Description
Detailed elucidation related to enterprise innovation institute annual report 2012.
Enterprise
Innovation
Institute
ANNUAL REPORT 2012
A Message from the Vice President
Welcome to the 2012 annual report of the Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation
Institute (EI
2
). EI
2
is Georgia Tech’s primary business outreach organization,
providing a comprehensive program of assistance to business, industry,
entrepreneurs, and economic developers. Our goal is to help enterprises of all
kinds apply science, technology, and innovation to improve their bottom lines.
Commercializing university research and boosting startup companies have
become economic development priorities at the local, state, national, and
international levels. Georgia Tech has been at the forefront of these efforts
since the 1980s.
Georgia Tech’s formal efforts to support startup companies began in 1980
with the launch of the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), a
technology accelerator that helps Georgia entrepreneurs launch and build
technology companies. A unit of EI
2
, ATDC has helped launch more than 140 companies that, together, have created
thousands of jobs and attracted more than $1 billion in investment.
Building on the ATDC foundation is EI
2
’s VentureLab program, which aggressively seeks out commercialization
opportunities from the discoveries and inventions of Georgia Tech researchers. With support from organizations such as
the Georgia Research Alliance, this effort has led to the formation of more than 100 companies, including solar energy ?rm
Suniva and medical device company CardioMEMS. VentureLab also connects entrepreneurs who have identi?ed a market
need with Georgia Tech technology able to meet that need.
EI
2
also worked with Georgia Tech’s College of Computing to create Flashpoint, a program that educates company leaders
in startup discovery, a concept designed to reduce the risks and costs of launching a new company. Other initiatives, such
as the Georgia Tech Integrated Program for Startups (GT:IPS), have made it easier for entrepreneurs to license
technology developed at Georgia Tech.
Recognizing Georgia Tech’s experience with commercialization and startups, in July 2012, the National Science Foundation
(NSF) made Georgia Tech a node in its new I-Corps program. I-Corps helps the recipients of NSF research investments
identify commercial opportunities and test their viability using scienti?c principles. EI
2
commercialization specialists have,
so far, taught 75 NSF teams from around the country, and, in early 2013, they took their teaching techniques on the road to
reach a cohort of researchers in Washington, D.C.
Other EI
2
assistance programs help communities assess the potential for incubator and acceleration programs, while other
initiatives—including our Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP)—support these companies as they grow.
There’s more to EI
2
than supporting startups, of course, as you’ll see in the overviews found elsewhere in this annual
report. It’s been a particularly busy year for startups—and it’s an exciting time to be at Georgia Tech!
Stephen Fleming
Vice President and Executive Director
[email protected]
404.894.1700
www.innovate.gatech.edu
Enterprise Innovation
Institute (EI
2
)
2012 Project Highlights
Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
)
helps enterprises of all types and sizes—companies,
health care providers, entrepreneurs, economic
developers, and communities—improve their
competitiveness through the application of science,
technology, and innovation. EI
2
is the nation’s largest
and most comprehensive university-based program
of business and industry assistance, technology
commercialization, and economic development.
The following are some examples of EI
2
projects:
Addressing Health Care Costs
Employers everywhere are struggling with the rising cost of providing
health care for their employees. However, some companies have
developed best practices that allow them to provide outstanding health
care bene?ts while holding down costs. To share those best practices with
other companies, EI
2
has supported the development of “Employers Like
Me,” an initiative that facilitates peer-to-peer sharing within groups of
CEOs and human resource directors. Among the lessons learned: develop
standard processes, obtain metrics to inform health improvement efforts,
offer on-site clinics to provide immediate care, tailor self-insurance
programs, and bring together groups of companies to collaborate with
health care providers.
Ensuring Access to Online Government
The Internet is changing the way government agencies serve the public,
expanding access to government services and programs through websites
and smartphone applications. In 2012, the Georgia Americans with
Disabilities Act Coordinator’s Of?ce began discussions with EI
2
’s
AMAC, which provides products and services to assist individuals with a
wide range of disabilities, about ways to meet the electronic information
access needs of both employees and customers with disabilities.
The discussions led to the development of a joint project, Electronic
Information Technology Accessibility (EITA), designed to ensure that state
agencies’ Internet and mobile applications are usable and accessible to
individuals with a wide range of disabilities. Launched in December 2012,
the ?ve-phase project began with EITA training and feedback from a pilot
group. Ultimately, the program will be delivered statewide.
