Universities as a Small Universities as a Small Business Technology Business Technology

PartnerPartner (Making Technology Happen)(Making Technology Happen)

Dr Brian MergelasDr Brian Mergelas

President and CEOPresident and CEO

The Pressure Pipe Inspection CompanyThe Pressure Pipe Inspection Company

OutlineOutline

Life before PPICLife before PPIC What do we do? What do we do? History of collaboration (Queen’s History of collaboration (Queen’s

University)University) ObservationsObservations

Life Before PPICLife Before PPIC

Pipetronix XHRPipetronix XHR

Need a willing partner

PPIC’s Impact on the Water SectorPPIC’s Impact on the Water Sector

PPIC ServicesPPIC Services

1010thth anniversary anniversary 50 Employees in 50 Employees in

Mississauga, Mississauga, Phoenix, Dallas, Phoenix, Dallas, AtlantaAtlanta

Reservoir

Surface Water

Water Treatment

Well Field

PPIC

RFTC Inspection of PCCPRFTC Inspection of PCCP

Strategic Pipeline MonitoringStrategic Pipeline Monitoring

Various Sensor Various Sensor TypesTypes

Detects active Detects active deterioration (PCCP)deterioration (PCCP)

Third Party DamageThird Party Damage Possibly leaksPossibly leaks

HIGH RISK areasHIGH RISK areas

History of Technology Partnership History of Technology Partnership between Queen’s and PPIC between Queen’s and PPIC

Industry Identified ProblemIndustry Identified Problem Start Up of PPICStart Up of PPIC Funding of Research Funding of Research CollaborationCollaboration Research ProjectsResearch Projects

Start UpStart Up

Queen’s/ Atherton (right of first Queen’s/ Atherton (right of first refusal)refusal)

PatentPatent Equity PositionEquity Position Licenses agreement (Atherton; Licenses agreement (Atherton;

Queen’s)Queen’s)

Funding of ResearchFunding of Research

NSERC (Strategic/ CRD)NSERC (Strategic/ CRD) AWWARFAWWARF Precarn; SDTCPrecarn; SDTC In kind Support (PPIC and Partners)In kind Support (PPIC and Partners)

In general it’s about leverageIn general it’s about leverage

We don’t have the money our clients doWe don’t have the money our clients do

CollaborationCollaboration

Equipment; personnelEquipment; personnel Transfer of people to PPICTransfer of people to PPIC Engineering Thesis topicsEngineering Thesis topics Real World ProblemsReal World Problems ScholarshipScholarship PapersPapers

Research ProjectsResearch Projects

Queen’sQueen’s• Finite Element AnalysisFinite Element Analysis• Coupled Circuit AnalysisCoupled Circuit Analysis• Technology limitationsTechnology limitations• Electrolytic SimulationsElectrolytic Simulations

PPICPPIC• Data AnalysisData Analysis• Pipe Specific ConsiderationsPipe Specific Considerations• Uncertainty/ AccuracyUncertainty/ Accuracy• Instrumentation and Delivery SystemsInstrumentation and Delivery Systems

Myths about Technology TransferMyths about Technology Transfer

Its EasyIts Easy

Its HardIts Hard

There is a big difference between a There is a big difference between a good idea and a business…good idea and a business…

SalesSales MarketingMarketing Operations Operations

• ProductionProduction• Distribution/DeliveryDistribution/Delivery

Human ResourcesHuman Resources Finance…Finance…

The Innovation ChainThe Innovation Chain

Where you think your idea fits…Where someone else thinks it fits…

Choices for a University ProfessorChoices for a University Professor

Research for research sakeResearch for research sake Work with industry partner to Work with industry partner to

research “interesting” real world research “interesting” real world problemsproblems

Start a business to commercialize Start a business to commercialize idea(s) – big slice of a small pieidea(s) – big slice of a small pie

Partner to see some rewards for Partner to see some rewards for innovation – small slice of a big pieinnovation – small slice of a big pie

My Thoughts on Technology TransferMy Thoughts on Technology Transfer

Mostly people…Mostly people… EmployeesEmployees AdvisoryAdvisory ExchangesExchanges Startups (intimate) vs licenses (less so)Startups (intimate) vs licenses (less so) Real World Problems vs. Fundamental Real World Problems vs. Fundamental

ResearchResearch

Other Examples of Technology Other Examples of Technology Transfer in ActionTransfer in Action

RyersonRyerson Penn StatePenn State University of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta University of TorontoUniversity of Toronto Waterloo (CATT)Waterloo (CATT) University of ArlingtonUniversity of Arlington

Summary ObservationsSummary Observations

There’s a big difference between There’s a big difference between and clever idea and a businessand clever idea and a business

We don’t have the money, our We don’t have the money, our clients doclients do

Technology transfer is mostly Technology transfer is mostly about people NOT technologyabout people NOT technology

Win-win-win means the professor Win-win-win means the professor benefits; the university benefits benefits; the university benefits and the company benefitsand the company benefits

Thank YouThank You