Purdue Promotes In-State Technology Transfers with frequent road shows to encourage startups – Universities all over the world are working toward commercializing more of their research.

Call it the Technology Roadshow.

Purdue University staffers are stopping in cities around the state to try to persuade entrepreneurs and financiers to create companies that would use technology developed by the university’s labs.

The "show" — which could be the first of its kind for a research university — visited Indianapolis Monday after traveling to Anderson, Fort Wayne and West Lafayette starting in late July.

Roughly 25 entrepreneurs, financiers and professionals such as lawyers turned out to hear university officials and researchers explain six new technologies the officials said were ready to be turned into products.

By Norm Heikens
[email protected]

Full Story: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050823/BUSINESS/508230373/1003

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Universities transfer tech into commercial dollars

Victoria SÆland

Washington University’s Office of Technology Management, which oversees technology transfer, recorded $8 million to $10 million in licensing revenue in 2004.

The office annually processes 1,500 to 2,400 license agreements and spins off three to four companies every year. But Michael Douglas, vice chancellor and director of Washington University’s Office of Technology Management, said that the university could be forming more companies.

"We should spin off five to six companies every year," he said, based on the amount of research funding the university receives. The shortfall may reflect the fact that the university traditionally has less interest in the commercialization process and more in conducting the academic research, Douglas said.

Full Story: http://www.bizjournals.com/industries/health_care/biotechnology/2005/08/22/stlouis_focus1.html

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Ivory tower innovators

Market realities pose hurdles to commercialization

Aliza Earnshaw
Business Journal staff writer

Commercializing academic research to boost economic development is a worthy goal, but one beset with obstacles and difficulties.

Along with the rest of the nation — indeed, with much of the rest of the world — Oregon universities and economic development groups have launched a number of initiatives to accelerate the spinout of tech companies from state universities.

http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2005/08/15/story3.html