What you say in the first few moments of a negotiation often sets the climate of the negotiation. The other person quickly gets a feel for whether you are working for a win-win solution, or whether you're a tough negotiator who's out for everything they can get.
That's one problem that I have with the way that attorneys negotiate-they're very confrontational negotiators. You get that white envelope in the mail with black, raised lettering in the top left hand corner and you think, "Oh, no! What is it this time?" You open the letter and what's the first communication from them? It's a threat. What they're going to do to you, if you don't give them what they want.
Biotech Rumor
I remember conducting a seminar for 50 attorneys who litigated medical malpractice lawsuits, or as they prefer to call them, physician liability lawsuits. I've never met an attorney who was eager to go to a negotiating seminar, although that's what they do for a living, and these people were no exception to the rule. However, the organization that was giving the attorneys their business told them that they were expected to attend my seminar if they wanted to get any more cases from the organization. So the attorneys weren't too happy about having to spend Saturday with me in the first place, but once we got started, they became involved and were having a good time. I got them absorbed in a workshop involving a surgeon being sued over an unfortunate incident involving a nun and walked around the room to see how they were doing. I couldn't believe how confrontational they were being. Most of them started with a vicious threat and then became more abusive from that point on. I had to stop the exercise and tell them that if they wanted to settle the case without expensive litigation (and I doubted their motives on that score) that they should never be confrontational in the early stages of the negotiation.
Setting the Climate for a Non-Confrontational Negotiation
So, be careful what you say at the beginning. If the other person takes a position with which you totally disagree, don't argue. Arguing always intensifies the other person's desire to prove himself or herself right. You're much better off to agree with the other person initially and then turn it around using the Feel, Felt, Found formula. Respond with, "I understand exactly how you feel about that. Many other people have felt exactly the same way as you do right now. (Now you have diffused that competitive spirit. You're not arguing with them, you're agreeing with them.) But you know what we have always found? When we take a closer look at it, we have always found that . ."
Let's look at some examples:
So instead of arguing up front, which creates confrontational negotiation, get in the habit of agreeing and then turning it around.
At my seminars, I sometimes ask a person in the front row to stand. As I hold my two hands out, with my palms facing toward the person I've asked to stand, I ask him to place his hands against mine. Having done that and without saying another word, I gently start to push against him. Automatically, without any instruction, he always begins to push back. People shove when you shove them. Similarly, when you argue with someone, it automatically makes him or her want to argue back.
The other great thing about Feel, Felt, Found is that it gives you time to think. Sometimes something will come up in a negotiation that you weren't expecting. You haven't heard anything like this before. It shocks you. You don't know what to say; but if you have Feel, Felt, Found in the back of your mind, you can say, "I understand exactly how you feel about that. Many other people have felt exactly the same way. However, I have always found . . ." By the time you get there, you'll have thought of something to say. Similarly, you sometimes catch other people at a bad moment. You may be a salesperson who is calling to get an appointment and the person says to you, "I don't have any more time to waste talking to some lying scum-sucking salesperson." You calmly say, "I understand exactly how you feel about that. Many other people have felt exactly the same way. However . . ." By the time you get there you will have recovered your composure and will know exactly what to say.
Key points to remember:
Don't argue with people in the early stages of the negotiation because it creates confrontation.
Use the Feel, Felt, Found formula to turn the hostility around.
Having Feel, Felt, Found in the back of your mind gives you time to think when the other side throws some unexpected hostility your way.
Setting the Climate for a Non-Confrontational NegotiationHalo: Reach - Fails of the Weak Volume #3 (Funny Halo: Reach Bloopers!) Tube. Duration : 3.58 Mins.
Jack and Geoff are back with a slew of incredible (?) feats in the world of Halo: Reach. Cheer and laugh along with the antics of these crazy folks! If you sent in a Fail of the Weak, bear with us, we've received hundreds! We'll get to yours!
Roger Dawson is the author of two of Nightingale-Conant's best selling audiocassette programs, Secrets of Power Negotiating and Secrets of Power Negotiating for Salespeople. This article is excerpted in part from Roger Dawson's new book - "Secrets of Power Negotiating", published by Career Press and on sale in bookstores everywhere for .99.
Negotiations are often associated with labor union contract, with strongly held positions, or with conflicting situations. However, looking at negotiating from a better perspective, we are surprised to find that it is much a part of our daily life. Daily, we bring negotiations into our relationships, our businesses, and our employment practices.
