NCSU Technology Incubator

February, 2008: RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. -- Start-up companies supported by the NC State Technology Incubator on the Centennial Campus developed more quickly and enjoyed better business opportunities than if they had located elsewhere, according to a new study by RTI International.
The incubator, a program of the NCSU Industrial Extension Service, provides university-based start-ups and local entrepreneurs with office and laboratory space and shared administrative services on flexible lease terms. The incubator also facilitates access to NCSU labs and researchers.
"The incubator helps small start-up companies bridge the challenging period between a great idea and a sustainable business," said Alan O'Connor, an economist in Technology Economics & Policy at RTI International who led the study. "The study showed how the incubator invigorates the local knowledge-based economy, attracting new business to North Carolina and home-growing higher-paying jobs." Read Article

May, 2007: One of our own is recognized on The History Channel’s Modern Marvels, Invent Now Challenge! In NYC last Thursday evening, co-inventors Brian Boothe and Kim Bertron were awarded first runner-up and $10,000 for the Invent Now Challenge. Kim Bertron and the SimpleShot will be highlighted on the History Channel locally on, Wednesday, the 16th at 10pm.
One day Kim Bertron’s 10 year-old daughter, who has Type 1 diabetes, had a severe hypoglycemic episode. This occurs when the blood glucose level drops so low that a violent seizure can result and in this specific case, it did. Bertron’s daughter became unconscious.
An injection of glucagon had to be administered immediately, but shaking with fear and adrenaline, Bertron broke the needle while trying to insert it through the tiny metal ring of the vial.
Thankfully, she had a back-up kit in the car and was able to calm down enough to complete the multiple steps and administer the life-saving drug correctly.
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January 2007: For nearly 15 years, Jason Shih researched ways to make use of an enzyme he discovered that breaks down the tightly woven protein that makes up chicken feathers.
For another seven years, his son, Giles, tried to find a way to mass-produce the enzyme and find a market for it.
Last month, Giles Shih's Morrisville company, BioResource International, got its first contracts.
Giles Shih estimates that this year -- after years without any substantial income -- BRI will generate about $1 million in revenue. He plans to expand the marketing and sales team, as well as look for a company to become a BioResource partner. Shih -- pronounced "she" -- said the company should break even in 2008.
"It's kind of a dream come true," Shih said.
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June 2006: Monday, June 19th, 5:30 p.m., Room 136, MRC Bldg., Centennial Campus. Everyone welcome.
The June 2006 Innovator’s Forum will focus on opportunities with the NC State Technology Incubator. The Technology Incubator is on Centennial Campus, and offers a truly collaborative blend of services and resources for the innovative entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs with products as diverse as specialized mold cultures, telecommunications applications, and biotechnology breakthroughs call the Incubator their temporary home as they work toward commercializing their products and processes.
The Technology Incubator is managed by the Industrial Extension Service (IES), and is an important means of assistance to entrepreneurs on the NC State Campus and beyond. Gene Fornaro will provide an overview and highlight of the programs and companies associated with the Technology Incubator as keynote speaker. Company presentations will feature two groups at opposite ends of the program: Key Ingredient, a newly formed firm which very recently moved into the Technology Incubator, and Bio Resource International, a growing firm which is soon to successfully graduate from the Technology Incubator.
Keynote Speaker Gene Fornaro, Director of Marketing, NCSU IES and NC State Technology Incubator (http://techincubator.ncsu.edu/)
“Opportunities in the NC State Technology Incubator”
Gene’s current activities include leading efforts to gain widespread recognition of IES programs and events. He has been instrumental in leading IES initiatives such as the NC State Technology Incubator, IES' e-learning production capabilities and IEShop, the on-line site for e-marketing of IES programs and purchasing IES instructional materials. Gene recently led the effort to create a comprehensive strategic marketing plan for IES.
Gene has a Bachelors of Science in computer science (1973) and a Masters of Science in engineering mechanics (1975) from Penn State University. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of NC; board member of the Academy of Outstanding Faculty Engaged in Education (AOFEE); Vice President of the North Carolina Business Incubation Association.

May 2006: Baron Advanced Meteorological Systems (BAMS, http://www.baronams.com) a division of Huntsville, Ala.,-based Baron Services (http://www.baronservices.com), has strong ties and an extensive R&D history in North Carolina. BAMS has earned a reputation for improving the accuracy of weather and atmospheric forecasting through applied science that pushes the limits of computing technology.
The company was thrust into the national spotlight in 2004 when its prediction of landfall for Hurricane Charley at Punta Gorda, Fla., turned out to be accurate while other weather service forecasts called for landfall 150 miles further north. They were in the news again in 2005, accurately predicting that Hurricane Rita would make landfall in southwestern Louisiana rather than in Houston as called for in most other forecasts. Integrated within display software developed by Baron Services, television meteorologists up and down the affected coastline used BAMS’ forecasts.
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March 2006: If Able Li has his way, installing information technology and telephony services for a small business will be as easy as setting up a new TV: plug it in and it works.
The situation is a long way from that now, but Li, CEO of Pionic Technology, is working hard to change that.
“Right now, if you are a small business you have to call the phone company to install your telephone service and hire an IT company to come in and set up your computers,” he said. “Data and voice are two separate networks and managing access to the services requires a lot of technical expertise that is over the heads of many small business people. That’s why it is so expensive.”
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March 2006: TransLoc has a vision – and they’re bringing it to you on your computer screen, PDA or web-enabled cell phone.
TransLoc’s Transit Visualization System (TVS) is changing the way people use mass transit by making the real time location of public transit vehicles available to riders when they need it and where they need it.
TransLoc’s TVS system displays moving vehicles in real time on a detailed map that includes easily recognizable buildings and landmarks. A rider can monitor the progress of the bus he wants to take and plan to arrive at the bus stop within seconds of the bus.
“You can be sipping a latte, staying warm indoors while you watch your bus moving along the route,” said Johsh Whiton, CEO of TransLoc. “Then walk out to the bus stop when the bus is pulling up.”
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January 2006: Novolon Dimensional Fabrics is a small company poised to make a big splash in the nonwoven fabrics industry. Armed with proprietary technology and backed by a multinational corporation with a leading market presence in nonwovens, Novolon products offer significant performance advantages.
The Novolon technology is a continuous molding process that creates three dimensional structures out of two dimensional fabrics. The pattern and size of the structures can be adjusted to create products with increased water absorption, improved air flow or enhanced compression resistance. It has the potential to improve the performance of a range of products from apparel and household products to noise control, building materials and medical products.
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January 2006: Sisu Chemicals is a specialty chemical company breaking technical barriers and making new inroads in developing water-based polymers. After spending more than 30 years as a research scientist with companies such as Milliken, Kendall and Reichhold, David Stark formed Sisu to take advantage of an opportunity he saw in the polymers market.
Sisu is located in the Technology Incubator at NC State University’s Centennial Campus.
“There are a lot of advantages to an emulsion-based polymer compared to solvent-based polymers,” said Stark. “They are typically lower cost materials, plus you have improvements in safety and handling, and reductions in hazardous waste, which allow customers to realize savings in disposal fees and insurance costs.”
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