Identifying Commercial Potential in Research
The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) I-Corps program helps the
recipients of NSF research investments identify commercial opportunities
and test their viability using scienti?c principles. Recognizing EI
2
’s long
experience with commercialization and startups, the NSF, in July 2012,
made Georgia Tech a founding node in its I-Corps network. By early 2013,
EI
2
commercialization specialists had taught 75 NSF teams from around
the country, including seven from the Georgia Tech research community.
The seven-week I-Corps program emphasizes customer validation for
potential new products and services arising from NSF-sponsored projects.
Connecting to Georgia Tech
A key role of EI
2
is connecting industry to Georgia Tech’s resources. One
of the newest resources, the Carbon-Neutral Energy Solutions Laboratory
(C-NES), is designed to be a center for the development of pilot-scale
carbon-neutral energy conversion technologies critical to energy-
dependent industries and energy producers. The initial areas of focus
for C-NES include combustion, gasi?cation, and carbon dioxide capture.
C-NES also offers a seamless environment for collocating collaborators
from industry, academia, and government to conduct translational
and pre-commercial research and development. EI
2
is facilitating
those interactions.
Engaging Providers in Health Care Information
In collaboration with the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH),
EI
2
was part of a Georgia Tech team that conducted user experience research
to uncover and assess the practices and motivations that drive health
care providers—including physicians, nurses, and administrators—to adopt
health information technology. Leveraging the primary research ?ndings,
the team developed user experience materials that are helping to shape the
business, product development, and marketing strategies of the statewide
health information exchange. “The materials this project team provided have
given us a quick start on getting health care providers actively engaged in the
state’s health care information exchange,” said Kelly Gonzales, director of the
DCH’s Division of Health IT.
Building a Sweet Success Story
It’s an all-American success story. Laura Darnall and Lois Judy of Savannah,
Georgia, met in 2006 on the sidelines of their daughters’ soccer game.
Two years later, they formed Fondari?c and were making their fondant, a
moldable icing used on baked goods, in a shed in Darnall’s backyard. Today,
the company operates a 10,000-square-foot production plant, is shipping its
product to international customers, has received recognition from the U.S.
Small Business Administration, and reports that it generated $2.5 million in
revenue in 2011. A key component of the ?rm’s growth, Darnall and Judy say,
has been EI
2
’s Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP). GaMEP
has helped Fondari?c improve its production ?ow, select the right equipment,
and expand its customer base.
Assessing Readiness for an Incubator
To develop new jobs and economic activity, many communities look to their
local entrepreneur community. Among the initiatives they may consider
is development of an accelerator or incubator program designed to help
entrepreneurs launch and build new enterprises. EI
2
worked with Dalton in
northwest Georgia to evaluate its readiness for such a business incubator
program. Specialists inventoried the community’s resources and found that it
had a broad base of entrepreneurs, potential employees with high skill levels,
and individuals who may be willing to make the initial investments needed
to launch new ventures. The community is evaluating the EI
2
report for a
decision on how to proceed.
Planning a Green Industrial Park
EI
2
helped the Grif?n-Spalding Development Authority (GSDA) with planning
for a new green industrial park, to be known as The Lakes at Green Valley.
The GSDA had purchased the land and installed basic infrastructure but
needed assistance in de?ning building construction speci?cs and what
would be expected of the tenants who would occupy the buildings, as well
as what features the park should incorporate. EI
2
community innovation
specialists met with the GSDA to understand the project’s goals, researched
what other eco-industrial parks had done, and conducted a half-day forum in
which Georgia Tech experts on topics such as sustainability and alternative
energy discussed the options. The work led to a report and series of
recommendations that are under study by the GSDA.
In-Sourcing Bene?ts Manufacturers
Georgia companies got
some good news from the
2012 Georgia Manufacturing
Survey. For the ?rst time
since researchers began
tracking the statistic, more
Georgia manufacturers are
bene?ting from in-sourcing,
with production work coming
to them from outside the
state rather than going to
other states and countries.
The survey also showed
that the return on sales for companies competing on the basis of innovative
products, processes, or services was twice that of companies competing on
the basis of low price. Georgia Tech researchers collaborated with Kennesaw
State University, the Georgia Department of Labor, and accounting ?rm Habif,
Arogeti and Wynne, LLP in conducting the survey.
