“Strength in Numbers”
Technology Transfer TacticsNovember 18, 2010
www.innovationtransfernetwork.org
Today’s Agenda• Introductions• How ITN Got Started• How the Program Changed and Evolved• Challenges/Lessons Learned• Accomplishments
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Introductions• Dr. Rick Basom
Director of Research & Planning, Elizabethtown College
• Ms. Jennifer Hammaker, Director of Business Development, Innovation Transfer Network
• Dr. Marian Walters, Associate Dean for Research, Penn State Harrisburg 3
Getting Started
• Early Vision and Partners– Economic Development Linkages– Economic Development Partnerships– 13 Regional Small Colleges and Universities– 3000 Faculty and 50,000 Students
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Getting Started• Initial Program Concept and Funding• Initial Funding Period: 5 years
• Early Program Elements– Access to IP Expertise– Access to templates
• Summer Seed Grants: faculty/industry partnerships
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Program Expansion
• Events– Outside Speakers– Panel Discussions
• Industry/Faculty– SSGX – Software
Productization Center
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Program Expansion• Faculty/Faculty– Research Symposia– NSF Proposals
• Seed Grant Funding– Faculty/Industry
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Program Expansion• “Enclave” Online Community– Academic Profiles – Business Profiles– Blog – Video– Economic Dev. Resource– Encourage Connections– Easy for Media
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Challenge #1
• Institutional Buy-In– Lessons Learned:• Deans/Administration–Senior level, access to Provost
• Active Board Involvement• Willingness to Commit Resources
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Challenge #2• Faculty Engagement– Lessons Learned:• Grassroots• Online• Cross-Campus• Entrepreneurs• Commercialization• Student Experience
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Challenge #3• Conflicting Priorities: Business vs.
Faculty– Lessons Learned:• Clarify the expectations• Manage the timeline • Different financial
considerations
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Challenge #4
• Cultural Chasms– Lessons Learned• Progress slow but sure• Stay committed and look long term• Think funding early and often• Does IP count for promotion and tenure?
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Challenge #5• Sustainability
• Active Board Engagement & Leadership– Willingness to lead grant applications
• Pursue Multiple Options Simultaneously• Economic Development Partners are Key
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AccomplishmentsIncreased
Relationships with Business Community– Trends– Market Research– Software
Development– $500,000 in Seed
Grant Investments 14
Accomplishments
Increased Collaboration Between Faculty– Within Institutions– Across Departments– Across Campuses– Across Institutions
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AccomplishmentsIncreased Student
Involvement– Real World Experiences– Networking– Visibility/Interaction with
Business Leaders
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AccomplishmentsIncreased
Interaction b/w Institutional Leaders– $600,000 NSF/PFI
Grant– $800,000 Regional
BioFuels Center
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@itnwk (Twitter)[email protected]
717.948.6455www.innovationtransfernetwork.org