Business Incubator:
A program where businesses can receive support that accelerates their time to market, establishes a sound operational foundation, increases their access to capital, and improves their opportunities for success. An incubator offers critical tools, information, contacts and resources (that may be otherwise unaffordable, inaccessible or unknown) through coaching, mentoring, and networking in a proactive manner that provides value to both incubator clients and those who support the program.

Economic Clusters:
An agglomeration of interrelated industries that foster wealth creation principally by exporting goods and services beyond the region. Additionally, Clusters consist of geographic concentrations of sometimes competing, sometimes collaborating firms, and their related supplier networks.

Nanotechnology:
Research and technology development at the atomic, molecular or macromolecular levels, in the length scale of approximately 1 - 100 nanometer range, to provide a fundamental understanding of phenomena and materials at the nanoscale and to create and use structures, devices and systems that have novel properties and functions because of their small and/or intermediate size. The novel and differentiating properties and functions are developed at a critical length scale of matter typically under 100 nm. Nanotechnology research and development includes manipulation under control of the nanoscale structures and their integration into larger material components, systems and architectures.

Within these larger scale assemblies, the control and construction of their structures and components remains at the nanometer scale. In some particular cases, the critical length scale for novel properties and phenomena may be under 1 nm (e.g., manipulation of atoms at ~0.1 nm) or be larger than 100 nm (e.g., nanoparticle reinforced polymers have the unique feature at ~ 200-300 nm as a function of the local bridges or bonds between the nano particles and the polymer)."

Definition of nanotechnology by the National Science and Technology Council subcommittee for Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology (2000)

Southern Willamette Research Corridor Regional Technology Sector:
This general category consists of high-tech, sustainable/green/environmental technologies, nanotechnology, and software/multi-media. Other technology sectors include education technology (e.g., educational testing) and human development (e.g., behavioral science research and products/services for the developmentally disabled).

Technology Based Economic Development (TBED):
Integrate research, invention, and innovation as a means to build and diversify the economy.

Technology Transfer:
Bringing technologies and innovative ideas developed at research institutions into the marketplace to be used for public consumption.