Boosting On-Time Delivery
In early 2011, managers at GIW Industries had decided the on-time delivery
rate of 90 percent at the ?rm’s two Georgia production plants, in Grovetown
and Thomson, wasn’t good enough. The ?rm manufactures slurry pumps,
which are used in a variety of settings—such as in mining and on dredge
ships—to move often-abrasive mixtures of liquids and solids. For guidance
and training in its efforts to make improvements, the company turned to
the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) at Georgia Tech.
More than a year later, GIW Industries has not only signi?cantly improved
its on-time delivery but has also realized nearly $250,000 in annual savings
from the re?ned production processes.
Ensuring Access to Email Marketing
EI
2
’s AMAC, which provides products and services to assist individuals with
a range of disabilities, didn’t have to look far for a new email marketing
service, following its move from Athens to Atlanta. New neighbor MailChimp
had built a solid reputation in that business and welcomed the opportunity to
have AMAC evaluate how accessible its products and services were to users
and to the targets of their email campaigns. On the AMAC audit, MailChimp
received a nearly perfect accessibility score. “There are two aspects to
the success of this engagement,” said Christopher Lee, AMAC director.
“MailChimp is an even stronger competitor in its business domain, and we
have a new and extremely accessible email service.”
Managing Health Care Expenses
New technology companies often get their start when an entrepreneur thinks,
“There’s got to be a better way.” Faced with a mountain of confusing bills
and paperwork following the birth of his daughter, Georgia Tech alumnus
Bird Blitch reached out to fellow alumnus Joshua Silver to create Patientco.
With guidance from EI
2
’s Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC)
and an investment from Blue Cross Blue Shield, Patientco was established
to empower patients to take control of health care expenses. Patientco’s
technology enables providers to communicate effectively with patients to
give them a better understanding of their health care costs and payment
options—an advantage that increases a patient’s probability of paying.
Improving Customer Service
Even though Osborne Wood Products in Toccoa, Georgia, had grown
signi?cantly since its start in 1979, founder Leon Osborne wasn’t satis?ed.
So, he contacted EI
2
’s Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP)
for assistance in transforming the ?rm’s production of corbels, table legs,
kitchen island legs, and other wood products. The collaboration slashed
machinery setup times from an average of 30 minutes to an average of four
minutes, enabling Osborne Wood Products to realize same-day shipment
of more than 90 percent of customer orders. “We’ve created a standard of
customer service that is dif?cult for our competitors to match,” Osborne said.
Protecting Data in the Cloud
Adam Ghetti, irritated with Facebook’s ever-changing rules, wanted control of
his own data. Today, the company he cofounded, Social Fortress, has moved
beyond offering services to consumers who want greater control over their
social network posts. The company is providing data security services to
Fortune 500 corporations and defense industry clients, using a proprietary,
encryption-based client/server platform that frees end users from having
to provide their own safeguards. Ghetti got help along the way from the
Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), and from Flashpoint, the
Georgia Tech program that educates company leaders in startup discovery.
“ATDC helped me connect with the resources of Georgia Tech in meaningful
ways,” said Ghetti. “These smart people offered un?ltered and unbiased
advice and made key introductions for me.”
Monitoring Water Use
Millions of apartments in the United States are not individually metered
for water use. As a result, many tenants are unaware of their consumption
and have little incentive to conserve water. Additionally, property owners
spend millions of dollars annually on water expenses that should be
passed on to tenants. Jeff Leaders, a veteran in the multifamily real
estate sector, saw the problem as an opportunity. VentureLab and the
Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) connected Leaders
to Justin Romberg in Georgia Tech’s School of Electrical and Computer
Engineering, and Romberg helped develop the innovative, non-invasive
meter technology sold by Soneter, Leaders’ startup company. Soneter
also provides property owners and tenants with consumption analysis and
hazard predictions that can help them reduce their water footprint.
Managing Energy Use
There is pressure on large companies to reduce energy costs and better
manage their carbon footprint. Urjanet, the brainchild of entrepreneur
Sanjoy Malik, is working with large multi-location energy consumers to
meet this challenge. Through VentureLab and the Advanced Technology
Development Center (ATDC), Malik teamed with Sham Navathe of Georgia
Tech’s College of Computing and Ravi Subramanian of Georgia Techs
Scheller College of Business to develop technology that gathers real-time
and historical data on energy pricing and usage and delivers it directly
to the customer. The customer then has the data needed to make critical
decisions about energy use and carbon footprint. In 2012, Urjanet
caught the eye of venture capitalists, closing a $6 million Series B
investment round.
