).  The race itself took place on Phase I of the Triangle Expressway, a new toll road that will eventually connect Holly Springs to The Research Triangle Park at 540 and I-40.

And they're off! Runners leaving the start at the Triangle Expressway Trot

I have to admit, there was something very cool about running on a road of this magnitude and significance that hasn’t yet been open to the public, but I also couldn’t help but feel a little guilty, like a kid writing his name in wet cement.  Of course, that didn’t stop me.  And although I was running by, I definitely noted some of the nice attributes of the Triangle Parkway: smooth paving, attractive native and sustainable landscaping, and even the toll gantries are embellished with dogwood flowers in relief.

The Triangle Parkway is the first section of the larger 18.8 mile Triangle Expressway.  This 3.7 mile segment will open to vehicular traffic on December 8, and will be toll-free through January 3, 2012, when tolling will begin.  Interestingly enough, there will be no toll booths and no stopping on the new toll road. Customers may purchase an NC Quick Pass, an electronic sticker transponder, for $5.00, saving them up to 35% on tolls. For those without an NC Quick Pass, overhead high-speed cameras will capture license plate information and bill drivers through a “Bill by Mail” process. Most importantly, the toll-road will offer some definite time savings to commuters, and once all the phases are completed, could shave 40 minutes off the commute time for some.

The North Carolina Turnpike Authority will be holding a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the Triangle Expressway on Thursday, December 8, at 10:30am for those who are interested.  Of course, I’ve already been on the road myself.  Oh, and for all my fans out there dying to know, I came in 20^th in the race. Get more race results here and visit NCDOT’s project page for the Triangle Expressway for more information about the new road and for project updates.

A Round of Applause for the Research Triangle

It’s no secret that the Research Triangle region is a great place to live and do business. Folks in RTP and the surrounding area know that first-hand. But when it comes to spreading the word, we’re also fortunate to be frequently recognized by some major publications.

We try to keep track of these accolades, as you’ll see in the scrolling news crawl at the top of this post. Here are details on some of the recent “great reviews” the region has been getting:

Perhaps the most exciting honor to share is Raleigh’s #1 ranking as America’s Best City by Bloomberg Businessweek (September 2011). Read more »

Turning World-Class Research into Economic Opportunities

Ahh, English proverbs. Popularly defined as short expressions of popular wisdom that are more widely used to articulate an attitude toward a situation.

• Ability can take you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.
• The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.
• If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

It was at the N.C. Biotechnology Center yesterday, listening to Ireland’s Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation that inspired me to think even further about the collaborative culture of the Research Triangle Region. Minister Burton characterized Ireland’s trade mission to North Carolina in this wise, poetic way:

• If you come together, both with an apple, you will have an apple. But, if you come each with something different, then, you really have something to share.

Ireland's Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation visits RTP

While visiting the RTP Headquarters, the Minister also met with leaders from the UCD/RTI Applied Research Center (ARC). ARC is a joint venture between applied research leader, Research Triangle International (RTI) and Ireland’s largest research university, University College Dublin (UCD). Together, the institutes are driving initiatives whose efforts will help address significant global challenges such as health and aging, social and economic well-being, and the environment.

“North Carolina has an exceptional record of creating practical economic opportunities from world-class research,” said Gerry Murphy, Director for North America at Enterprise Ireland. “Your strategy to invest in research, attract the best scientific brains and smartest business operators, and link them with capital represents the gold-standard blueprint for a 21st century knowledge economy. Given the similar ambitions of North Carolina and Ireland in driving the knowledge economy, we see significant scope for ongoing collaboration.”

Some of the most profound discoveries have been influenced by scientists and researchers working in RTP. It is through collaboration and partnership that the spirit of discovery and innovation continues to flourish.

Opportunity is waiting, you need but to open the door.

Start something… and here’s who can help.

Startup Lifecycle (thanks YallaStartup for the image!)

See the image to the left? If you’ve drawn this on a paper napkin, and then scratched your head at the checklist…

Chances are: you need this list.

Over the last few days, there have been multiple meetups, CED Cafes and TiE Carolina events that have offered opportunities for entrepreneurs like you to connect with the Research Triangle region’s rich resources of support organizations to help make that light bulb idea of yours a reality.

A huge thanks to CED for starting this list, and the many more who pinged me with others. As they say, I only know what I know. SO. If you want to be included on the list, leave a comment with your organization’s name, description, and contact information and any special packages you have to support our entrepreneurs.

And now… the list:

Read more »

Investing in Opportunity

“Where are the jobs?”

Twenty-three percent, according to Twitter’s Topic Tracker, of the possible questions for President Obama, focused on jobs during his first ever Twitter town hall this past week.

With the next job report out July 8, even Warren Buffett is optimistic on jobs.  So optimistic, that he placed a little wager (one dollar, to be exact) that the U.S. unemployment rate – now at 9.1% – will dip well below 8% by November next year. [Update: June jobs report out. Just up 18,000]

But by 2020, the U.S. will need to create 20 million jobs to recover from the 7 million lost in the Great Recession and 13 million needed for the country’s growing population.

