PHILADELPHIA, March 29, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Innovation Philadelphia, in association with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), Temple University's Innovation and Entrepreneurial Institute, and Innovation Partnership, held a seminar on March 17th for NIST's Advanced Technology Program (ATP) at Temple University's Kiva Auditorium.
The seminar, entitled "Funding Opportunities for High-Risk Research," was one of eight across the United States assisting scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs interested in submitting proposals for funding to ATP. ATP, which was not funded by the federal government in 2003, bridges the gap between the research lab and the market place, stimulating prosperity through innovation.
Through partnerships with the private sector, ATP's early-stage investment is accelerating the development of innovative technologies that promise significant commercial payoffs and widespread benefits for the nation. ATP is changing the way industry approaches research and development, providing a mechanism for industry to extend its technological reach and push out the envelope of what can be attempted.
Richard Overmoyer, Deputy Secretary of the DCED Technology Investment Office, said, "It is encouraging to see ATP funded this year. The program provides the critical resources needed to support the state's promising technology companies that work in areas such as biotechnology and nanotechnology."
Over 100 people from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, New York and Maryland, attended the seminar led by Dr. Robert Sienkiewicz of ATP. Along with his colleagues Dr. Michael Schen and Ms. Barbara Lambis, Dr. Sienkiewicz addressed topics pertinent to applying for ATP funding such as: the competition process, business criterion, technical criterion, gated approach and electronic submission, and administrative highlights.
Robert Jaffe, Manager of Federal Funding for Innovation Philadelphia, said, "We are very excited that the ATP is being funded again this year because of the opportunity it will provide science and technology companies in the Greater Philadelphia Region. This seminar will hopefully help one of those companies win up to $2 million in funding."
Follow-up information on the ATP Bidders' Seminar, including a video of the event, will be available at www.IPphila.com.
About the Advanced Technology Program
ATP provides cost-shared, multi-year funding to single companies and to industry-led joint ventures to accelerate the development of challenging, high-risk technologies that promise significant commercial payoffs and widespread benefits for the nation. This government-industry partnership aids companies in accelerating the development of emerging or enabling technologies that lead to revolutionary new products and industrial processes and services that can compete in rapidly changing world markets.
About Innovation Philadelphia
Innovation Philadelphia is a public/private partnership created to grow the wealth and the workforce of the Greater Philadelphia Region's Innovation Economy by growing, attracting, and retaining technology-based businesses to the Region.
Innovation Philadelphia accomplishes this mission by providing technology-based and early-stage businesses with traditional seed capital, access to alternative funding sources, commercialization assistance, entrepreneurial resources, and intellectual capital.