Tech Council News

Forum Aims to Support Entrepreneurs in Southern New Jersey

A business support group for newly-formed companies, the Entrepreneurs Forum of Southern New Jersey, is promoting a more entrepreneurial-friendly environment in the Southern New Jersey region by partnering with universities and area businesses. The nonprofit group plans to leverage the resources of Rowan and Rutgers universities, business leaders, and government officials to improve the flow of ideas, services and funding to entrepreneurs. Private companies are providing funding for the forum to deliver free and low-cost services as well as planned seminars, events and networking opportunities to young companies in the region.

TAG Launches Council to Serve Minority Interests

The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) recently launched the Minority Technology Council, a special interest group to help advance the interests and careers of ethnic minority technology professionals. The council will operate as part of TAG, providing an inclusive forum for members to network, share best practices, and gain access to mentoring, business and leadership opportunities.



CodeME Keeping Tech Jobs in the State

To retain technology jobs in the state, the Maine Software & Technology Industry Association (MESDA) has created a free online technology assistance service to provide Maine businesses with a resource to locate companies within the state and help them with their technology needs. CodeME matches businesses needing to implement new technologies such as software development services, technology consulting, and other tech-related services with Maine companies providing them. The program has generated 57 leads representing more than $1 million in potential contracts for Maine computer companies this year, according to an article in the Portland Press Herald. Computer companies face increased competition from offshoring, which MESDA hopes to alleviate with this service.



Groups Merge to Form Regional Entrepreneurial Network

Two entrepreneurial groups are combining their efforts into a new economic development network designed to stimulate economic development through the creation and growth of high-tech companies in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. The newly-formed Piedmont Triad Entrepreneurial Network (PTEN) will combine programs from the Piedmont Entrepreneurs Network and the Triad Entrepreneurial Initiative. According to PTEN, the organization will focus on five major areas to nurture new, emerging businesses. The areas include networking, education and mentoring, business plan competitions, capital access, and communications. The initiative will be funded by Action Greensboro, Winston-Salem Alliance, High Point Partners, and corporate sponsors.



South Florida Focusing on Biotech

The South Florida Bioscience Consortium is leading an effort to transform South Florida into another Silicon Valley or Research Triangle, a South Florida Sun-Sentinel article recently reported. The consortium is a 30-member group of business leaders, pharmaceutical companies and university researchers, who have been working together over the past year and will recommend how the region should sell itself nationally and internationally as a leader in the biotech industry, according to a recent Associated Press article.



Medical Technology Companies Form Organization in Central New York

The formation of CNY MedTech, a nonprofit trade association to unite and energize central New York’s medical technology sector, was announced in July. Four leading companies formed the association, which aims to bring together medical technology companies, pharmaceutical companies, university leaders, and others to exchange information about new technologies and ways to attract researchers. According to an article in The Post-Standard, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) suggested the idea last year that local medical technology and drug companies work together to brand central New York as a major medical technology center, and she will be a speaker at the CNY MedTech kickoff event in October.