Economic Stimulus That Would Cost Next To Nothing

I heard a story the other day, about a judge in the patent court, who said there are 1,500,000 patents pending final approval. The backlog is five years long. This judge estimated an average patent generates 10 jobs. He said if the patent office expedited the process 15,000,000 jobs would be created from business start ups and expansions.

Here in Houston, to keep our local economy diverse and vibrant, our city leaders some years ago created the Houston Technology Center. Over 300 organizations in Houston from all areas - such as The Medical Center, Oil, Chemical,Manufacturing Aerospace,Finance,Life Sciences,NASA,Government, and Universities, formed a support coalition for emerging technology companies that will be future job generators for this area. The HTC has assisted in the acceleration of about 250 fledgling companies going from idea, to process/production by streamlining and accelerating the curve. These companies provide jobs and they spin off supporting business and service jobs.

All of our top 500 cities and towns should incorporate this model for producing jobs. We as a people don't need massive governmental oversight, or multi billion dollar programs. We just need some more of these non-profit civic minded organizations.

I've included a blurb on the Houston Tech Center, and an article I just came across of one of their recent success stories, a company making body armor for the military and law enforcement utilizing a new nanotech and carbon fiber manufacturing process.

Steve
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About Houston Technology Center

Houston Technology Center (HTC), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, is Greater Houston’s business accelerator and the largest technology business incubator in Texas.


Accelerating the commercialization of emerging technology companies by providing in-depth business guidance, access to capital and service providers, and entrepreneurial education, HTC also promotes Houston as a leading technology city and serves as a hub for the local technology business community.


Supported by more than 300 corporations and organizations, Houston's leading academic institutions, Greater Houston Partnership, Texas Medical Center, NASA-Johnson Space Center and the City of Houston, HTC has become Houston’s center of technology entrepreneurship by assisting companies within several key sectors: Energy, Technology, Life Sciences, Nanotechnology, and NASA/Aerospace technologies. In ten years of operation, HTC has provided feedback to well over 1,000 companies and coached nearly 250 companies, helping them raise in excess of $750 million and creating thousands of jobs.


HTC serves as the Gulf Coast Regional Center of Innovation and Commercialization (Gulf Coast RCIC) for Texas Governor Rick Perry’s Emerging Technology Fund, assisting small to mid-size technology firms expedite the commercialization of new life-changing inventions and improving research at Texas universities. To date, the Gulf Coast RCIC helped 31 Gulf Coast region companies have been authorized to receive $31 million in funding from the TETF program.


HTC's 50,000 square feet state-of-the-art Midtown facility is home to many technology entrepreneurs, sharing space in a vibrant community of young, exciting and innovative companies. Click here for a list of HTC tenants.

HTC’s office suites offer private, secured offices accessible 24/7, VOIP telecom system, network connections to printer/fax/copier and email. One hour of free IT desktop support per person per month and unlimited domestic long distance calling are included in the rent.

HTC’s building also includes a 200-person conference center which is routinely used by various business and nonprofit groups in Houston, such as the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, Houston Interactive Marketing Association, The German American Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Consulate in Houston.

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DARPA Testing New Advanced Nanotech a.k.a. “Nano-Enhanced” Hybrid Armor (Body Armor and Vehicle Armor): Armor Nanotechnology Takes Another Step Forward
On August 19, 2010, in Body Armor, Featured, Future Combat Systems, Future Infantry/Soldier, Ground Vehicles, In The News, by David Crane .The following is a NanoRidge Materials, Inc. / SouthWest NanoTechnologies, Inc. press release:

New Hybrid Armor Incorporates Specialty Multi-wall Carbon Nanotube Material to Protect Soldiers and Law Enforcement Officers from Small Arms Fire

NORMAN, OK, August 19, 2010 – SouthWest NanoTechnologies, Inc. (SWeNT) the leading manufacturer of single-wall and Specialty Multi-Wall (SMW™) carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is manufacturing specialty multi-wall carbon nanotubes for NanoRidge Materials, Inc. These CNTs are being incorporated into enhanced body armor to improve protection of soldiers and law enforcement officers from small arms fire.

SWeNT’s SMW100 will be used in a highly advanced nanotechnology application to create stronger, lighter armor that fundamentally improves its resistance to impact and reduces the penetration depth of a bullet.

This new hybrid armor, which will be manufactured by NanoRidge customer Riley Solutions Inc., (RSI) has been selected by the Defense Advanced Research Program Agency (DARPA) to undergo rigorous testing and evaluation against the most destructive small arms fire.

“Once it has passed testing, the armor will provide U.S. military and law enforcement personnel better, lighter and less costly armor than has been available before,” explains Kyle Kissell Ph.D, and RSI’s Technical Advisor. “NanoRidge selected SWeNT’s SMW100 after evaluating many different products and believes that its characteristics and commercial scalability will meet the needs of our nation’s protectors while saving lives.”

“SouthWest NanoTechnologies is proud to be providing NanoRidge and Riley Solutions with SMW100 for use in these groundbreaking, nano-enhanced armor products,” explains SWeNT CEO Dave Arthur. “Our patented CoMoCAT® process enables us to produce the desired quality and at a cost and in quantities needed to meet the sizable demand that is expected.”

“SWeNT SMW100 is an excellent choice for this armor application because it is affordable, easy to disperse in polymers, and forms extremely robust networks that enhance the structural performance of the composites,” says NanoRidge CEO Chris Lundberg. “Additionally, SWeNT’s domestic production and proven ability to deliver consistent quality are critical for the Department of Defense.”

About NanoRidge Materials, Inc.:

NanoRidge Materials, Inc. is a manufacturer of high-performance nanocomposite materials and composite components. Their materials and composite structures incorporate carbon nanotubes for dramatically improved properties that are of significant value to customers in aerospace, military, oil & gas, chemical, and construction markets. NanoRidge Materials, Inc. is a graduate company of the Houston Technology Center, a business accelerator that assists Houston-based emerging technology companies by providing in-depth business guidance, access to capital, professional services and entrepreneurial education.

About SWeNT:

SouthWest NanoTechnologies, Inc. (SWeNT) is a privately-held specialty chemical company that manufactures high quality single-wall and specialty multi-wall carbon nanotubes, printable inks and CNT-coated fabrics for a range of products and applications including energy-efficient lighting, affordable photovoltaics, improved energy storage and printed electronics. SWeNT was created in 2001 to spin off nanotube research developed at the University of Oklahoma. For more information, please visit www.swentnano.com