Local entrepreneurs and professionals from innovation and technology based businesses will get to polish their international business relations skills at a German themed educational and networking event sponsored by the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC) on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the SPEAK! Language Center . The event is the second internationally themed event in the Afterhours Passport Series sponsored by CBIC and SPEAK! which debuted with a very popular Italian event in August. An innovative language, culture and travel enterprise specializing in Romance, Asian, Slavic as well as English and - of course - German languages, Speak! is the ideal location for such a globally-inspired gathering.

TOUR BEGINS AT 9:00 AM AT PVCC’S EARL DICKINSON CENTER

Thursday, October 13, marks the launching of 2011 Tech Tour, a local event to introduce a record 400 area middle and high school students to the dynamic high technology world that exists in the Charlottesville/Albemarle County metro region.

Sponsored by the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC), this day-long technology tour is aimed at exposing students to the challenging and diverse career possibilities offered by our regional technology community. It is designed to help them envision themselves as technology employees, professionals and entrepreneurs in the next wave of tech advancements in our area.

Students representing 21 regional schools will spend the day traveling to more than 70 selected companies for a hands-on visit to meet employees and experience the use of technology in unique and specialized operations. Students will travel in groups of 15, and be assigned to one of 28 unique and exciting tour schedules. Arrangements can be made for media to follow a tour for the day or join one in progress.

This year the Tech Tour provides several outstanding photo opportunities. First, the engineering challenge, which occurs at PVCC at 9AM, will have small groups of students creating a solution to a problem with limited resources. Also at 12 noon, Phthisis Diagnostics, a local biotechnology firm located at 705 Dale Avenue, will be engaging students in a live experiment as part of their tour.

Contacts:
Chris Engel
Tech Tour Chair
434.531.9381
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Tracey Danner
CBIC Interim Executive Director
434.242.5886
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Roadmap uncovers Virginia’s areas of strength and priority and establishes technology sectors eligible to receive CRCF funding

The Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) , in close collaboration with the Secretariats of Technology, Education, and Commerce and Trade; members of the legislature; Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP); the ten regional technology councils; colleges and universities; federal labs and research institutes; and Chmura Economics & Analytics,  has released the Commonwealth Research and Technology (R&T) Strategic Roadmap.

Charlottesville, VA, September 5, 2011 — The Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC), a membership organization for anyone with an interest in supporting the area’s entrepreneurial and innovation-based businesses, elected its officers and board of directors for 2011-2012 at the Council’s annual membership meeting held on Wednesday, August 31 at SPEAK! Language Center. Outgoing Chairman, Gary Hatter, Principal Consultant of Hatter & Associates, handed the gavel to newly-elected Chairman, Gary Henry of G.F. Henry and Associates and the Charlottesville Technology Incubator.

The Council’s Board serves as a coordinated meeting of the minds, developing valuable ideas and generating insights to establish and enhance our area's growth as an innovation-centered economy. These ideas are then put into action by the Council’s leaders and army of volunteers. “The following individuals were selected specifically for their ability to provide inspiration, leadership and vision, as well as sweat equity, to establish and produce the programs and initiatives of the Council consistent with its members’ needs, and financial goals and requirements,” said Chairman Henry. “Each volunteer director also serves as a leader in at least one council committee, which enables CBIC to deliver the services its members have come to expect, appreciate and rely upon to assist them individually and collectively,” he continued.

From TechCrunch.com

Cardagin Networks, the creators of a mobile loyalty and advertising platform, announced today that it has raised a $4.25 million series A-1 round of funding. The round was led by private and angel investors from New York, Tennessee, Georgia, and Virginia. The startup raised a $1 million series A back in March of 2010, bringing total investment to $5.25 million. Cardagin will use its new infusion of capital to ramp up product development and hiring efforts.

Are you interested in receiving Commonwealth funding to support your Virginia-based research and commercialization? If so, then the Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) wants to hear from you!

As many of you may know, during the 2011 General Assembly session, the Commonwealth of Virginia appropriated $6 million for the FY2012 Commonwealth Research Commercialization Fund (CRCF). In order to gauge the level of interest in and understand the need for future state funding for Virginia-based research and commercialization, as well as assist in financing science and technology facilities used to commercialize research, CIT is issuing a Request for Information (RFI). The RFI is open to any individuals or groups from Virginia public and private institutions of higher education, the private sector, federal labs, other research institutes, and political subdivisions.

To learn more and to submit your RFI, please visit www.cit.org/programs/cit-rd/crcf/RFI. Individuals and organizations may submit multiple RFIs. If you have questions or comments, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Responses are needed on or before Monday, August 1, 2011.

This RFI is independent of the FY2012 CRCF call for proposals. Program areas and qualified research and technologies for that solicitation will be defined in CRCF proposal guidelines and issued in early FY2012. More information on the CRCF can be found at www.cit.org/programs/cit-rd/crcf.

Thanks for your continued support and we look forward to hearing from you!

• UVa innovation chief sees region's future as 'extremely promising' | Daily Progress
• DNA tool gives Phthisis Diagnostics success to build on | Daily Progress
• Biotech breakthrough: Industry emerging in Central Va. | Daily Progress
• Biotech breakthrough: Firm aims to lessen time analyzing blood | Daily Progress
• Area biotech path could lie through Richmond | Daily Progress