Kurt Buehler, Far West Regional Coordinator, Admiral Jay Cohen, Chief of ONR, and Rick Shindell discuss the various ways FLC and the Far West can assist ONR.

This year's Far West regional meeting was held August 18-21, 2003 in conjunction with the TechEnterprise 2003 conference at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center, Waikiki Beach. The Far West partnered with the FLC Mid-Continent region and the Office of Naval Research-Pearl Harbor (ONR), Pacific International Center for High Technology Research, and the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. In addition to the FLC Far West and Mid-Continent's technology transfer/commercialization training sessions, this unique collaboration offered the opportunity to explore Hawaii's technology programs and companies, as well as to become familiar with ONR's vast fields of expertise and resources.

TechEnterprise 2003 showcased many of Hawaii’s technology successes in the federal arena and exposed Hawaiian businesses, state and local governments to the opportunities available within the federal laboratories.

In addition to our FLC training, our goals were to introduce Hawaii companies to resources that foster economic growth; promote technology development, transfer and commercialization in Hawaii; encourage collaboration for public-private partnerships; explore Hawaii’s technology programs and companies; learn more about ONR’s resources and expertise; and show ONR how FLC and the regions can benefit them.

Dr. Lyman Frost of Idaho National Environmental Engineering Laboratory delivering a presentation on INEEL Reforming and Fuel Cells.

TechEnterprise 2003 featured presentations and speakers from various state and local government, federal laboratories, and the DoD to spotlight key topics such as FLC training on partnering and I.P.; creative partnerships between Federal Labs and industry; alternate energy / fuel cells technology opportunities; environmental technology; homeland security; Small Business Innovation Research partnerships; and Hawaii’s hydrogen technology roadmap.

The Far West presented their regional awards at the TechEnterprise 2003 awards banquet. Cheryl Cejka of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory was awarded Outstanding Laboratory Representative honors for the region. Robert Taylor of the Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center received an Outstanding Technology Development Award for NFESC's Port Security Barrier Technology.

FLC attendees filled out a conference survey, and the results indicated that the conference was a great success. The Far West Region has produced a CD with the conference proceedings. CD’s are available at no cost by contacting the Far West Support office at 360-582-9106 or by email linda@zyn.com