In recalling the different negotiations in which I have been involved, one stands clearly in my mind. It was a performance appraisal meeting at a former place of employment. I can recall how the meeting took place and its unproductive results. Later I learned effective negotiation skills that would have produced a winning outcome for all parties involved.
Biotech Rumor
Performance appraisals were conducted once a year in my former organization. I dreaded that review because a new manager that had not observed the employees' job performance would conduct it. Rumor had it that she would evaluate every one as merely competent employees, and contrary to my expectations, the rumor turned out to be true.
Effective Negotiation Skills: A Practical Application
My performance appraisal meeting became no more than a full review of all the dimensions in my job description. To each dimension she attached an equal sign to signify that I had performed as expected. There were no instances in which she thought that I had performed above expectations, and with that, I firmly disagreed. Not only did I disagree, but also I sensed I was becoming angry and resentful.
In that meeting, I took the position approach described in Fisher and Ury (1991) in their book Getting to Yes . I let my supervisor know that I was not in agreement with her and began to explain my view of my own performance, which I carefully backed with facts and figures. I made sure she understood that I deserved a much better rating. She took the position approach as well. She reinstated that all of my facts showed that my performance was as expected, and no more. I tried with examples to convince her, but she had taken a stand and would not back down. I did likewise. We were locked in our positions and did not reach a satisfactory agreement.
That performance review caused me to feel as if I had been in a battlefield and lost. I began to see my supervisor as my adversary and our work relationship suffered. I learned that the position approach does not produce a wise or beneficial outcome for either party. If the situation were to occur again, I could handle that negotiation in a much better way.
The circumstances would be the same. My new supervisor would have little knowledge of the employees' performance for the previous months and would opt for a competent evaluation across the board. I would be rated as a competent employee also. But here is where I would differ from my real experience. My new negotiation approach would be principle negotiation, negotiation on the merits.
I would begin by separating the people from the problem, as outlined by Fisher & Ury (1991) in the book Influence. In this case, separating the people from the problem meant to understand why she felt compelled to evaluate me in such way. Perhaps she was told to do so by her own supervisor, or may be she understood this to be a fair way of evaluating a performance that she had not observed. Regardless of the reasons, my new approach would be not to take it as a personal criticism, and I would remind myself that the ongoing relationship is more important than the outcome of that review.
My next step would be to focus on our common interests. I have learned that the aim of an appraisal system is to improve the employee´s performance. It should be goal oriented and it should point out an employee's specific needs for training and development. So rather than taking positions over my work in the previous twelve months, the content of the new meeting would be to identify a specific performance goal and to develop a plan of action to achieve the goal during the next performance period.
If I were given a chance to go through that performance evaluation meeting again, this is what I would say: "I really appreciate that you consider me a competent employee. That is what I strive for, and yet I would like to be more than competent. If you would agree with me, I would like for the two of us to focus on the future and on how I can improve my performance. It has been our organization's practice to measure performance by the objective set the previous performance period. I would like to work with you and to set goals for my development for the next twelve months."
Tow principles should work in the proposal made above, reciprocity and precedence. The principle of reciprocity says that we should repay what another person has provided for us. One of the consequences of this principle according to Cialdini (1993) is that we would feel obligated to make a concession to someone who has made a concession to us. In ignoring an average evaluation, I would have made a concession. By referring to our organization's past practice regarding performance, I would be establishing precedence. I would expect that my supervisor would have agreed to focus on a common goal if I had taken this approach.
Developing options for a plan of action for the next performance period would not be a difficult task at that point. A number of options would be listed that would satisfy my supervisor as well as myself. Ownership of the ideas would belong to both, and surely a plan for improved performance would bring about mutual gain.
Once my supervisor has agreed to develop a plan of action for the next performance period and has worked with me on a list of options, a third principle of persuasion should come into play, the principle of commitment and consistency. Commitment according to Cialdini (1993) means that there is a natural tendency to behave in ways that are consistent with the stand that we have taken. At this point, I would expect to see the old way of rating employees near the average or middle of the scale should be gone forever. The proposed type of appraisal meeting is based on an objective criteria and it focuses on solving problems rather than finding faults. It looks to the future and it yields to principles, not pressures.
In a real life situation, a performance appraisal meeting, effective negotiation skills can be used for mutual gain. In examining the positions that can be taken, it is clear that a position stand does not produce a satisfactory outcome for either party. Utilizing effective negotiation skills that bring about a winning outcome for all, includes separating the people from the problem, focusing on mutual interest, inventing options for mutual gain, and using objective criteria. Principles of persuasion, reciprocity, precedence, ownership, commitment and consistency are additional valuable tools in negotiations.
