SSTI Digest

Even with record participation from 165 U.S. universities and 32 research hospitals, the 13th annual licensing survey conducted by the Association of University of Technology Managers (AUTM) reveals a 6.7 percent drop in the number of start-up companies created with technology licensed from the responding schools.

AUTM Licensing Survey: FY 2003 provides information about licensing activities at a record-high 197 U.S. and 38 Canadian universities, hospitals and research institutions. The survey is presented in two separate reports for U.S. and Canadian institutions for the first time.

In addition to licenses and options executed, the survey tracks new commercial products, new companies established, and royalty revenue.

For many university tech transfer operations, the need to generate revenues to support the office and attempt to meet the often pie-in-the-sky expectations of school administrators can force licensing efforts toward only the biggest deals. Thanks to a large donation to serve as an endowment, the University of Southern California (USC) Viterbi School of Engineering will be able to count on $1 million in interest income to support its technology transfer activities.

On the heels of a report from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) urging reform for interdisciplinary research, Congress gave its final approval of a bill designed to effectively promote collaborative research among universities and the public and private sectors. The Cooperative Research and Technology Enhancement (CREATE) Act of 2004 would allow the government to approve patent applications of inventions that have been made collaboratively among multiple organizations (see the June 28, 2004 issue of the Digest). The bill currently awaits the signature of President Bush.

Michelle Bauer, executive director of the Tampa Bay Technology Forum, announced she will resign from her position in early 2005.

Jeff Edwards recently was named interim president and CEO of the Economic Development Corp. of Utah (EDCU). Edwards replaces Christopher Roybal, who will serve as the senior adviser for economic development for Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., starting next year.

David Gibson, chief business officer of The Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity in Montana, has accepted a new position as associate commissioner for economic development. Beginning Jan. 3, Gibson will serve under Commissioner of Higher Education Sheila Stearns.

Michelle Bauer, executive director of the Tampa Bay Technology Forum, announced she will resign from her position in early 2005.

Jeff Edwards recently was named interim president and CEO of the Economic Development Corp. of Utah (EDCU). Edwards replaces Christopher Roybal, who will serve as the senior adviser for economic development for Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., starting next year.

David Gibson, chief business officer of The Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity in Montana, has accepted a new position as associate commissioner for economic development. Beginning Jan. 3, Gibson will serve under Commissioner of Higher Education Sheila Stearns.

Dr. John Reed, president and CEO of The Burnham Institute, was appointed to the Independent Citizen's Oversight Committee that will govern the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine created last month.

Patrick Tam resigned last month as executive director of the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute.

Chief Executive Officer Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology The Oklahoma Science & Technology Research and Development (OSTRaD) Board is accepting applications for the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology and the Oklahoma Institute of Technology. The CEO also serves as the Executive Director of the OSTRaD Board. Candidates are sought who have an education in an appropriate field and substantial managerial experience in developing and managing research and technology development programs. Preference will be given to candidates who have an earned degree, preferably doctorate, in a field of science or engineering. Applications are due by Feb. 28, 2005.

The omnibus appropriations bill approved by Congress over the weekend provides $109 million in fiscal year 2005 funds to the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, according to the American Small Manufacturers Coalition (ASMC). Of the total, $3 million is directed to help small and rural states advance outreach to manufacturers, ASMC states in its most recent legislative update.

MEP, a state-federal partnership under the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology, provides technical assistance, support services, engineering services, and business advice to small manufacturers. The legislation also renames the initiative the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program in honor of Senator Fritz Hollings, the South Carolina legislator who first sponsored MEP and is retiring after 38 years. The more than 300 centers in the MEP network also are renamed the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Centers.

Just as SSTI and other post-election analysts predicted, California’s recent passage of a $3 billion commitment to stem cell research is triggering responses from across the country. Wisconsin is the first to outline a specific, strategic reaction to the California referendum in an effort to retain or regain momentum in the race to encourage bio-based economic growth.

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle announced last week his plans to invest nearly $750 million in state funds to support biotechnology, health sciences and stem cell research. According to Gov. Doyle, the two states are not in competition; rather, he suspects there will be a synergy between them.

"Wisconsin can’t match California dollar for dollar, but California can’t match what Wisconsin already has - including the best scientists in the world and first class research institutions," Gov. Doyle said.