university of akron strategies for small technology transfer offices

University of Akron University of Akron Strategies for Small Technology Transfer OfficesStrategies for Small Technology Transfer Offices

Wayne WatkinsWayne WatkinsAssociate Vice President for ResearchAssociate Vice President for Research

July 23, 2008July 23, 2008

Strategy Topic #1

University and community resources

Challenges and limitations

How identify? How stay current?

Assessing Opportunities

Urban campus adjacent to downtown 25,000 students (14% graduate students) Law School - best value public university by National Jurist

nationally recognized IP Law program Recognized expertise in science and engineering disciplines

The University of Akron in 2000The University of Akron in 2000 Strong ties to the rubber and plastics industryStrong ties to the rubber and plastics industry Research expenditures of approx $ 20MResearch expenditures of approx $ 20M $ 289,000 licensing income$ 289,000 licensing income One university spin-out companyOne university spin-out company Region of four million people Region of four million people Large industrial complex - strugglingLarge industrial complex - struggling

Northeast Ohio Industry Research NetworkNortheast Ohio Industry Research Network

DieboldTimken

Norton

Bridgestone/Firestone

AES, A. Schulman, Gojo, Myers, Omnova, Smithers

RPM

Keithley

SterisLubrizol

Athersys, Eaton, Ferro,

Parker Hannifin, Swagelok,

Sherwin Williams

GM

Ford

PolyOne

NASA

Lockheed Martin

Cleveland Clinic

Summa Akron General

Noveon, Promerus

Goodyear

Low

Hig

h

Low High

Polymers/advanced materials

Financial Services

Chemicals

Motor vehicles

Metalworking

Information technology

Instruments, controls, electronics

Biosciences

Pote

ntia

l gro

wth

impa

ctPo

tent

ial g

row

th im

pact

FeasibilityFeasibility

Advanced power

Aerospace

Strategic ClustersStrategic Clusters

Uni

vers

ities

Uni

vers

ities

Gov

ernm

ent

Gov

ernm

ent

Ent

repr

eneu

rsE

ntre

pren

eurs

Indu

stri

esIn

dust

ries

Inve

stor

s & C

apita

lIn

vest

ors &

Cap

ital

BeforeBefore AfterAfter

Create appropriate organization structure Create appropriate organization structure

Things Ohio public universities can not do Take equity Indemnify Respond quickly to private sector

What universities need help doing Effectively bridging the public/private interface Taking long-term economic development perspective

Strategy Topic #2Strategy Topic #2

TeachingTeaching ResearchResearch ServiceService

Grants and Grants and ContractsContracts

Compliance:Compliance:IRB & IACUCIRB & IACUC

TechnologyTechnologyTransferTransfer

LicenseLicense

Spin-outSpin-out

Traditional ModelTraditional Model

TeachingTeaching ResearchResearch ServiceService

Grants and Grants and ContractsContracts

Compliance:Compliance:IRB & IACUCIRB & IACUC

TechnologyTechnologyTransferTransfer

LicenseLicense

Spin-outSpin-out

The IdeaThe Idea

Industry Industry CollaborationCollaboration

CommunityCommunityPartnershipsPartnerships

For-Profit For-Profit CorporationsCorporations

In 2001, University of Akron Research Foundation was formed

Not-for-profit - 501(c)(3) Corporate charter is to benefit UA

Provides current value & invests with expected long-term benefit

Independent of university and state Provide indemnity to research sponsors Hold and dispose of equity in private companies Respond to faculty and industry on a commercial timeframe and

with flexible decision making authority Independence requires that majority of board is not university

personnel UARF financial statements are rolled up in UA

statements (GASB)


Strategic ReallocationStrategic Reallocationof Regional Assetsof Regional Assets

LibraryLibrarySpaceSpaceInstrumentationInstrumentationPeoplePeoplePatentsPatents




Licensing &Licensing &CommercializationCommercialization

MemPro CeramicsMemPro CeramicsSNS Nano FiberSNS Nano FiberTyrone Management Tyrone Management InnoviaInnoviaNanocopoeiaNanocopoeia

UA Research and Inventions The University of Akron’s technology and invention portfolio includes The University of Akron’s technology and invention portfolio includes more than 450 active and pending patents. Compared to the national more than 450 active and pending patents. Compared to the national average, UA has 50 percent more patents and twice the number of average, UA has 50 percent more patents and twice the number of invention disclosures per research dollar spent. invention disclosures per research dollar spent.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

FY2001

FY2002

FY2003

FY2004

FY2005

FY2006

FY2007

Disclosures ReceivedU.S. Patent Applications

New Applications Filed

U.S. Patents Issued

University of Akron Research Foundation (UARF) University of Akron Research Foundation (UARF) Annual Licensing RevenueAnnual Licensing Revenue

0

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

5,000,000

6,000,000

7,000,000

FY2001

FY2002

FY2003

FY2004

FY2005

FY2006

FY2007

FY2008 One-time compensatory payment

Projected from YTD earnings

UA Technology and UA Technology and Patent PortfolioPatent Portfolio

Advanced Materials

Biotechnology

Chemical Technology

Computers, Data & Devices

Energy

Environmental

Medical

Nanotechnology

Others

Polymer Science

Security


Industry-Industry-DrivenDriven

ResearchResearch

RPM InternationalRPM International



Akron Device TechnologiesAkron Device Technologies



Industry Partner/

Donor

For-profits

UA Foundation UARF 3rd Party

Providers

UA

3rd Party Providers

Contract Services

$

$

$

Business/Tech Assessment

$

Services

Contract Services

UARF RelationshipsUARF Relationships

$

Services

Grants and Contracts (UA and UARF)

