Zethus Software, a portfolio tenant company of the Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI), has entered into a contract with Youngstown State University (YSU) for software development to support its CyberLabNet Project. The CyberLabNet system will allow people at multiple locations to remotely control analytical and testing equipment used to perform chemical analyses on a variety of materials, including pharmaceuticals, ceramics, plastics, and composites. The new software will improve the functionality and usability of the testing equipment.  In turn, this will decrease the per sample cost of operating the equipment by increasing the number of users that can remotely access the testing capabilities.

Dr. Allen Hunter, YSU Professor of Chemistry and principal investigator for CyberLabNet Project states “Zethus is the ideal collaborator as its underlying technology is aligned with the software needs for CyberLabNet.”  Hunter credits Jim Cossler, chief evangelist, YBI, for the introduction to Eric Parker from Zethus and Hunter and his YSU team are enthusiastic about the opportunity to collaborate with an YBI company.

In 2007, Congressman Tim Ryan (D-17th) secured a $911,000 Federal Appropriations through the U.S. Department of Defense to develop software, create workforce training modules and acquire robotics for CyberLabNet.  This summer, Hunter and Parker will travel to the Army Research Lab in Maryland to begin exploring specific applications of this technology in military settings that would benefit from remote testing capabilities.

About Zethus Software
Zethus Software is a privately-held software development firm focused on developing innovative solutions by using grid and cloud computing technologies to solve real-world business problems. Founded in 2003, the company’s customers include Fortune 100 companies as well as significant educational and institutional clients.  A portfolio company of the Youngstown Business Incubator, Zethus Software received the State of Ohio’s Edison Emerging Technology Award for its commitment to cutting-edge, emerging technological development. Visit http://zethussoftware.com/.

About YBI
The Youngstown Business Incubator is a 501 (c) 3 charitable, non-profit organization, with a primary mission to accelerate the start-up and development of scalable, technology-based companies in northeast Ohio. Located in Youngstown, portfolio companies have been awarded 17 intellectual property patents, developed 24 new commercial software applications and created over 230 high-skilled, technology jobs. YBI provides entrepreneurial assistance, facilities and technology support.  For more information about YBI, visit www.ybi.org.

YBI is also a member of the Northeast Ohio Incubator Collaborative, a group of five regional technology incubators, offering facilities and services to startups and entrepreneurs.