Sustainable Smart Cities Symposium

April 3, 2013Richard B. Marchase

Vice President for Research and Economic Development

A Sustainable Birmingham Depends upon the Creation of Clean and Ongoing Jobs and an Environment of Innovation

• Harnessing innovative ideas and translating them into real opportunities for growth is critical

• Interdisciplinary research is at the heart of the transition to a knowledge-based economy

• Academia, including UAB, must fulfill its potential to provide innovation, research, and education to address real world problems– Especially those important to the Birmingham region

“We would do Birmingham a great disservice if we dreamed too little dreams”

Joseph Volker, First President of UAB, c.1970

University of Alabama at

Birmingham (UAB)• In just 43 years:– Largest employer in state of Alabama with 23,000

employees• Top 5 Best Places to Work in Academia by The Scientist

– ~$3.5 billion annual budget – ~$450 million in Annual Research Dollars– ~32nd in federal research expenditures– ~20th overall in NIH funding

UAB’s Overall Economic Impact on Birmingham:

>$5 Billion Annually

• Nearly 20 to 1 leveraging on a state investment in FY12 of ~$270 million

• Health Center• Construction• Students and on-campus activities• Research• Spin-offs

UAB Research: Strong. Collaborative. Multidisciplinary.

Economic Prosperity “The impact and role of UAB in these efforts cannot be

overstated. UAB is the dominant economic engine in the region; its growth will help to fuel the region’s growth. Likewise, the University’s commitment to innovation will ultimately determine the region’s ability to develop new technologies and valuable new startups in knowledge-intensive fields that will support the region’s economic diversification and high-wage job growth. When it comes to creating a culture of innovation in the Birmingham region, UAB must play a leadership role.”

Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA)

• Culture of Innovation is a key component of BBA’s “Blueprint Birmingham”– Hired Vice President for Innovation and Technology

to support Research, Development, and Tech Transfer

• Partnership between UAB & BBA to create:– Scouting for commercialization opportunities–Mentoring with technology experts– Entrepreneurial Education

Moving Research: From University Blvd to Main Street

UAB Research Foundation (UABRF)IP created by the UAB research community: since 1987, UABRF has - Received & managed >2,200 invention disclosures Executed >430 option &/or license agreements Had >640 U.S. patents issued Helped create >50 startup companies -mostly since 2000 Generated >$60MM in license income – of which:

>$27MM has been distributed to UAB for re-investment>$16.5MM has been distributed to inventors as personal income

Technologies include:

Information Technology

Pharmaceuticals / Biotechnology

Medical Devices

Materials

Engineering

Medical Informatics

UAB Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

PartnerDevelopCreateEducate

Develop and enhance UAB’s graduate and

undergraduate programs in

entrepreneurship, innovation and

new venture management.

Create an “Innovation and entrepreneurial

community” through the use of on-line resources, social media and hosted events.

Cast a broad net to identify

innovations, pick the most

promising ones and develop their

commercial potential.

Provide entry point for

worldwide industries to successfully

collaborate with UAB

Internal (UAB)Research & CollisionsCross-disciplinary Connections

REVIEW

Vetting

Market Feasibility

RESOURCES & SERVICES

Mentors

Business Plan

Management

Proof of Concept

Project Management

COMMERCIALIZATION PATHWAY

VC/Angel $$Product Development

Ideas

INTERNALINVESTMENTS

Consultants

Proof of Concept

Patent Filing

DISCLOSURE

Triage:IP landscapeMarketOpportunity

License to existing company

Startup company

Revenues

Research support

External (Businesses)Solution Seekers

Revenues

Research support

JOBS

Outcomes• Accelerated commercialization and economic development.

• Magnified student and faculty engagement in entrepreneurialism.

• Increased enrollment and student/faculty retention.

• A new generation of innovative products, services and alumni.

• Active recruitment of Alabama businesses who need research to be optimally successful.

• Substantial economic growth in Birmingham, the state & beyond.

a UAB affiliate

• An Acclaimed Business Incubation Facility– One of “Seven Hot Startup Incubators” –CNN Money

(2011)– International Technology Incubator of the Year• The National Business Incubation Association (NBIA)

(2011)• Expanding to 96 startup companies– 140,000 sq ft of space (Largest in the Southeast)

“We would do Birmingham a great disservice if we dreamed too little dreams”

Joseph Volker, First President of UAB, c.1970

“We would do Birmingham a great disservice if we dreamed too little dreams”

Those of us in this room, c.2013