REFERENCES
Fisher, R. & Ury, W. (1991). Getting to Yes . New York: Penguin Books.
Cialdini, R. (1993). Influence . New York: William Morrow
Effective Negotiation Skills: A Practical ApplicationThe Invasion! : Original Short Tube. Duration : 2.42 Mins.
Static on the phone lines? Strange signals from Mars? It can only mean one thing! INVASION! Starring Zack Finfrock Featuring Jenn Capizzi as The Girlfriend Directed and Edited: Vincent Talenti Visual FX: Aaron Moorhead Original Score: Dan Martinez Sound Design: Julian Higgins Production Assistant: Aaron Giles *BONUS* Click below for the Original Indy Mogul Theme Ringtone! www.mediafire.com - .m4r for the iPhone www.mediafire.com - .mid for Verizon www.mediafire.com - .mp3 for anything else! To learn how to create your own Fig Rig as used in this BFX original short, check out: www.indymogul.com Indy Mogul's Original Shorts are funny short films featuring the effects and props from Indy Mogul's Backyard FX. Great filmmaking on a budget. Fun, Cheap, Filmmaking.' Website: www.indymogul.com Submit www.indymogul.com Twitter: www.twitter.com Facebook: www.facebook.com
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Dori Kelsey is owner operator of SpainExchange. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Spring Arbor College (Michigan) in Management and Organizational Development, and a Master of Liberal Studies from The University of Toledo (Ohio). Through her 25-year career in the United States she acquired professional experience in the fields of international education, employment and training, and human resources development along with effective skills in the development and coordination of programs and the provision of services to foreign nationals.
As owner operator of SpainExchange, she has developed educational tours of Spain, school exchanges, and customized training programs for various schools, universities and educational services. All programs have successfully met the clients' objectives as they provided relevant learning as well as enjoyable activities for the participants.
The biotech industry has experienced explosive growth, dwarfing that of the high tech industry. It's driven by two factors - the curiosity of its scientists and the payoff. The profits to be made are enormous, and it's these profits that are blinding its proponents and driving the debate.
It all started back in 1995 with the modification of the humble tomato. But what a Pandora's Box it opened. Today we see many varieties of genetically altered produce which, though it looks the same on the outside, is very unique in its genetic make-up. This practice of creating designer foods through gene manipulation is seen as the exiting future in agricultural farming. Geneticists tell us breathlessly that this new technology will revolutionize our lives and lead to electrifying advances in the food industry. Some of the supposed benefits of this gene-manipulation are:
o Foods more tolerant to chemicals & better resistance to pests & diseases
Biotechnology
o More nutritional content and improved food processing traits
Biotechnology - A Genetic Pandora's Box
o Resistance to unfavorable soils and weather circumstances
o Improved ripening, texture and flavor in foods
But Is It Safe?
Although the technology is impressive, the question of food safety remains skeptical and claims illusory. Genetic engineering is only in its infancy and scientists have no idea what they're messing with. By inserting genes to alter design and content, they intervene in DNA which is a self-organizing, self-replicating macromolecule, with the ability to perform error correction. Introduction of an alien gene introduces instability. The stress will cause the molecule to try and expel, or mutate the alien gene, with the result being a new structure, and the possibility of gross malfunction. This instability or undesired characteristic may not become apparent for several generations.
At this point in time, Agriculture Canada and the USDA have not identified long term health risks. All testing done to date, despite reassurances to the contrary by the biotech industry and regulatory authorities, are construed to safeguard the industry not guarantee public safety. Standard toxicology tests are conducted by the industry that benefits, no testing is done by regulatory authorities (they rely on industry data), no independent scientific tests, no long term studies, no sixth, seventh, eighth and later generation studies, and no monitoring of releases to the environment. In other words, testing is grossly one-sided. The only meaningful trials taking place are those that use the human population as involuntary guinea-pigs and the environment as an outside laboratory.
The biotech industry specializes in half-truths, downright deceptions, and extravagant claims. It comes as no surprise to learn that companies big in the manufacture and distributions of biocides (e.g. Monsanto) are also major biotech players. Nor should it come as a surprise that intense lobbying by the same companies has led to a massive increase in the permitted herbicide residues on crops. GM crops can tolerate increased herbicide applications, thus leading to a substantial increase in usage.
So we can easily see that biotechnology, rather than being used to solve agricultural problems, is more profit driven than need driven. It intensifies the farmers' dependence upon industrial inputs to legally inhibit the right of farmers to reproduce, share and store seeds. By controlling the germplasm from seed to sale and by forcing farmers to pay inflated prices for seed-chemical packages, companies are determined to extract the most profit from their investment.