So, what’s with the downer post?

Quite the opposite actually. Despite the economic challenges, our region’s historically strong technology and innovation performance places us in a competitive position as demand for science and technology-driven growth builds.

Governor Perdue, Lou Tapper - Longistics, Cris Mulder - RTP, Secretary of Commerce Crisco

I’ve had the opportunity in the last few months to travel with Governor Perdue and Secretary of Commerce Crisco as they courted businesses from outside states, hosted the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and most recently in promoting the region at the BIO International Conference in Washington D.C.  And the message each time is abundantly clear from the Governor:  “I will take any meeting or make any call to bring new businesses or keep existing companies here.”

But actions speak louder than words. The governor has made calls for rethinking the state’s business tax structure, hoping to cut tax rates on small business and corporations in order to remain regionally competitive and spur new job growth. The governor also supported continued and increased state investments in business incentives and tax credit programs designed to support job growth. And, North Carolina also has a network of over 25 core public and private research laboratories supporting research in biotechnology and life sciences. And as the Governor says, it’s our strong regional collaboration that attracts businesses to look at the entire package.

Public-private partnerships are key.

Read more »

AG-Tech Landscape Grows in RTP

Agriculture is big business in North Carolina, bringing in $70.1 billion to the state annually – that’s 18% of N.C.’s income.  More than 4,000 North Carolinians work in over 70 ag-tech companies, which include RTP-based BASF Group, Bayer CropScience, Monsanto Company, and Syngenta. And soon, the landscape will grow with the exciting announcements made this week!

With the N.C. Biotechnology Center as its backdrop, a non-profit organization working to strengthen biotech initiatives in the state, two major announcements were made:

• Governor Perdue Announces $13.5M Greenhouse Incubator – Alexandria Ag-Tech Center
• Syngenta announces $71 million expansion in RTP

Alexandria AG-Tech Center

Announced Tuesday, the Alexandria AG-Tech Center is a $13.5 million, 50,000-square-foot agricultural research center near the Research Triangle Park that would include 18,000 square feet of greenhouse space.

The center will provide individual greenhouse modules and support areas along with shared amenities, according to Alexandria. Each greenhouse will have separate environmental controls, planting and support spaces. Completion is expected Summer 2012. Read more »

It Is Here! New Website Announcement

We are proud to announce the release of our newly redesigned website for the Research Triangle Park (RTP). By updating our main site, www.rtp.org, we’ve been able to improve navigation, connect visitors with events happening in and around the Park, and provide enhanced education and decision tools for companies locating in the Park.

• Choose RTP. 27709. It’s the zip code that built the Research Triangle region and helped to cultivate growth and create a strong community. In this section, you’ll learn more about our industries, the Triangle Region and the established network of support organizations and infrastructure to grow and establish your business, our accelerator and incubator spaces and information about our available sites and buildings.

 

• Park Life. Get connected @RTP. Centrally located at the heart of the Triangle, learn more in this section about programs and events, recreational spaces and wildlife. Or take advantage of our community town hall and host your next business meeting at our conference center.

 

• About RTP. With a rich history in innovation, the Research Triangle Park’s creation remains one of the most transformational public-private partnerships in national history. Get news on company expansion plans and job creations, a listing of the 170+ companies located in the Park, information on our partners, and updates on our Master Plan.

 

• Want to learn more about who’s located in the Park? The @RTP 2011 Company Directory is now available for purchase. The directory provides greater company details as well as a pull-out map by company location and industry. Complete the Contact Us form to order.

 

• Looking for jobs? With over 170 companies located in RTP – from prominent Fortune 100 multi-national operations, university spin-outs and start-up businesses in more than a dozen pioneering industries, we’ve partnered with the North Carolina Technology Association and the NC Biotechnology Center to promote job opportunities.

The New RTP Website

Take a peek! And while you’re there, take some time to complete our Contact Us form and tell us what you think. We’re constantly striving for new and improved ways to connect with you.

There are other ways to stay in-touch and informed about Park happenings.  Check out theRTP blog. Or follow us on twitter @theRTP.

Social Media Business Forum

Last week’s Social Media Business Forum event in Durham demonstrated the importance the Research Triangle region continues to play in the social media landscape. The event was an amazing brand extension for the Triangle as a place to learn and engage with social media tools and key players. Considered a great success, the Forum attracted 200 bloggers, social media experts, marketing professionals, developers and more.

Some highlights from the event:

Topics are broken out with time stamps in this video of the business blogging best practices session http://ow.ly/x8ne

Twitter: It’s Not Just A Micro-Blog presentation by Laura Fitton, author of “Twitter for Dummies”  @Pistachio

The Future of Business on the Social Web Keynote Panel with @jasonfalls @pistachio @geekmommy @johnandrews

Geno Church , the Word of Mouth Inspiration Officer with Brains on Fire (coolest title ever) presenting on Creating Online Movements @genochurch

Content from the Social Media Business Forum continues to be posted on Twitter using the hashtag #smbf. Next up - Internet Summit 2009 in Raleigh, NC.