Say Yes to Tech Transfer – Michigan University Entrepreneurs Honored for Making High-Tech Research Saleable

A Michigan Tech graduate student and a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Michigan each took home $25,000 for the state’s first ever Governor’s University Award for Commercialization Excellence (U-ACE).

The idea for the competition came from a 2003 meeting between Governor Jennifer Granholm, the presidents of Michigan’s fifteen public universities, leaders of technology companies, and economic development professionals on ways to invigorate university-led growth in technology transfer.

Finalists were judged on three criteria: Economic Impact, Stage of Commercialization, and Entrepreneurial Spirit.
Granholm Announces First Annual University Commercialization Award Winners

University Entrepreneurs Honored for Making High-Tech Research Saleable

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced the first annual Governor’s University Award for Commercialization Excellence (U-ACE) has been awarded to Dr. Farnam Jahanian of the University of Michigan and Glen Barna of Michigan Tech University. The U-ACE, which grants a $25,000 prize to each winner, was created to recognize and celebrate the successful commercialization of technology stemming from the research and entrepreneurial efforts of researchers at Michigan’s public universities.

"Our world-class university researchers are critical to planting the seeds of the latest technologies here and growing Michigan’s economy," Granholm said. "Successful commercialization of cutting-edge research will turn the ideas of tomorrow into the jobs we need today."

Full Story:
http://medc.michigan.org/news/combo.asp?ContentId=F5DC04BC-ACDD-4251-84F1-DDC77FFDD783