Join us January 23 for our next Wired Wednesday luncheon at the Wingate Inn Hotel from Noon until 1:30PM. Our speaker will be Colonel Dewey G. Ford with JIEDDO (Joint Improvised Explosive Devices Defeat Organization). JIEDDO is looking for companies and individuals that can contribute to their mission.

Improvised explosived devices (IEDs) are a significant threat to U.S. forces deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are the primary source of U.S. casualties. The Joint IED Defeat Organization, together with the Military Services and all of the Department of Defense, is working to win the IED fight in a holistic way, using a balance of intelligence, training and technology. This counter-IED effort is a combined Joint Service, interagency, multi-national program designed to leverage all available resources and technologies in a coordinated campaign to eliminate IEDs as weapons of strategic influence. The enemy is adaptive, innovative and flexible and, unfortunately, there is no 'silver bullet' to defeating IEDs.

Immediately following the luncheon there will be a time for companies that are already working on IED defeat programs to meet one on one with representatives from JIEDDO. Interested companies must first pre-register with the Tech Council.

The cost is $10 for Tech Council Members and $15 for non-members. RSVP's are requested to rsvp@region2000.org or by calling (434) 847-1447. Snow date - January 30.

Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology and Chmura Economics & Analytics publishes a quarterly report of the state of high-technology growth across all eight of Virginia's technology regions. The report is only available through a regional Technology Council and we are pleased to share the fourth quarter report with you.

The report reinforces the importance of technology based economic development across several leading growth indicators: net job growth, wage premiums, and new company start-ups to name a few.

Congratulations go out to Lynchburg City. On November 14, the Center for Digital Government released results of the seventh annual 2007 Digital Cities Survey which examines how cities use technology to create a seamless environment between local government and constituents. Lynchburg, VA was ranked in a tie for first place in its respective population category. Other Virginia cities recognized include: City of Richmond, Alexandria, Hampton, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Roanoke, Charlottesville and Blacksburg. The National League of Cities (NLC) partners with the Center to promote the Digital Cities Survey.

The Region 2000 Technology Council, in partnership with CVCC and Holy Cross School, recently hosted a regional Lego League Robotics Competition for local elementary and middle schools. The FIRST LEGO League is considered the "little league" of the FIRST Robotics Competition and serves to inspire and celebrate science and technology children aged 9 through 14, using real-world contact and hands-on experimentation. Read the News & Advance story here. Thank you volunteers!