Providing Health Care Data to Patients
The Consumer-Mediated Health Information Exchange in Rome, Georgia,
is aiming to allow greater collaboration between providers and patients
in the management of their personal health. The initiative will use
secure email services and build on federally established guidelines to
allow providers to send patients’ health information directly to them.
The project team, which included EI
2
, the Northwest Georgia Regional
Cancer Coalition, and the major providers of health care services in the
Rome-Floyd County area, completed interviews to assess the information
needs and desires of patients with breast cancer (the pilot group) and
their health care providers. To support the project, EI
2
is exploring mobile
technology, and existing and needed applications that address breast
cancer issues.
Organizing a New Manufacturing Plant
Max Manufacturing, located in Pelham, Georgia, produces standalone
ice-vending buildings that are essentially giant vending machines that
dispense bags of ice and water to the public. The company sought help
from the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) to ensure
its manufacturing process was as ef?cient and cost-effective as possible.
The assistance helped the company improve its processes, increasing
revenues by as much as $1 million per year and allowing completion
of a building in just four days. “GaMEP is a fantastic partner. No matter
what you ask for, they jump through hoops to give it to you,” said Max
Manufacturing President Tim Maxwell.
Supporting the United Way
EI
2
has supported the United Way of Greater Atlanta with a series of
projects designed to help the organization more effectively serve its
constituents. Offering EI
2
’s independent perspective, specialists in
community innovation topics helped the United Way facilitate
decision-making processes concerning the allocation of resources
among the many worthy projects under consideration in the United Way’s
13-county service area. EI
2
also helped with a workforce development
study and “listening” sessions designed to elicit feedback about needs
and challenges.
www.innovate.gatech.edu
Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
)
2012 Report Card
Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
) helps enterprises of all kinds improve their
competitiveness through the application of science, technology, and innovation. EI
2
supports
the economic development of Georgia through technology commercialization, support of
entrepreneurship and startup development, and industry engagement.
During ?scal year 2012, EI
2
:
? Helped Georgia manufacturing companies reduce
operating costs by $38 million, increase sales by
$451 million, and create or save 978 jobs. EI
2
served
1,370 companies during the year.
? Evaluated 199 research innovations developed in
Georgia Tech’s research program, and helped form
30 new enterprises that, together, attracted nearly
$21 million in investment.
? Assisted 261 companies interested in collaborating
with Georgia Tech. Projects resulting from those
collaborations created or saved 3,342 jobs and
produced more than $1 billion in capital investment.
? Helped Georgia companies win $715 million in
government contracts, creating or saving an estimated
14,304 jobs.
? Assisted 85 minority entrepreneurs, who reported more
than $77 million in new contracts, increased sales, new
bonding, or new ?nancing.
? Served 322 technology startup companies that,
together, generated capital activity (venture capital
investment and mergers/acquisitions) of more than
$222 million.
? Helped Georgia companies prepare 75 proposals for
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants,
which resulted in more than $7 million in awards.
? Assisted 3,056 students through EI
2
technology
accessibility services, and saved the University System
of Georgia $1.4 million by reusing textbooks converted
for students with disabilities.
www.innovate.gatech.edu
EI
2
services are supported by the state of Georgia and
by the federal government through programs such as
the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s
Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the U.S.
Department of Commerce’s Economic Development
Administration. EI
2
is headquartered in Georgia Tech’s
Technology Square.
Enterprise Innovation Institute
75 Fifth Street NW
Suite 380
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
404.385.3871
www.innovate.gatech.edu
Georgia Tech Regional Network
North Metro Atlanta: 678.294.1579
South Metro Atlanta: 404.895.5237
Northwest Region: 770.387.4002
Northeast Region: 770.718.3982
West Region: 706.298.0069
Central Region: 478.275.5125
East Region: 706.721.4522
Coastal Region: 912.963.2519
South Region: 229.430.6195
Atlanta Headquarters: 404.385.3871
Warner Robins Warner Robins
The Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
) serves Georgia through a network of staff
members located throughout the state.
EI
2
programs include:
? Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC)
? Alternative Media Access Center (AMAC)
? Community Innovation Services
? The Contracting Education Academy
? Energy Management and Technology Program
? Flashpoint
? Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP)
? Health@GT
? I-Corps
? Innovation Partners
? Integrated Program for Startups (GT:IPS)
? Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center
? Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC)
? Southeastern Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (SETAAC)
? Strategic Partners
? VentureLab
Copyright 2013 • Georgia Institute of Technology • Institute Communications • B13C5100 • An equal education and employment opportunity institution
doc_328924098.pdf
Detailed elucidation related to enterprise innovation institute annual report 2012.
