Story Ideas

Idaho Named Fastest-Growing Economy

USA Today named Idaho the fastest-growing economy in an article in September 2007, calling the northwestern state the "heart of America's biggest economic boom." The article credited both computer chips and potato chips - a reference to the fact that Idaho is home to memory chip giant Micron Technology and potato king J.R. Simplot. But it also noted that white-collar workers who are highly mobile can work nearly anywhere today and are choosing the quality of life offered by Idaho's climate and outdoor beauty. Idaho has ranked high among states for economic growth for nearly 20 years, showing growth even during recessionary years.

Contacts:
Bibiana Nertney, Idaho Department of Commerce, (208) 334-2470; bibiana.nertney@commerce.idaho.gov

Idaho Keeps Getting Kudos as Top Place to Do Business

How does a small state like Idaho keep getting a big spotlight from businesses? That has intrigued those who watch the lists - such as the recent Forbes ranking putting Boise as one of the top 10 up-and-coming tech cities. There was also the '07 Forbes list ranking Idaho as the 6th best place in the nation for business. The ranking put Idaho third in the nation for its economic climate and 11th for its business costs. This was the second straight year for Idaho to rank 6th in the annual report.

Idaho's business costs are one factor but quality of life in its communities clearly is a lure. Boise and Nampa both were named among 2008's 100 Best Communities for Young People, a competition hosted by America's Promise Alliance and Capital One that identifies cities nationwide that have made the well-being of children and youth a top priority.

Contacts:
Bibiana Nertney, Idaho Department of Commerce, (208) 334-2470; bibiana.nertney@commerce.idaho.gov

Biofuels Projects Heat Up In Idaho

Idaho's roots in agriculture and natural resources is growing its biofuels industry, with projects ranging from converting dairy cow manure to methane to creating ethanol from corn fields. The Idaho National Laboratory has an ethanol project underway, and Intrepid Technology in Idaho Falls is building plants that convert cow manure into methane. The Idaho National Laboratory also collaborated with Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the automotive industry to develop an energy efficient, low-emission bus for use as public transportation. The yellow bus, which took three years to build, is now used frequently as an example of clean public transportation.

The state is home to numerous alternative energy operations - from geothermal to solar power to wind - that are becoming increasingly relevant and cost-effective as other energy sources become more expensive.

Contacts:
Intrepid Technology: www.intrepid21.com Idaho National Laboratory: www.inl.gov U.S. Geothermal: www.usgeothermal.com

Professor Breaks New Ground Using DNA Evidence

DNA testing has changed the landscape of criminal investigations in America by providing law enforcement with powerful new tools to identify perpetrators, and by freeing nearly 200 people who have spent years in U.S. prisons for crimes they didn't commit.

Greg Hampikian, a professor at Boise State University, is director of the Idaho Innocence Project and co-author with exonerated inmate Calvin Johnson of the book "Exit to Freedom." He is also the recipient of major federal funding for DNA research.

Hampikian has spoken on preventing wrongful convictions, laws governing DNA evidence, and DNA research and applications.

Contacts:
Greg Hampikian: (208) 426-4992 or greghampikian@boisesate.edu
Boise State University Media Relations: (208) 426-1790

Fire Finds 'Invisible' Cracks in Structures, Aircraft

Positron Systems uses a unique technology to detect stresses in steel and other metal parts before cracks are visible to the naked eye.

The Boise company uses a technology called positron annihilation - which works like an ultra-powerful X-ray - to scan aircraft, rail and other parts to determine when replacements are necessary before an accident can occur. The company is working with clients in industries such as aerospace, power generation, manufacturing and others.

Contacts:
www.positronsystems.com
(208) 514-4578

Innovation Poster Highlights Idaho Technology Business

Hundreds of technology companies are showcased in a new double-sided Innovation Idaho poster, a joint project that involved research into the lineage of Idaho companies.

One side of the poster is a result of research conducted last fall by Dr. Heike Mayer, a Virginia Tech University professor. Dr. Mayer's research examined and visualized the high-tech firms in the Boise metropolitan region, using data gathered from an online survey of technology firms.

"As Boise's tech industry grows and matures, and the competition to attract tech firms gets more difficult, it is important to document the nature and extent of the knowledge economy in Boise and Idaho," said Mayer, who has similar projects focusing on Portland, Phoenix, Kansas City and Washington's Puget Sound.

