The work of the Wisconsin Security Research Consortium in connecting Wisconsin companies and researchers with federal grant and contract opportunities will be featured at the Thursday, July 14 meeting of the Wisconsin Innovation Network’s Milwaukee-area chapter.

The July 14 meeting will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 10499 Innovation Drive, Wauwatosa. Registration and networking begins at 11:30 a.m., lunch at noon and the presentation at 12:30 p.m. The cost is $10 for students, $25 for WIN members, Governor’s Business Plan Contest participants and Milwaukee County Research Park tenants, $35 for non-members and included with WIN corporate memberships. Register here: www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com.

In a post-earmark environment, compelling merit-based approaches are necessary for companies and researchers seeking business with the federal government. Hear from two Wisconsin entrepreneurs on how they are helping to meet federal defense, homeland security and related R&D needs. They are John Biondi, CEO of Xolve, and Eric Singsaas, research director for the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology at UW-Stevens Point. Jack Heinemann, director of the WSRC, will also present other examples of how Wisconsin companies and researchers have won grants or contracts. Tom Still of the Tech Council will moderate.

This event is a sneak preview for the WSRC’s annual “Resource Rendezvous,” an event that will be held Sept. 15 at the Crowne Plaza. Speakers at the Resource Rendezvous are expected to represent the National Security Agency, the U.S. Marine Corps, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Homeland Security and more.

The WSRC was created to enhance Wisconsin’s ability to attract and retain research and development grants from federal agencies, especially in the defense and homeland security arenas. It is affiliated with the Wisconsin Technology Council. This month’s WIN meeting is sponsored by UW-Milwaukee.

WIN is the membership arm of the Tech Council, the independent, non-profit science and technology adviser to the governor and the Legislature. It has chapters in Milwaukee, Madison, Northeast Wisconsin, Central Wisconsin, the Lake Superior region and Western Wisconsin.