Enterprise
Innovation
Institute
ANNUAL REPORT 2012
A Message from the Vice President
Welcome to the 2012 annual report of the Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation
Institute (EI
2
). EI
2
is Georgia Tech’s primary business outreach organization,
providing a comprehensive program of assistance to business, industry,
entrepreneurs, and economic developers. Our goal is to help enterprises of all
kinds apply science, technology, and innovation to improve their bottom lines.
Commercializing university research and boosting startup companies have
become economic development priorities at the local, state, national, and
international levels. Georgia Tech has been at the forefront of these efforts
since the 1980s.
Georgia Tech’s formal efforts to support startup companies began in 1980
with the launch of the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), a
technology accelerator that helps Georgia entrepreneurs launch and build
technology companies. A unit of EI
2
, ATDC has helped launch more than 140 companies that, together, have created
thousands of jobs and attracted more than $1 billion in investment.
Building on the ATDC foundation is EI
2
’s VentureLab program, which aggressively seeks out commercialization
opportunities from the discoveries and inventions of Georgia Tech researchers. With support from organizations such as
the Georgia Research Alliance, this effort has led to the formation of more than 100 companies, including solar energy ?rm
Suniva and medical device company CardioMEMS. VentureLab also connects entrepreneurs who have identi?ed a market
need with Georgia Tech technology able to meet that need.
EI
2
also worked with Georgia Tech’s College of Computing to create Flashpoint, a program that educates company leaders
in startup discovery, a concept designed to reduce the risks and costs of launching a new company. Other initiatives, such
as the Georgia Tech Integrated Program for Startups (GT:IPS), have made it easier for entrepreneurs to license
technology developed at Georgia Tech.
Recognizing Georgia Tech’s experience with commercialization and startups, in July 2012, the National Science Foundation
(NSF) made Georgia Tech a node in its new I-Corps program. I-Corps helps the recipients of NSF research investments
identify commercial opportunities and test their viability using scienti?c principles. EI
2
commercialization specialists have,
so far, taught 75 NSF teams from around the country, and, in early 2013, they took their teaching techniques on the road to
reach a cohort of researchers in Washington, D.C.
Other EI
2
assistance programs help communities assess the potential for incubator and acceleration programs, while other
initiatives—including our Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP)—support these companies as they grow.
There’s more to EI
2
than supporting startups, of course, as you’ll see in the overviews found elsewhere in this annual
report. It’s been a particularly busy year for startups—and it’s an exciting time to be at Georgia Tech!
Stephen Fleming
Vice President and Executive Director
[email protected]
404.894.1700
www.innovate.gatech.edu
Enterprise Innovation
Institute (EI
2
)
2012 Project Highlights
Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
)
helps enterprises of all types and sizes—companies,
health care providers, entrepreneurs, economic
developers, and communities—improve their
competitiveness through the application of science,
technology, and innovation. EI
2
is the nation’s largest
and most comprehensive university-based program
of business and industry assistance, technology
commercialization, and economic development.
The following are some examples of EI
2
projects:
Addressing Health Care Costs
Employers everywhere are struggling with the rising cost of providing
health care for their employees. However, some companies have
developed best practices that allow them to provide outstanding health
care bene?ts while holding down costs. To share those best practices with
other companies, EI
2
has supported the development of “Employers Like
Me,” an initiative that facilitates peer-to-peer sharing within groups of
CEOs and human resource directors. Among the lessons learned: develop
standard processes, obtain metrics to inform health improvement efforts,
offer on-site clinics to provide immediate care, tailor self-insurance
programs, and bring together groups of companies to collaborate with
health care providers.
Ensuring Access to Online Government
The Internet is changing the way government agencies serve the public,
expanding access to government services and programs through websites
and smartphone applications. In 2012, the Georgia Americans with
Disabilities Act Coordinator’s Of?ce began discussions with EI
2
’s
AMAC, which provides products and services to assist individuals with a
wide range of disabilities, about ways to meet the electronic information
access needs of both employees and customers with disabilities.
The discussions led to the development of a joint project, Electronic
Information Technology Accessibility (EITA), designed to ensure that state
agencies’ Internet and mobile applications are usable and accessible to
individuals with a wide range of disabilities. Launched in December 2012,
the ?ve-phase project began with EITA training and feedback from a pilot
group. Ultimately, the program will be delivered statewide.
