"Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. Our biochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific and genomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease, and chemical manufacturing. We have customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 33 countries and has over 6,600 employees providing excellent service worldwide. We are committed to the success of our Customers, Employees and Shareholders through leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service."

Protedyne is a complete solutions provider for genome-based drug discovery. "Protedyne manufactures world class BioCube Systems™ and provides contract research through our BioResearch Team. We improve the effectiveness of genetic research and speed the discovery of new drugs by improving comprehensive high throughput automation solutions. Our CILA™ (Computer Integrated Laboratory Automation) architecture allows straight- forward automation of a process from beginning to end, enabling you to rapidly integrate our platforms into your R&D infrastructure. Critical issues of validation, coordination of components, and data tracking are all addressed in this system".

"SynApps Software is a consulting firm specializing in software development for the medical and scientific marketplace. Our clients are located throughout the United States, and they range from cutting-edge start-ups to Fortune 500 companies.

SynApps Software is focused on software development for instrumentation, data acquisition, Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), and analysis (BioInformatics) applications. The resulting applications may take the form of stand-alone products or distributed knowledge systems.

Our work is primarily related to the product development activities of our clients, including development of products subject to FDA approvals. SynApps Software has developed and utilizes a proven object-oriented software development process to manage our projects. While typical project responsibilities include requirements, design, code, test, technical documentation and quality assurance, we often collaborate with our clients on some or all of these efforts."

"The Connecticut Legislature created Connecticut Innovations (CI) in 1989 and charged it with growing Connecticut's entrepreneurial, technology economy by making venture and other investments. Connecticut Innovations accomplishes its mission primarily by the following means: making equity investments in emerging Connecticut technology companies; providing essential, non-financial support to entrepreneurs; and conducting initiatives that address specific needs of Connecticut's technology sector.

Since 1995, CI has become the state's leading investor in high technology, investing more than $56 million in 51 Connecticut companies. Connecticut Innovations was funded originally by state bonding. But, since 1995, CI has financed its equity investments solely through its own investment returns — not taxpayer dollars. Successful investing has also enabled CI to fund initiatives essential to Connecticut's technology leadership. These include the Connecticut Innovations Technology Scholar Program, the Yankee Ingenuity Technology Competition and Connecticut's BioBus."