Sharing experience visit: October 18 – November 1, 2003 / summary and contacts |
| Monday, Oct. 20 |
| Angelou Economics is an economic
development consulting firm specializing in the needs of technology
companies and communities seeking to recruit them. They advise
communities wanting to take advantage of the new economy and create
custom economic development strategies for communities wanting to
expand their high-tech base. Contact persons: Amy Holloway; Angelos Angelou |
| Tuesday, Oct. 21 |
| Clickin Research provides actionable
market intelligence through internet-based market research technology.
Their research has helped clients launch new brands, determine market
size of new ventures, and determine customer satisfaction with a
product or service offering. Contact person: Martha Russell |
| Laszlo A. (Les) Belady has extensive
worldwide experience in research institutes and industry, cultivated as
a longtime R&D executive. He has worked with organizations ranging
in size from start-ups to Fortune 100 corporations. Originally from
Hungary, has held a number of distinguished posts managing software
research and other aspects of information technology. He was a
Corporate Director, Software Technology for IBM World Headquarters
after which he was Manager of the IBM Research Laboratory in Tokyo. He
was the founding Vice President of Microelectronics and Computer
Technology Corp. (MCC) in Austin. Subsequently, he was founding
Chairman and CEO of all four laboratories of Mitsubishi Electric
Information Technology Center America (ITA) in Cambridge, MA. |
| “The Enterprise of Technology: From Mind to
Market” is a graduate course at The University of Texas at
Austin that brings together students from the College of Engineering,
College of Natural Sciences, College of Pharmacy, College of Law, and
Graduate School of Business to explore the commercialization
technology. Delegates from Romania sat in on a class that featured
presentations of business plans from three companies from the Austin
Technology Incubator to a panel of investors and entrepreneurs. |
| Wednesday, Oct. 22 |
| 3M, a Fortune 500 diversified
technology company, has a major research and development presence in
Austin. The group visited the 3M Innovation Center. Contact person: Ed Scharlau |
| IBM Extreme Blue is a manor
internship program that serves as IBM’s incubator for talent,
technology, and business innovation. It brings together a project team
of technical and MBA interns, along with technical and business
mentors, to develop new high-growth businesses. Contact person: Paul Baffes |
| Siberlink is an Austin-based
company that manages offshore IT outsourcing for clients. Its primary
focus is Russia, but its leaders are knowledgeable about the context of
Eastern Europe. Contact person: Julie Barnes |
| Thursday, Oct. 23 |
| Houston Technology Center is a
business accelerator that incubates emerging technologies within key
industries: energy, information technology, life Sciences,
Nanotechnology, Earth Sciences, and NASA-originated technologies. Contact person: Paul M. Frison |
| Friday, Oct. 24 |
| Dr. Kate Mackie is on the marketing
faculty of the McCombs Graduate School of Business at The University of
Texas at Austin |
| Monday, Oct. 27 |
| Business Success Center provides
comprehensive business improvement and support services for small
businesses, primarily owner-managed businesses. Contact persons: Jan Triplett; Dan Diener |
| Technology Commercialization at The
University of Texas at Austin. Presentations from Dr. Steven
Nichols, Associate Vice President for Research, and Dr. Neil Iscoe,
Director of the Office of Technology Commercialization, and a Donnie
Vanelli, a graduate student. Dr. Nichols provided an overview of the
philosophy of commercialization at UT; Dr. Iscoe spoke on the approach
of the Office of Technology Commercialization; and Mr. Vanelli talked
about the numerous mechanisms for students to be involved in technology
commercialization. Contact persons: Dr. Steve Nichols; Dr. Neil Iscoe; Donnie Vanelli |
| Tuesday, Oct. 28 |
| San Antonio International Office is
an international trade office operated by the City of San Antonio. It
assists businesses in make contacts within existing networks and trade
organizations; access to export services, investment; and co-investment
opportunities for international projects. Contact persons: Betsy Erne; Jose Luis Garcia; Jacklyn Crews-Diaz |
| City Base San Antonio is a project
that is transforming a former military base in San Antonio to a
technology park. Contact person: Cyndy Hanson |
| Inst. Econ Development, San Antonio Contact persons: John Squatrito; Peg Callahan |
| INCELL Corpporation Contact person: Mary Pat Moyer |
| Y&L Consulting Contact person: Steve Teleki |
| Wednesday, Oct. 29 |
| The Capital Network produces
premiere conferences for entrepreneurs to learn about organizing,
operation, and financing privately held companies, and to network with
venture capitalists, private equity investors, professional service
providers, and corporate executives. Contact person: David Gerhardt |
| Austin Technology Incubator advises
early-stage, high-risk companies and provides the necessary assistance
to make their technology-based ventures succeed. It is considered one
of the premiere technology incubators in the world. Contact person: Joel Wiggins |
| VCFO Contact person: Ellen Wood |
| Thursday, Oct. 30 |
| SATAI is a targeted economic
development initiative for developing an advanced technology economy
for the San Antonio region. It provides hands-on development of
advanced technology start-up companies, assists established companies
in accessing tech-based solutions, organizes and coordinates local
equity capital formation, and coordinates an alliance of a network of
service providers. Contact persons: Dr. Randall Goldsmith; Anne Van Horn |
| Teksa Innovations is a business
integrator-incubator providing services and networks to emerging
biosciences, information technology, and engineering companies. It
provides solutions throughout the entire lifecycle from knowledge
creation to commercialization. Contact persons: Dr. Mary Pat Moyer; Jeffery L. Barnes |
| Friday, Oct. 31 |
| North Texas Enterprise Center for Medical
Technology assists entrepreneurs with starting and growing new
medical technology companies. It encompasses a medical technology
incubator/accelerator, a Capital Investors Initiative providing
incentives for capital providers to locate in the area, and a proposed
technology park. Contact persons: Larry Calton; Phong Le |
| Nanotechnologies is an Austin
company providing custom engineered nanopowders specifically designed
to meet the needs of its customers. Contact person: Denny Hamill |
| Pictures |