Identifying Commercial Potential in Research
The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) I-Corps program helps the
recipients of NSF research investments identify commercial opportunities
and test their viability using scienti?c principles. Recognizing EI
2
’s long
experience with commercialization and startups, the NSF, in July 2012,
made Georgia Tech a founding node in its I-Corps network. By early 2013,
EI
2
commercialization specialists had taught 75 NSF teams from around
the country, including seven from the Georgia Tech research community.
The seven-week I-Corps program emphasizes customer validation for
potential new products and services arising from NSF-sponsored projects.
Connecting to Georgia Tech
A key role of EI
2
is connecting industry to Georgia Tech’s resources. One
of the newest resources, the Carbon-Neutral Energy Solutions Laboratory
(C-NES), is designed to be a center for the development of pilot-scale
carbon-neutral energy conversion technologies critical to energy-
dependent industries and energy producers. The initial areas of focus
for C-NES include combustion, gasi?cation, and carbon dioxide capture.
C-NES also offers a seamless environment for collocating collaborators
from industry, academia, and government to conduct translational
and pre-commercial research and development. EI
2
is facilitating
those interactions.
Engaging Providers in Health Care Information
In collaboration with the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH),
EI
2
was part of a Georgia Tech team that conducted user experience research
to uncover and assess the practices and motivations that drive health
care providers—including physicians, nurses, and administrators—to adopt
health information technology. Leveraging the primary research ?ndings,
the team developed user experience materials that are helping to shape the
business, product development, and marketing strategies of the statewide
health information exchange. “The materials this project team provided have
given us a quick start on getting health care providers actively engaged in the
state’s health care information exchange,” said Kelly Gonzales, director of the
DCH’s Division of Health IT.
Building a Sweet Success Story
It’s an all-American success story. Laura Darnall and Lois Judy of Savannah,
Georgia, met in 2006 on the sidelines of their daughters’ soccer game.
Two years later, they formed Fondari?c and were making their fondant, a
moldable icing used on baked goods, in a shed in Darnall’s backyard. Today,
the company operates a 10,000-square-foot production plant, is shipping its
product to international customers, has received recognition from the U.S.
Small Business Administration, and reports that it generated $2.5 million in
revenue in 2011. A key component of the ?rm’s growth, Darnall and Judy say,
has been EI
2
’s Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP). GaMEP
has helped Fondari?c improve its production ?ow, select the right equipment,
and expand its customer base.
Assessing Readiness for an Incubator
To develop new jobs and economic activity, many communities look to their
local entrepreneur community. Among the initiatives they may consider
is development of an accelerator or incubator program designed to help
entrepreneurs launch and build new enterprises. EI
2
worked with Dalton in
northwest Georgia to evaluate its readiness for such a business incubator
program. Specialists inventoried the community’s resources and found that it
had a broad base of entrepreneurs, potential employees with high skill levels,
and individuals who may be willing to make the initial investments needed
to launch new ventures. The community is evaluating the EI
2
report for a
decision on how to proceed.
Planning a Green Industrial Park
EI
2
helped the Grif?n-Spalding Development Authority (GSDA) with planning
for a new green industrial park, to be known as The Lakes at Green Valley.
The GSDA had purchased the land and installed basic infrastructure but
needed assistance in de?ning building construction speci?cs and what
would be expected of the tenants who would occupy the buildings, as well
as what features the park should incorporate. EI
2
community innovation
specialists met with the GSDA to understand the project’s goals, researched
what other eco-industrial parks had done, and conducted a half-day forum in
which Georgia Tech experts on topics such as sustainability and alternative
energy discussed the options. The work led to a report and series of
recommendations that are under study by the GSDA.
In-Sourcing Bene?ts Manufacturers
Georgia companies got
some good news from the
2012 Georgia Manufacturing
Survey. For the ?rst time
since researchers began
tracking the statistic, more
Georgia manufacturers are
bene?ting from in-sourcing,
with production work coming
to them from outside the
state rather than going to
other states and countries.
The survey also showed
that the return on sales for companies competing on the basis of innovative
products, processes, or services was twice that of companies competing on
the basis of low price. Georgia Tech researchers collaborated with Kennesaw
State University, the Georgia Department of Labor, and accounting ?rm Habif,
Arogeti and Wynne, LLP in conducting the survey.
