Creating "Innovate Washington"

The House Ways and Means committee is considering ESB 5764 that passed the Senate. The purpose of "Innovate Washington is to develop and strengthen academic-industry relationships through research and assistance that is primarily of interest to existing small and medium-sized Washington-based companies and state economic development programs.

From the Bill:

"To increase participation by Washington state small business innovators in federal small business research programs, innovate Washington shall provide or contract for the provision of a small business innovation assistance program. The program must include a proposal review process and must train and assist Washington small business innovators to win awards from federal small business research programs. The program must collaborate with small business development centers, entrepreneur-in-residence programs, and other appropriate sources of technical assistance to ensure that small business innovators also receive the planning, counseling, and support services necessary to expand their businesses and protect their intellectual property." emphasis added.

What this includes:

• Provide leading edge collaborative research and technology transfer opportunities to existing state businesses directly and by working with industry associations and innovation partnership zones
• Coordinate its activities with the commercialization and technology transfer activities of the state's research institutions to facilitate research that supports and develops state industries
• Provide methods, systems, and venues for effective interaction and collaboration between the state's technology-based industries and its institutions of higher education
• Provide assistance and support to businesses in: 

a) Securing federal and private funds to support research
b) Developing and integrating technology in new or enhanced products and services
c) Launching those products and services in sustainable businesses in the state;

• Establish programmatic activities that, through partnerships with the private sector, increase the competitiveness of state industries. This may include support provided to firms in innovation partnership zones established under RCW 43.330.270;
• Provide opportunities for training undergraduate and graduate students in technology transfer and commercialization processes through direct involvement in research and industry interactions;
• Administer technology and innovation grant and loan programs including bridge funding programs for the state's technology sector; and
• Emphasize and develop non-state support of program activities.

The PDF file of the bill is available through this link.

To locate your Representative to comment about this bill go to "Find Your Legislator" and type in your address.