02 Aug Doyle announces new small business tech transfer award
MADISON – Gov. Jim Doyle announced Monday that he has established a new Governor’s Small Business Technology Transfer Award. The award will recognize the achievements of small businesses in Wisconsin that have succeeded in taking an idea and developing a business.
“Developing new technologies and building successful new businesses are an important part of my ‘Grow Wisconsin’ initiative,’” Doyle said. “This award will recognize a company that has brought a new product to market and is providing high-quality jobs for Wisconsin.”
The award, jointly sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce and the Center for Technology Transfer, will be presented by Doyle each year at the Wisconsin Entrepreneur’s Conference. The first-year award will include a plaque and $5,000.
“We thought it was an ideal match with Entrepreneurs’ Conference because of the science and technology aspect of the award — it does have emphasis on entrepreneurship and creating jobs,” said Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council and member of the Technology Transfer Award’s application review panel. “From our point of view, it’s one more way to make the Entrepreneurs’ Conference important and relevant to technologists and innovators around the state.”
With this new prize, the Entrepreneurs’ Conference is increasing the available collection of awards for outstanding Wisconsin individuals and companies. At the 2004 conference in June, the first-ever Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest winners were announced as well as the recipient of the first-ever “Seize the Day Award,” Donald Weber of Logistics Health, Inc.
The unprecedented success of the 2004 Business Plan Contest – 330 entries from across the state – allows for speculation on the potential of the Technology Transfer Award. Still believes it all comes down to publicity leading up to the Entrepreneurs’ Conference, something the Technology Council has a major part in.
“The more word gets out, the more people will buy in and we’re making sure we develop a system to get good names to the attention of the selection committee,” Still said. “Certainly as part of Entrepreneurs’ Conference, we’ll do our part. With the prize attached and the governor’s name on it, it’s going to draw a competitive field.”
A panel of technology and business experts from around the state has been be selected to review applications: Cory Nettles, secretary of the Department of Commerce; Ralph Kauten, Quintessence Biosciences; Mark Burwell, Urban Hope Entrepreneur Center ; Peter Zaballos, Frazier Technology Venture vice president; Dr. Phil Sobocinski, Office of Corporate Relations; Tom Still, Wisconsin Technology Council; Michael Falk, WARF/WiSys; Mathew Wagner, Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation; Joseph Hill, Medical College of Wisconsin; Dr. Graham Siegel, WeEnergies; Dan Schooff, Department of Administration Division of Energy Administrator, and Masood Akhtar, Center for Technology Transfer.