Boosting On-Time Delivery
In early 2011, managers at GIW Industries had decided the on-time delivery
rate of 90 percent at the ?rm’s two Georgia production plants, in Grovetown
and Thomson, wasn’t good enough. The ?rm manufactures slurry pumps,
which are used in a variety of settings—such as in mining and on dredge
ships—to move often-abrasive mixtures of liquids and solids. For guidance
and training in its efforts to make improvements, the company turned to
the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) at Georgia Tech.
More than a year later, GIW Industries has not only signi?cantly improved
its on-time delivery but has also realized nearly $250,000 in annual savings
from the re?ned production processes.
Ensuring Access to Email Marketing
EI
2
’s AMAC, which provides products and services to assist individuals with
a range of disabilities, didn’t have to look far for a new email marketing
service, following its move from Athens to Atlanta. New neighbor MailChimp
had built a solid reputation in that business and welcomed the opportunity to
have AMAC evaluate how accessible its products and services were to users
and to the targets of their email campaigns. On the AMAC audit, MailChimp
received a nearly perfect accessibility score. “There are two aspects to
the success of this engagement,” said Christopher Lee, AMAC director.
“MailChimp is an even stronger competitor in its business domain, and we
have a new and extremely accessible email service.”
Managing Health Care Expenses
New technology companies often get their start when an entrepreneur thinks,
“There’s got to be a better way.” Faced with a mountain of confusing bills
and paperwork following the birth of his daughter, Georgia Tech alumnus
Bird Blitch reached out to fellow alumnus Joshua Silver to create Patientco.
With guidance from EI
2
’s Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC)
and an investment from Blue Cross Blue Shield, Patientco was established
to empower patients to take control of health care expenses. Patientco’s
technology enables providers to communicate effectively with patients to
give them a better understanding of their health care costs and payment
options—an advantage that increases a patient’s probability of paying.
Improving Customer Service
Even though Osborne Wood Products in Toccoa, Georgia, had grown
signi?cantly since its start in 1979, founder Leon Osborne wasn’t satis?ed.
So, he contacted EI
2
’s Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP)
for assistance in transforming the ?rm’s production of corbels, table legs,
kitchen island legs, and other wood products. The collaboration slashed
machinery setup times from an average of 30 minutes to an average of four
minutes, enabling Osborne Wood Products to realize same-day shipment
of more than 90 percent of customer orders. “We’ve created a standard of
customer service that is dif?cult for our competitors to match,” Osborne said.
Protecting Data in the Cloud
Adam Ghetti, irritated with Facebook’s ever-changing rules, wanted control of
his own data. Today, the company he cofounded, Social Fortress, has moved
beyond offering services to consumers who want greater control over their
social network posts. The company is providing data security services to
Fortune 500 corporations and defense industry clients, using a proprietary,
encryption-based client/server platform that frees end users from having
to provide their own safeguards. Ghetti got help along the way from the
Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), and from Flashpoint, the
Georgia Tech program that educates company leaders in startup discovery.
“ATDC helped me connect with the resources of Georgia Tech in meaningful
ways,” said Ghetti. “These smart people offered un?ltered and unbiased
advice and made key introductions for me.”
Monitoring Water Use
Millions of apartments in the United States are not individually metered
for water use. As a result, many tenants are unaware of their consumption
and have little incentive to conserve water. Additionally, property owners
spend millions of dollars annually on water expenses that should be
passed on to tenants. Jeff Leaders, a veteran in the multifamily real
estate sector, saw the problem as an opportunity. VentureLab and the
Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) connected Leaders
to Justin Romberg in Georgia Tech’s School of Electrical and Computer
Engineering, and Romberg helped develop the innovative, non-invasive
meter technology sold by Soneter, Leaders’ startup company. Soneter
also provides property owners and tenants with consumption analysis and
hazard predictions that can help them reduce their water footprint.
Managing Energy Use
There is pressure on large companies to reduce energy costs and better
manage their carbon footprint. Urjanet, the brainchild of entrepreneur
Sanjoy Malik, is working with large multi-location energy consumers to
meet this challenge. Through VentureLab and the Advanced Technology
Development Center (ATDC), Malik teamed with Sham Navathe of Georgia
Tech’s College of Computing and Ravi Subramanian of Georgia Techs
Scheller College of Business to develop technology that gathers real-time
and historical data on energy pricing and usage and delivers it directly
to the customer. The customer then has the data needed to make critical
decisions about energy use and carbon footprint. In 2012, Urjanet
caught the eye of venture capitalists, closing a $6 million Series B
investment round.