Opinion polls show the world public to be overwhelmingly against genetically modified foods. In France, Britain, Denmark, USA and countries of Europe, between 68-90% of all surveyed were dogmatically against the use of GM products. The giant chemical companies are well aware of this dilemma.
(There is substantial opposition from the public, from the media, and not least, from retailers) - Leaked internal Monsanto report.
Yet we'll likely continue to dine on DNA altered cuisine without ever knowing it. Peddlers of genetically modified foods continue to slip their adulterated products onto the world market in the hope that no one will notice. Producers deliberately mix GM and non-GM products in their foods, which amounts to force-feeding an unsuspecting public. How many people in Canada know they're eating an estimated diet of 60% genetically processed foods? How many know that the US, Canada and Argentina account for more than 90% of the world's GM food crops? Absence of food labeling helps tremendously in this growing market (as it does with irradiated food).
[Labeling is the key issue ... If you put a label on genetically engineered food; you might as well put a skull and crossbones on it. - head of Asgrow, Monsanto seed subsidiary].
More genetic danger
What about ecological balance? Modified crop genes could cross-pollinate into the countryside, destroying wild habitats and creating a genetically polluted environment. Once released, genetic material can never be retrieved again. These organisms are a new life form that can mutate and breed for generations with other living things. It is a non-indigenous species that has absolutely no natural habitat outside the laboratory. Their introductions will most certainly set off elements of the environment that have a domino effect of cascading changes throughout the entire eco-system.
"If something does go badly wrong we will be faced with the problem of clearing up a kind of pollution which is self-perpetuating. I am not convinced that anyone has the first idea of how this could be done, or indeed who would have to pay." - Prince Charles, Seeds of Disaster, The Daily Telegraph, 8 June 1998
Here are a few examples of agricultural genetic failures illustrating some of the problems that have been encountered:
o The Flavr Savr tomato was a commercial disaster
o Bt-cotton suffered extensive damage from Bt-resistance pests
o Roundup Cotton shed its cotton balls when sprayed with Roundup
o A soybean with a Brazil nut gene contains a protein fatal to those with nut allergy
o Genetically modified potatoes damaged the immune system in rats
o Transgenic canola can harm bees by destroying their ability to recognize flower perfumes
These are but a few samples taken from known examples. There may be many more that we don't know about because latent genetic abnormalities have not yet surfaced. It takes only one rogue gene to cause a disaster. Biotechnology offers no benefits to the public or to the environment, only to the biotech companies which hope to make a killing. It may be a bigger killing than they anticipated. Using genetically modified crops is the same as conducting a gigantic experiment on the world's ecosystem. But with this experimentation, the ultimate price could be life itself.
"My worry is that other advances in science may result in other means of mass destruction, maybe more readily available even than nuclear weapons. Genetic engineering is quite a possible area, because of these dreadful developments that are taking place there." - Joseph Rotblat, Nobel Prize Laureate.
Sources:
1) Allen, Scott - Tinkering with DNA on Your Dinner Plate - New York Times Syndicate, 1999
2) Alison Abbot, German Physicians Warn of Genetics Risks, Nature, Vol 384 No 9, 1997
3) Andy Coghlan, The Devil We Don't Know - Virus Resistance Is What Keeps Genetic Engineers Awake At Night, New Scientist, 12 September 1996
4) Anon, Gene Food Row, News in Brief, the Sunday Times, 16 August 1998
5) Anon, Battle Lines Drawn Over Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods, Campaigns & News, the Ecologist, July/August 1998
6) Ambassador College Agricultural Department - Genetic Engineering, Complex Path To Failure - Your Living Environment, May 1970/73,Vol.1,No.5.
7) Asda, Labeling of Genetically Modified Ingredients, Asda, 28 January 1998
8) BBC, News Item On Genetically Modified Food, The World at One, Radio 4, BBC, 10 August 1998
9) BBC, Report on Virulent and Cross-Species Viruses, Frontiers, Radio 4, BBC, 24 February 1999
10) BBC, Report on GM Crops, One Planet, BBC World Service, BBC, 16 December 1998 11) Clive Cookson, Field of Genes, Financial Times, 11 August 1998
12) Cummins, E.Joseph - More On Tinkered Genes - Alive, Canadian Journal of Health & Nutrition,Issue 3,p.135,1993.