Mayer wrote a paper about her research on the Boise innovation economy and that paper, along with her policy recommendations, is available at www.idahotechconnect.com.

Mayer's research found that Micron Technology and Hewlett Packard served as surrogate universities and incubators for many of the featured entrepreneurs.

The flip side of the poster focuses on the strength of the innovation economy statewide, showing the number of technology firms in each county. Vignettes of 12 companies from around the state - from Quest Aircraft in Sandpoint to International Isotopes in Idaho Falls - line the edges. A total of 3,849 technology companies are in Idaho, employing more than 50,000 people.

"We think people will be surprised at the breadth and depth of innovation occurring in our state, especially as they realize that every county has at least one innovative company," said Rick Ritter, CEO and President of Idaho TechConnect and lead sponsor for the project. The Idaho Department of Commerce is a co-sponsor of the project.

Contacts:
Krissa Wrigley, Idaho TechConnect: krissa.wrigley@idahotechconnect.com
Julie Howard, at the Department of Commerce: julie.howard@commerce.idaho.gov

Kount Combats Online Crime Targeted at Retailers

Kount has launched its new online fraud control technology for top Internet retailers.

Unlike other online fraud detection and prevention tools, Kount guards against organized crime directed at retail sites. It also pierces proxies through advanced geo-location technology and reports changes in risk via dynamic scoring.

"Legacy tools such as neural networks, Bayesian inference, and machine fingerprinting are no longer enough to guard against emerging online fraud," said Brad Wiskirchen, CEO. "Today's criminals are very sophisticated and highly aggressive. What's more, they're strategically organizing against online retailers and money transfer agents."

Kount is a hosted application that works with any payment platform. Other features designed specifically for top Internet retailers include customizable business rules for optimized performance and manual review automation tools.

Contacts:www.kount.com

Company Invents Tracker to Stymie iPod Thefts

A Boise firm has developed software that can be loaded onto your iPod, enabling you to track your device to its location if stolen.

Because iPod users download music from the Internet, Blackfin Technology's software collects information from the user's computer and reports back to its owner where it is. Blackfin is giving away the software and letting iPod owners deal with the issues involved in claiming their iPods.

Contacts:www.blackfintech.com

ISU Working on Artificial Hands for Vets

Idaho State University researchers have received a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop a prosthetic "smart" hand.

The "smart" hand will use nerve signals to fully simulate natural grasping, lifting and twisting hand motions, according to the university.

The project, called "Smart Prosthetic Hand Technology," will involve three phases in a research project titled "Combat Casualty Research Program, Telemedicine, and Advanced Technology Program - Biotechnology."

"The existing commercial technology for arm and hand amputees hasn't changed significantly in the [last] six decades," said Subbaram Naidu, ISU professor of electrical engineering. 'The Department of Defense is embarking on a research program to fund prosthetic research to revolutionize upper-body prosthetics and to develop artificial arms that will feel, look, and perform like a real human arm guided by the central nervous system."

The project will involve the use of skin sensors to record activity in skeletal muscle and correlate those signals with intended hand motions to allow these signals to control the prosthetic hand. The group also said it hopes to get the hand to respond to "sensory and visual feedback."

The project is not just a military one; the group indicated that the work will also be used to benefit civilians who have lost limbs and to open up avenues of further prosthetics research.

Contacts:www.isu.edu

Scientists Developing Kryptonite for Superbug

University of Idaho researchers are working to develop more effective defenses against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and other deadly pathogens.

One of the goals of that effort is to create much faster and more accurate identification of strains resistant to the antibiotic methicillin, formally known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.

Biomolecular Research (CAMBR) recently have cut detection time for staph from the industry standard of up to three days down to three hours.

Researchers now are focused on tweaking the device so that it can provide a complete toxin profile of staph that will quickly reveal the virulence of infections.

Eventually, it is hoped that even the hard-to-identify MRSA bacteria will be detected quickly using some iteration of the nanotechnology.

MRSA's resistance to antibiotics has earned it "superbug" status. It is responsible for more 94,000 infections and 16,000 deaths annually in the U.S. alone, according to recent Center for Disease Control reports. Those numbers indicate it is a greater health threat to Americans than the AIDS virus.

Researchers also are looking at the mechanisms staph bacteria employ to enter host cells and proliferate.

Using nanowires and other nanomaterials, they aim to hijack the methods bacteria use for toxin delivery, and use them to deliver drug therapies specifically to infected cells.

Contacts:www.uidaho.edu