Innovation Council appointees named 

Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter has appointed eight members to the newly created Idaho Innovation Council, a group that will advise the Idaho Department of Commerce, other state agencies and universities on ways to leverage the state’s technological innovations into economic growth.

“The process of successfully commercializing Idaho’s innovations is complex and will take considerable effort,” Otter said in a release from the Commerce Department. “I’m grateful to the individuals who are sharing their time and expertise to serve on this council, and I look forward to great results as we pursue our Project 60 goals for expanding and diversifying Idaho’s economy.”

Members of the council include: Jefferson Jewell, managing director of Blackfin Technologies in Boise, who will serve as chairman; Robin Woods, president of Alturas Analytics in Moscow; Douglas Sayer, founder of Premier Technology in Blackfoot; Steve Hodges, president of M2M Communications in Boise; Jason Stolworthy, commercialization manager for Battelle Energy Alliance in Idaho Falls; Mark Warbis, director of communications and staff operations for Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter; Donald A. Dietrich, Commerce Director; and a member from the Board of Education still to be named.

Picking up from the Science & Technology Advisory Council, which the governor disbanded two years ago, the council will identify and clear obstacles to commercializing technology invented by Idaho firms and institutions, including the state’s universities and the Idaho National Laboratory.

The council will also work on technology transfer in partnership with I-Cubed – a separate, for-profit, entity backed by the Commerce Department to attract foreign investment for the development of Idaho intellectual property.

The council will meet quarterly, though the date for its first meeting has yet to be announced. 

NEW! Online only subscription. 24/7 access to premium online subscriber content for only $79.00 a year!
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!

Comments are closed.