13) FDA, Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition-Emerging Technologies - Biotechnology, 1995
14) FDA/CFSAN, Fed.Register - Statement of Policy: Foods Derived from New Plant Varieties - Vol.57, No.104, p.22984-22989, May 29, 1992.
15) Food Labeling; Foods Derived from New Varieties, Federal Register, April 28, 1993, Vol. 58 pages 25837-25841
Hsu, Karen - The Future Of Food Is Now - New York Times Syndicate, 1999.
16) Kendall, Patricia-Food Biotech.: Boon or Threat-Journal of Nutr. Education, 1997 - Society for Nutrit.Education.
17) McCullum,Christine - The New Biotechnology Era: Issues for Education and Policy - Journal of Nutrition Education and Policy, May/June 1997-Society for Nutritional Education.
18) P. Hatchwell, Opening Pandora's Box - The Risks of Releasing Genetically Engineered Organisms, the Ecologist, July/August 1989
21) Staunton, Dennis & Others - GM Food Threatens The Planet - Guardian Newspapers Ltd., 1999.
22) Steve Gorelick, Hiding Damaging Information From The Public, The Ecologist, Sept./Oct. 1998
23) Wales, Prince Of - Genetically Modified Food: Is It An Innovation We Can Do Without? - Online Forum, Copyright St. James Place and the Press Association Ltd. 1999
Biotechnology - A Genetic Pandora's BoxThe Invasion! : Original Short Video Clips. Duration : 2.42 Mins.
Static on the phone lines? Strange signals from Mars? It can only mean one thing! INVASION! Starring Zack Finfrock Featuring Jenn Capizzi as The Girlfriend Directed and Edited: Vincent Talenti Visual FX: Aaron Moorhead Original Score: Dan Martinez Sound Design: Julian Higgins Production Assistant: Aaron Giles *BONUS* Click below for the Original Indy Mogul Theme Ringtone! www.mediafire.com - .m4r for the iPhone www.mediafire.com - .mid for Verizon www.mediafire.com - .mp3 for anything else! To learn how to create your own Fig Rig as used in this BFX original short, check out: www.indymogul.com Indy Mogul's Original Shorts are funny short films featuring the effects and props from Indy Mogul's Backyard FX. Great filmmaking on a budget. Fun, Cheap, Filmmaking.' Website: www.indymogul.com Submit www.indymogul.com Twitter: www.twitter.com Facebook: www.facebook.com
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Jorg Mardian is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Certified Fitness Trainer, with over 25 years of practical experience through thousands of clients. He is also editor of "Health in Motion," a health intelligence blog giving clear and concise information on the real truth about nutrition and causes of disease. It can be found at http://healthinmotion.wordpress.com
Overview of the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project Credit
The Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project Credit ("the Credit") was created by Congress as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed on March 23, 2010. The potential incentive for small to mid-sized biotechnology companies is significant but there are limited funds available and there is a short two year window to take advantage of the incentive on a first come, first serve basis.
Biotechnology
Consequently, the time to act is now or you will miss out on this opportunity.
Lucrative New Opportunity For Small to Mid-Sized Biotechnology Companies
This article will outline the positive and negative aspects of The Credit and why you must begin the process immediately to obtain your piece of the pie.
Net Benefit Examples
Before delving into the details of the Credit, let's look at two examples of the potential benefit for eligible companies. An important aspect of the Credit is that companies cannot take the same expenses toward the Credit and the R&D Credit. (The R&D Credit may be utilized for other expenses). These examples illustrate both the size of the incentive for the Credit but also how it compares to the R&D Tax Credit.
Benefit Comparison Example: Medical Device Maker
Sampling of Activities:
Drug Delivery Devices
Treatment Delivery Systems
Therapeutic Care Equipment
Medical Monitoring Devices
Qualified Expenditures:
2009 - Million
2010 - Million
Benefit Comparison:
Estimated net benefit under the R&D Tax Credit: 5,000
Estimated net benefit under The Credit: ,625,000
Benefit Comparison Example: Biopharmaceutical Development
Sampling of Activities:
Pharmaceutical Research
Clinical Trials
Pre-Clinical Research and Testing
Qualified Expenditures:
2009: Million
2010: .5 Million
Benefit Comparison:
Estimated net benefit under the R&D Tax Credit: 2,500
Estimated net benefit under the Affordable Care Credit: 2,500
Overview of The Credit
Biotechnology firms have a lucrative opportunity to recover newly created Federal grants and tax credits. Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, eligible firms can apply for a tax credit or non-taxable cash grant in an amount equal to 50% of investments made in qualified therapeutic discovery projects. Congress mandated the creation of a new program, administered by the Secretary of the Treasury ("the Secretary"), to consider grants and credits by the end of May 2010. While the scope of activities covered by the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project Credit ("the Credit") is broad, the amount of funds and years of eligibility are limited.
