Portland State Magazine Spring 2010

PARK BLOCKS Helping to right social wrongs CERVICAL CANCER kills an estimated 300,000 women worldwide each year. Many of these deaths could be prevented with early diagnosis. Portland-based company Preciva understands the numbers and has developed a simple, inexpensive test for the disease that may be used on women in areas of the world where health services are limited. PSU's new Social Innovation Incubator (SII) is helping entrepreneurs such as Preciva CEO Craig Miller, launch busi– ness solutions that address some of the world's most pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. "Entrepreneurial activity creates jobs and economic growth," says incubator director Cindy Cooper. "The objective of social entrepreneurship is to right a social wrong, something that isn't addressed by normal market activity." The II taps into the intellectual assets of Portland State staff, faculty, and student consulting teams to provide business The University's new Social Innova– tion Incubator is helping Portland coffee importer, Sustainable Harvest, start a roasting business and training center for farmers in Mexico. Photo ©Sustainable Harvest. planning advice, while introducing entrepreneurs to investors, accountants, and lawyers. Sustainable Harvest, a Portland coffee importer, is also a client of the SIL It wants to develop "intrapreneurial" proj– ects-initiatives within its existing business. With the incu– bator's help, the company is starting a roasting business and training center in Oaxaca, Mexico, and a pilot program in Tanzania that will let farmers use tl1e Web to crack sales and connect with buyers. Companies such as Sustainable Harvest will typically be members of the SII for a year, while startups may get longer– term help. Cooper hopes to expand the program to include about 20 ventures and is now reviewing applications. "We believe in trying novel ideas," she says. INTEL IS FAIRJCATI G nuicr.to1~es,o,,s for a Mistkawi mentally friendly 11\Cthocl that is saving millions of dollars, cbank, u, Jun IQd.uate ii Mistbwi, a neer at Intel Hillsboro facility; will recd a doctorate· clu:mumyat the Juae 13 Cltll'linenc.,e,. ment His one..of+kind c:homi formulation fot Jnttl the for his