0

5,000,000

10,000,000

15,000,000

20,000,000

25,000,000

30,000,000

35,000,000

40,000,000

FY1999

FY2001

FY2003

FY2005

FY2007



ResearchResearch

AkronAkronInnovationInnovationCampusCampus


Space for Emerging Space for Emerging EnterprisesEnterprises






Akron Innovation Campus Two buildings adjacent to UA Two buildings adjacent to UA

campus on Wolf Ledgescampus on Wolf Ledges Purchased May 2007Purchased May 2007 66,650 sf66,650 sf 72% leased 72% leased 14 tenants – mix of University 14 tenants – mix of University

spinouts, research partners and spinouts, research partners and community organizationscommunity organizations

Akron Innovation Campus LLC holds real property Akron Innovation Campus LLC holds real property Sole member is UARF Sole member is UARF


UniversityUniversityStart-ups Start-ups (equity)(equity)


ResearchResearch






Akron Polymer SystemsAkron Polymer Systems

SNS Nano Fiber TechnologiesSNS Nano Fiber Technologies




University of Akron Research Foundation Start-upsUniversity of Akron Research Foundation Start-ups

Akron Polymer Systems was established in 2002 to Akron Polymer Systems was established in 2002 to commercialize high-performance commercialize high-performance polymers for aerospace, optical and photonic applications. polymers for aerospace, optical and photonic applications. APS’s ultra-thin polymer APS’s ultra-thin polymer films coat high-performance displays prevent the distortion of light and resulting in films coat high-performance displays prevent the distortion of light and resulting in greater sharpness and clarity and a larger range of distortion-free viewing angles. The greater sharpness and clarity and a larger range of distortion-free viewing angles. The company has ten employees and more than $1 million in annual sales.company has ten employees and more than $1 million in annual sales.

MemPro Ceramics moved to Akron in 2005 to conduct research that would pair its MemPro Ceramics moved to Akron in 2005 to conduct research that would pair its existing ceramic filtration technology with UA’s ceramic nanofiber expertise. With existing ceramic filtration technology with UA’s ceramic nanofiber expertise. With the help of UARF, MemPro created a line of products that filters engine exhaust and the help of UARF, MemPro created a line of products that filters engine exhaust and efficiently converts unsafe oxides from power plants to harmless gases and liquids.efficiently converts unsafe oxides from power plants to harmless gases and liquids.

28 total startups formed (14 active AUTM startups)28 total startups formed (14 active AUTM startups) 8 startups in fiscal year 20078 startups in fiscal year 2007


EntrepreneurshipEntrepreneurshipSupportSupport



ResearchResearch









Senior FellowsSenior FellowsExecutive-in-ResidenceExecutive-in-Residence



ARCHAngelsARCHAngelsWomen’s ARCHAngelsWomen’s ARCHAngelsOpen InnovationOpen InnovationAdvising CompaniesAdvising Companies

Commercialization and Entrepreneurial Support Commercialization and Entrepreneurial Support through UARFthrough UARF

Focal point for business start-up and commercialization services for Focal point for business start-up and commercialization services for emerging technology-based enterprises:emerging technology-based enterprises:

Needs and opportunity assessmentNeeds and opportunity assessment Business and entrepreneurship assistanceBusiness and entrepreneurship assistance Access to research expertise, technology and facilitiesAccess to research expertise, technology and facilities Opportunities for student interns and recent graduatesOpportunities for student interns and recent graduates Space for offices and labsSpace for offices and labs Connection to Angel investors and other funding sourcesConnection to Angel investors and other funding sources

ARCHAngels - Akron Regional Change Angels

UARF dba ARCHAngels Regional network of investors Contacted by hundreds of companies annually Provide business assistance Select best to present to ARCHAngels network

Quarterly events since Nov. 2005 Presented 37 companies to investors Approximately half received funding Presented three UA-developed technologies: coal fuel cell, artificial

pancreas, carbon nanotubes

Open Innovation Stimulated by Proctor & Gamble

Corporate culture changed from primarily internal to “proudly invented elsewhere”

Events sponsored by UARF Nationally-recognized thought leaders 100 community business leaders, policy makers and

innovators Only event of its kind in Ohio Transforming regional companies





ResearchResearch












StudentStudentDevelopmentDevelopment

InternshipsInternships

Industrial Industrial PartnershipsPartnerships

Student AngelsStudent Angels



Enterprise Partnerships &Enterprise Partnerships & State & Regional InitiativesState & Regional Initiatives




ResearchResearch









Ohio Research Ohio Research FoundationFoundation

CSU, YSU, LCCC, CSU, YSU, LCCC, Summa & othersSumma & others




StudentStudentDevelopmentDevelopment

InternshipsInternships

Industrial Industrial PartnershipsPartnerships

Student AngelsStudent Angels


Ohio Research Foundation

Bank

Other regional colleges,

universities, hospitals and other research organizations interested in

collaborating for technology

transfer purposes

$ Services & IP

Services & IP

$ & Equity

$

Licensees

Industry ResearchSponsors

Public and Private

Granting Agencies

Services & IP

$

UARFProvides research

administration, technology transfer

and innovation services

Ser

vice

s$

The University of Akron

$

Services & IP

Ohio Research FoundationOhio Research Foundation

The University of Akron & UA The University of Akron & UA Research FoundationResearch Foundation

university of akron strategies for small technology transfer offices

Documents

university spin

university of akron

research sponsorshold

research dollar

patent portfoliostrategy

ytd earningsua technology

uaprovides current value

national juristnationally