Broad in Scope
The Credit goes beyond existing investment tax incentives. Under the new law, expenses incurred in pursuit of any project designed to develop a "product, process, or technology" that furthers the "delivery or administration of therapeutics" are qualified. Moreover, projects designed to treat or diagnose a disease or condition may be qualified.
Consideration will be given to those projects that show reasonable potential to result in:
1) new therapies that treat areas of unmet medical need;
2) new therapies that prevent, detect, or treat chronic or acute diseases and conditions;
3) reduction of long-term health care costs in the United States; and
4) significant advancement of the goal of curing cancer within a 30-year period.
Like other investment tax credits, national job creation and retention is an important part of the law. When considering grants and credits, the Secretary will take into account the potential to create and sustain high paying U.S. jobs, as well as the potential benefit to U.S. competitiveness in the fields of life, biological, and medical sciences.
Eligible Companies
Firms that employ medical researchers, biomedical engineers, and other personnel with a background in life sciences should consider this opportunity.
Here is a list of companies that may have eligible projects for The Credit:
• Pharmaceuticals
• Medical, Drug Delivery and Health Device Manufacturers
• Biopharmaceutical Engineering Firms
• Genetic Research Firms
• Biomedical Engineering Firms
• Life Sciences Companies
• Health Sciences Companies
• Health Diagnostics Manufacturers
• Biomedical Manufacturing
• Therapeutic Treatment Companies
• Biomaterial Firms
• Tissue Engineering Companies
• Biomedical Optics Firms
• Cancer Research Companies
• Cancer Treatment Firms
• Radiology Companies
• Nanotechnology Firms
Major Benefits of The Credit
Unlike other investment tax incentives:
1. Applicants for the Credit are not required to have current taxable income.
2. Firms with no tax liability can apply for a grant in lieu of a tax credit.
3. The Credit has a statutory response time of 30 days.
a. Firms applying for the tax credit will be approved or denied by the Treasury Department within 30 days from the date of application.
b. Firms applying for a grant must be paid within 30 days from the later of the date of application or the date the qualified investment is made.
Limitations
Firms considering a grant or credit must take action now because of the following limitations:
1. Under current law, The Credit is only applicable to qualified investments made during the 2009 and 2010 tax years.
2. The amount of funds currently available is capped at billion.
3. The credit is limited to firms with 250 employees or less.
These limitations will result in intense competition for the funds currently allocated.
Program Administration
Under the new law, the Secretary must establish a program to administer the Credit not later than 60 days from the date of enactment. Though the Secretary has not released new details yet, it is clear that application and approval of funds will occur relatively quickly. Though the exact details of the program have not been released, eligible firms must begin tax planning.
Summary
In our estimation, the positive aspects of the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project Credit are enormous but there is a small window of opportunity to take advantage of The Credit.
Given the administration and scrutiny of existing tax incentives, such as the R&D tax credit, those tax consultants with a background in science and engineering are particularly well suited to capture this new opportunity. Tax consultants with these qualifications are in the best position to help taxpayers properly identify qualified therapeutic investment projects. Eligible firms should contact a qualified tax advisor immediately.
Lucrative New Opportunity For Small to Mid-Sized Biotechnology CompaniesMinecraft - "Shadow of Israphel" Part 1: Crash and Burn Video Clips. Duration : 14.50 Mins.
The heroes finally return home, after a gruelling period on the Survival Island - to find that the world they left behind has changed for the worse. They must gather what resources they have and set out on a new adventure! Huge thanks to Variede for the starting cutscene and bonus stuff, subscribe to his channel here! Very reasonable rates! www.youtube.com Facebook: www.facebook.com Our Podcast: itunes.apple.com Texture pack is DSB's Gerudoku remix, around page 17 of this thread: www.minecraftforum.net
The authors are Karim Solanji, J.D., Director and Mark Lauber, VP of Marketing both of Paradigm Partners. Paradigm Partners is a national tax consulting firm specializing in niche tax services such as the R&D Tax Credit, Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project Credit, the IC-DISC (U.S. Exporters' Tax Incentive), WOTC (Federal and State Hiring Tax Incentives), Section 179 and Cost Segregation. Mark's email is MLauber@ParadigmLP.com and his phone number is (281) 558-7100 X-105. Our website is http://www.ParadigmLP.com.