Providing Health Care Data to Patients
The Consumer-Mediated Health Information Exchange in Rome, Georgia,
is aiming to allow greater collaboration between providers and patients
in the management of their personal health. The initiative will use
secure email services and build on federally established guidelines to
allow providers to send patients’ health information directly to them.
The project team, which included EI
2
, the Northwest Georgia Regional
Cancer Coalition, and the major providers of health care services in the
Rome-Floyd County area, completed interviews to assess the information
needs and desires of patients with breast cancer (the pilot group) and
their health care providers. To support the project, EI
2
is exploring mobile
technology, and existing and needed applications that address breast
cancer issues.
Organizing a New Manufacturing Plant
Max Manufacturing, located in Pelham, Georgia, produces standalone
ice-vending buildings that are essentially giant vending machines that
dispense bags of ice and water to the public. The company sought help
from the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) to ensure
its manufacturing process was as ef?cient and cost-effective as possible.
The assistance helped the company improve its processes, increasing
revenues by as much as $1 million per year and allowing completion
of a building in just four days. “GaMEP is a fantastic partner. No matter
what you ask for, they jump through hoops to give it to you,” said Max
Manufacturing President Tim Maxwell.
Supporting the United Way
EI
2
has supported the United Way of Greater Atlanta with a series of
projects designed to help the organization more effectively serve its
constituents. Offering EI
2
’s independent perspective, specialists in
community innovation topics helped the United Way facilitate
decision-making processes concerning the allocation of resources
among the many worthy projects under consideration in the United Way’s
13-county service area. EI
2
also helped with a workforce development
study and “listening” sessions designed to elicit feedback about needs
and challenges.
www.innovate.gatech.edu
Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
)
2012 Report Card
Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
) helps enterprises of all kinds improve their
competitiveness through the application of science, technology, and innovation. EI
2
supports
the economic development of Georgia through technology commercialization, support of
entrepreneurship and startup development, and industry engagement.
During ?scal year 2012, EI
2
:
? Helped Georgia manufacturing companies reduce
operating costs by $38 million, increase sales by
$451 million, and create or save 978 jobs. EI
2
served
1,370 companies during the year.
? Evaluated 199 research innovations developed in
Georgia Tech’s research program, and helped form
30 new enterprises that, together, attracted nearly
$21 million in investment.
? Assisted 261 companies interested in collaborating
with Georgia Tech. Projects resulting from those
collaborations created or saved 3,342 jobs and
produced more than $1 billion in capital investment.
? Helped Georgia companies win $715 million in
government contracts, creating or saving an estimated
14,304 jobs.
? Assisted 85 minority entrepreneurs, who reported more
than $77 million in new contracts, increased sales, new
bonding, or new ?nancing.
? Served 322 technology startup companies that,
together, generated capital activity (venture capital
investment and mergers/acquisitions) of more than
$222 million.
? Helped Georgia companies prepare 75 proposals for
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants,
which resulted in more than $7 million in awards.
? Assisted 3,056 students through EI
2
technology
accessibility services, and saved the University System
of Georgia $1.4 million by reusing textbooks converted
for students with disabilities.
www.innovate.gatech.edu
EI
2
services are supported by the state of Georgia and
by the federal government through programs such as
the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s
Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the U.S.
Department of Commerce’s Economic Development
Administration. EI
2
is headquartered in Georgia Tech’s
Technology Square.
Enterprise Innovation Institute
75 Fifth Street NW
Suite 380
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
404.385.3871
www.innovate.gatech.edu
Georgia Tech Regional Network
North Metro Atlanta: 678.294.1579
South Metro Atlanta: 404.895.5237
Northwest Region: 770.387.4002
Northeast Region: 770.718.3982
West Region: 706.298.0069
Central Region: 478.275.5125
East Region: 706.721.4522
Coastal Region: 912.963.2519
South Region: 229.430.6195
Atlanta Headquarters: 404.385.3871
Warner Robins Warner Robins
The Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
) serves Georgia through a network of staff
members located throughout the state.
EI
2
programs include:
? Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC)
? Alternative Media Access Center (AMAC)
? Community Innovation Services
? The Contracting Education Academy
? Energy Management and Technology Program
? Flashpoint
? Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP)
? Health@GT
? I-Corps
? Innovation Partners
? Integrated Program for Startups (GT:IPS)
? Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center
? Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC)
? Southeastern Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (SETAAC)
? Strategic Partners
? VentureLab
Copyright 2013 • Georgia Institute of Technology • Institute Communications • B13C5100 • An equal education and employment opportunity institution
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