Utah’s Great University Technology Commercialization Experiment

What better way to study the pros and cons of a major shift in strategy than to examine its impact on a similar organization that took the plunge? In 2005, the University of Utah’s new president Michael Young, in response to the state’s investments in Utah’s knowledge economy, plucked the technology commercialization office out of the research administration division and handed its oversight to Jack Brittain, then Dean of Utah’s business school.

The university combined three previously independent units under Brittain into a new division called "Technology Ventures" http://www.techventures.utah.edu/ whose mandate was to accelerate the rate of start-up formation, connect the technology transfer office to the university’s Lassonde Entrepreneur Center http://www.lassonde.utah.edu/ , improve the university’s industry research partnerships, and streamline its technology licensing strategy.

by Melba Kurman

Full Story: http://www.business-strategy-innovation.com/wordpress/2011/03/utah%E2%80%99s-great-university-technology-commercialization-experiment/

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University of Utah tech transfer chief heading to Ohio State

Ohio State University is hiring the University of Utah’s technology commercialization chief with the hope that he will replicate in Columbus a strong track record of business startups in the Beehive State.

Brian Cummings will start his new post as vice president for technology commercialization at the nation’s ninth largest research institution on June 1 at a salary of $365,000. His U. pay is reported to be $249,000 on UtahsRight.com, a website that lists salaries and other public records.

By Brian Maffly

The Salt Lake Tribune

Full Story: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/51488253-76/technology-university-cummings-ohio.html.csp