Based in Warrenville, Illinois, biofuels industry leader Coskata says that with its technology the company can produce ethanol from just about any organic material. Even better, Coskata says it is able to do so for less than per gallon. This claim, and generous backing from venture capitalists and the likes of General Motors, gave Coskata the number one ranking from Biofuels Digest in its list of the 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy.
Unlike most of its ethanol-focused competitors, the Coskata approach is not based on improved cellulosic conversion to fermentable sugars. Rather, Coskata uses already available chemical technology for converting mixed agricultural and municipal waste into a synthesis gas, which consists mainly of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen.
Biotechnology
Then second step is the biological one, relying on the microbial bioconversion of the synthesis gas to ethanol. Coskata claims it produces "99.7% pure ethanol" with its microbe and process, although of course, every other method can also produce 99.7% pure ethanol once the ethanol is refined and distilled. A distinct advantage of the Coskata technology is the use of non-food raw materials, avoiding the problem of diverting food crops to fuels or the crowding out of food crops with fuel crops.
Hot Biofuels Company - A Profile of Coskata, Inc
Coskata's process would produce ethanol from agricultural waste like corn stalks and wheat straw. Another advantage is that Coskata's method for producing ethanol avoids the "negative energy" comparisons that have been so glibly bandied about. Using already available waste means no additional energy cost for growing and harvesting the raw materials it will use as a feedstock, and therefore, Coskata calculates that its ethanol provides 7.7 times the energy required to produce it.
Whether or not this is strictly true, on paper Coskata's process looks far more efficient than corn-based ethanol production.
As for revenues, Coskata has nothing of significance on the horizon. The company's first pilot plant won't be running until the end of 2009 at the earliest, and it will only produce about 40,000 gallons per year. At per gallon, that is a pretty poor return on the approximately 0 million invested. But Coskata claims that the sky is the limit on its future potential, which is why all the money has flowed in from investors in the first place. The first commercial-scale plant producing 100 million gallons per year is scheduled for 2011, and if the company meets that milestone, the future for Coskata will be highly liquid-both with green fuel and greenbacks.
Hot Biofuels Company - A Profile of Coskata, IncThe Invasion! : Original Short Video Clips. Duration : 2.42 Mins.
Static on the phone lines? Strange signals from Mars? It can only mean one thing! INVASION! Starring Zack Finfrock Featuring Jenn Capizzi as The Girlfriend Directed and Edited: Vincent Talenti Visual FX: Aaron Moorhead Original Score: Dan Martinez Sound Design: Julian Higgins Production Assistant: Aaron Giles *BONUS* Click below for the Original Indy Mogul Theme Ringtone! www.mediafire.com - .m4r for the iPhone www.mediafire.com - .mid for Verizon www.mediafire.com - .mp3 for anything else! To learn how to create your own Fig Rig as used in this BFX original short, check out: www.indymogul.com Indy Mogul's Original Shorts are funny short films featuring the effects and props from Indy Mogul's Backyard FX. Great filmmaking on a budget. Fun, Cheap, Filmmaking.' Website: www.indymogul.com Submit www.indymogul.com Twitter: www.twitter.com Facebook: www.facebook.com
Tags: Invasion, aliens, indymogul, funnyvideos, shortfilms, filmmaking, movies, mars, attacks, martians, war, of, the, worlds, district
David Rozzell maintains a web site and blog dedicated to the latest developments and news in biofuels, biocatalysis, and industrial biotechnology. For informative, sometimes amusing, always opinionated analysis go to http://www.bio-catalyst.com Contact him at david@bio-catalyst.com.
Among the many branches of pharmaceutical engineering Biopharmaceuticals is one of them, which develops medicines using biotechnology concepts. Biopharmaceuticals plants use living organisms and biological sources which have abundant of these substances which are used in production of medicines.
There therapeutic proteins which are restorative and secure have huge demand because they have a good healing powers and also they can be used in the production of prominent medicines. Over the past two decades, Biotechnology has gained lot of momentum and popularity in the medical world. The agents which stimulating red-blood-cell, insulin and growth hormones, etc, are vastly used in prevention of many diseases like orphan diseases, arthritis, multiple sclerosis etc.
Biotechnology
These plants use the concepts of biotechnology in production of all important drugs. With the development of pathogenesis, which can give reliable solutions to all fatal diseases, the life expectancy will be improved. Biopharmaceutical products can be used to efficiently treat various illnesses and traumas. This biotechnology requires huge investments and longtime development plan.
