| Nationwide Innovation Initiative Kicking Off in Vermont |
| Monday, 26 January 2009 09:41 |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Bob Zider, VMEC Director/CEO Nationwide Innovation Initiative Kicking Off in Vermont Randolph Center, VT - The Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) and Eureka! Ranch are holding a special kick-off workshop event in Colchester, Vermont, on Tuesday evening, February 17, 2009. The first-in-the-nation Planet Eureka! Business Translation Workshop will be led by Doug Hall, Founder and CEO of Eureka! Ranch International. Eureka! Ranch is considered "America's #1 idea and scientific growth team." This workshop event will begin the process of populating new internet-based Vermont and USA National Innovation Marketplaces scheduled to "go live" in April 2009. The Innovation Marketplaces are uniquely designed to accelerate connections and communications between Sellers and Buyers of innovations through two-way publishing of Sellers' offerings and Buyers' needs using standardized research reports and formats. The USA National Innovation Marketplace is a groundbreaking service being supported by the US Department of Commerce Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), of which VMEC is an affiliate. According to VMEC Director/CEO Bob Zider, "Vermont is one of just several states that will be leading the nation in developing their own ‘marketplace.' Having a Vermont marketplace within the National Marketplace will enable local innovators and manufacturers and investors to quickly make Vermont connections and commercialize inventions here in our state." A supporting VMEC partner in this effort is the Vermont Technology Council (www.vttechcouncil.org). "The Vermont Technology Council is pleased to support the efforts of VMEC and Eureka! Ranch to create an Innovation Marketplace for our state. The Marketplace will provide new opportunities for Vermont companies and inventors, will serve as a catalyst for research and development in many technology fields, and will ultimately provide great economic benefit to the state," according to Paul Hale, Executive Director of the Technology Council. The Planet Eureka! Business Translation Workshop teaches participants how to create an Innovation Marketplace listing that includes a simple description of their innovation that a buyer can understand quickly and a "Merwyn Business Simulation" report that scientifically quantifies potential annual sales forecasts and royalty revenues. Fifty inventors from Vermont's leading innovation companies, university researchers, independent inventors and incubator clients will participate in the kick-off event and receive a free Merwyn Business Simulation plus a posting on the Vermont and National Innovation Marketplaces. The workshop registration fee is $295. Vermont manufacturers are eligible for a $145 discount through a working partnership with the Vermont Training Program of the VT Department of Economic Development. |
