Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA with offices on the campus of Lehigh University recently announced a total of $480,000 in grants, including the following companies:
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CEWA Technologies-Bethlehem, Northampton County, $146,000 to complete the design and construction and testing of a new low-cost solar powered dish prototype.
B.Braun Medical, Inc.-Allentown, Lehigh County, $10,000 in connection with Lehigh University's Enterprise Systems Center to study who the parameters in manufacturing affect the end use of products.
L&H Sign Company-Reading, Berks County, $11,800 in partnership with Northampton Coummunity College's Technologies Applications Center to study the economic variability of instlling a rooftop photovoltaic array.
HealthOneMed, Inc.-Allentown, Lehigh County, $50,000 to complete a marketing plan for an automated pill dispensing system for patients that includes audible notification that it is time to take pills and telephone notification to caregivers when a pill is not taken on schedule.
Keystone Potato Products, Hegins, Schuylkill County, $12,500 in connection with Northampton County College's Emerging Technology Center to study the variability of a wind energy plant at the factory.
SolarPA, New Tripoli, Lehigh County, $50,000 to complete research on a new coating that improves the effeciency and reduces the cost of solar cells.
Since its inception in 1982, it has tarted 408 new companies; developed 948 new products and processes; created 14,301 new jobs; and retained 21,236 existing jobs.
In other news, Ben Franklin announced the appointment of venture capitalist Frederick E. Beste, III venture as its new Chairman of the Board.
Beste, a member of the board since 1986, is also CEO of the general partners of Mid-Atlantic Venture Funds. In this capacity hs has been advising local technology entrepreneurs for many years.
Beste joined Mid-Atlantic Venture Funds, which is headquartered at Ben Franklin's Bethlehem Technology Center, in 1984 as the founding president and chief executive officer.
Mid-Atlantic is comprised of four venture capital limited partnerships that together control $200 million in capital, focusing on seed and start-up stage investments, mostly in technology-based companies located in the mid-Atlantic region. He is also partner emeritus/shareholder of the general partner in Bethlehem-based Originate Ventures, a $45 million venture capital fund.