Biopharmaceutical Plants and Pharmaceutical Engineering
Production costs of the medicines needs to be reduced by adopting efficient methods in biopharmaceutical plants, also additional safety procedures need to be implemented.
Blood disorders and oncology which jeopardize normal like of mankind can be cured with using vaccines and other anti-infective agents; this treatment is available only because of biopharmaceuticals.
Various methods and strategies have been published describing effective production of biological substance by many healthcare organizations. All these methods and strategies are useful in the manufacturing process of various medicines. Biopharmaceutical plants produced various useful medicines which are highly effective to cure general as well as fatal diseases; they are still working hard to contribute more to the medical world.
Biopharmaceutical Plants and Pharmaceutical EngineeringThe Invasion! : Original Short Tube. Duration : 2.42 Mins.
Static on the phone lines? Strange signals from Mars? It can only mean one thing! INVASION! Starring Zack Finfrock Featuring Jenn Capizzi as The Girlfriend Directed and Edited: Vincent Talenti Visual FX: Aaron Moorhead Original Score: Dan Martinez Sound Design: Julian Higgins Production Assistant: Aaron Giles *BONUS* Click below for the Original Indy Mogul Theme Ringtone! www.mediafire.com - .m4r for the iPhone www.mediafire.com - .mid for Verizon www.mediafire.com - .mp3 for anything else! To learn how to create your own Fig Rig as used in this BFX original short, check out: www.indymogul.com Indy Mogul's Original Shorts are funny short films featuring the effects and props from Indy Mogul's Backyard FX. Great filmmaking on a budget. Fun, Cheap, Filmmaking.' Website: www.indymogul.com Submit www.indymogul.com Twitter: www.twitter.com Facebook: www.facebook.com
Keywords: Invasion, aliens, indymogul, funnyvideos, shortfilms, filmmaking, movies, mars, attacks, martians, war, of, the, worlds, district
The processes used by P&B companies may be quite different from that of other types of manufacturing and services industries, but that has not dented the applicability of 'Lean' concepts - because 'Lean' makes way for reduced costs and improved quality, which have universal applicability, especially in today's highly competitive globalized world.
For better understanding, let us discuss some of the critical areas where 'Lean' concepts and methodologies can be successfully implemented in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
Biotechnology
Drug Research and Development (R&D)
Lean Six Sigma Benefits Pharmaceutical and Biotech Industries
Research and development is the backbone of every successful P&B company, and since R&D costs form a major chunk of the overall costs of such companies, it makes sense to deploy Lean concepts in R&D. By using time-tested Lean concepts and statistically sound methods, P&B companies can easily achieve the desired objectives such as identifying processes that are critical to the drug discovery and development, assessing the applicability of new processes and streamlining existing processes.
It is necessary for P&B companies to achieve these objectives because it is only then that they will be able to make way for increased capacity utilization, increased productivity, reduced drug failures, and the best possible use of existing staff, facilities and resources.
Cycle Times
Increased cycle times can easily hamper the successful launch of new drugs and other clinical products, technologies and applications, because in today's highly competitive P&B industry, getting the advantage of being first makes all the difference between success and failure. If a P&B company is infested with increased cycle times, it will not be able to make the first moves and chances are also high that competitors will come in to take its place by offering something very similar.
This is why it is necessary to use Lean concepts and methodologies such as 'value stream mapping', and 'process modeling' that not only help in reducing cycle times, but also help in reducing operational costs and improving operational efficiencies.
Defects
The defect or failure rate is probably the highest in P&B companies because drug discovery and development is still a gray science, wherein even small variations can have a huge impact on the final outcome. If standardized tools, techniques, processes are not used, it will become quite difficult for P&B companies to develop the desired drug or other clinical products.
'Lean' concepts such as DFSS (Design for Six Sigma) can help because they make use of time-tested scientific and statistical tools that automatically reduce the probability of human as well as process errors.
For better results, P&B companies should start with small 'Lean' projects that can be implemented with minimum costs and resources. They should give the go ahead for organization wide 'Lean' deployments only when the initial project starts to deliver the desired results. Better still, they should wait a little longer, preferably four to six months, before giving the final go ahead. This way they will be able to ensure the applicability of the selected 'Lean' project.
Lean Six Sigma Benefits Pharmaceutical and Biotech IndustriesMinecraft - Part 27: The Tunnel Run Tube. Duration : 17.00 Mins.
The grand finale to season 1 of our minecraft series!
Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions - Six Sigma Online ( http://www.sixsigmaonline.org ) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.
