Press Release:

Tallahassee – A non-profit corporation that has created an advanced hybrid voting system, a company ready to market a low-cost diabetes diagnostic kit for small animals, and a business that develops premium chemistry solutions are the recipients of this year’s Innovation Park Technology Commercialization Grants. Each will receive $15,000 from the Leon County Research and Development Authority (LCRDA) to expand these research-based products and services into the commercial arena.

“The challenging economy has encouraged many locally-based entrepreneurs with new and innovative ideas to step out and compete for these grant dollars,” said LCRDA Chairman Tom Barron. “We are celebrating our fifth year of the program and know each winner is well on their way to commercializing technology projects that also will contribute to Leon County’s economic base.”

2009 Grant Winners Snapshots:

Elections by the People was established this year to improve the accuracy, security, and integrity of U.S. elections by developing a new and technically advanced voting system that combines the desirable features of a computer based touch-screen system with the reliability of a 100 percent voter- verified paper ballot.

“This is a novel approach that solves many of the problems inherent in voting systems used today,” says Richard Benham, executive director of the Elections by the People Foundation. “We believe our non-profit organization and commitment to open source development will restore trust among voters while lowering the cost of operations for state and local officials.”

According to Benham, the Foundation is planning to use the grant funds to extend its concept and prototype, purchase development and demonstration equipment, obtain patent, copyright and trademark protections for intellectual property, and to develop marketing and promotional materials.

The Elections by the People Foundation is headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida.

Baycom Diagnostics, Inc. has developed a cost effective diagnostic kit for monitoring and testing feline and canine diabetes. Currently, veterinarians use hand held glucose meters to test cats and dogs for the potential of diabetes. These meters are a critical part of human diabetes management, yet often do not work well with small animals, are expensive and must be used several times a day. The company’s president says veterinarians could administer Baycom's product in a simple, easy test once every 90 days to get an accurate measurement.

“Testing for A1c in people has been the gold standard in diabetes testing for over a decade, and is the one test that gives doctors a 90-day report card on how the body has been managing its sugar levels,” says Gustav Ray, president and CEO of Baycom Diagnostics, Inc. “For the first time, Baycom Diagnostics is offering this same test for canines and felines in a simple, cost effective mail-in test. This will be a great diagnostic tool for veterinarians in their treatment and diagnosis of diabetes in cats and dogs.”

Mr. Ray said the company has operated in a virtual location to conserve costs and will use the grant dollars to establish a corporate office, finalize the product’s packaging and design, fund any legal fees, and conduct the necessary Beta testing of the product.

Florida Custom Synthesis, Inc. (FCS) is an organic chemistry company in Tallahassee that serves Florida's emerging biotech industry. Organic chemistry is a critical component of health care and medical research, yet its expertise is not widely available. FCS offers such expertise in the form of consulting, exploratory research, and delivery of premium synthesis of organic compounds needed for the drug discovery process. Companies like FCS have been successful in biotech hotbeds such as California and Massachusetts; the recent influx of biotech companies into Florida creates a growing statewide demand for the services that FCS provides.

“Establishing our business in Tallahassee will support the rapid growth and development of Florida’s biotech industry, while creating highly skilled jobs in Leon County.” says Gregory B. Dudley, founder of Florida Custom Synthesis, Inc.

The winning proposals were chosen based on specific criteria established by the LCRDA to determine if the technology-related product or service has commercial potential and the ability to create jobs in Leon County.

Proposals for the 2010 Innovation Park Technology Commercialization Grant Program will be accepted in January. To learn more about Innovation Park and the Leon County Research and Development Authority, log on to www.innovation-park.com.

Innovation Park is a 208-acre research park located in Southwest Leon County. Its mission is to promote scientific research and development and broaden the economic base of Leon County in affiliation with the local universities. Over 50 public and private organizations currently call Innovation Park home and employ more than 2,000 citizens from the Tallahassee area in high-paying, technology-based jobs. For more information, visit www.innovation-park.com