|
Conference on Emerging Issues in Technology Transfer Sept. 29-Oct. 1
 |
| (L to R) Donald Siegel, chair of the Department of Economics and president-elect of the Technology Transfer Society: Dr. Russell Bessette, executive director of the New York State Office of Science, Technology, and Academic Research (NYSTAR): and Charles Rancourt, director of patents and licensing, Rensselaer Office of Technology Commercialization |
More than 150 participants from the United States, England, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, and Canada attended the conference "Emerging Issues in Technology Transfer" sponsored in part by Rensselaer's School of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship, and the Technology Transfer Society.
"The purpose of the conference was to identify and disseminate best practices in technology transfer from universities and federal laboratories to companies," said Don Siegel, chair of economics at Rensselaer and president-elect of the Technology Transfer Society and editor of The Journal of Technology Transfer.
According to Siegel, university technology transfer is a growing trend in America involving the transfer of university-based research to industry through licensing agreements, research, joint ventures, and start-up companies. Critical to the expansion and growth of research universities is the development of technology transfer strategies that increase income opportunities and, in turn, support continued research.
The conference, which was held at the Desmond Hotel in Albany, N.Y., focused on the role of entrepreneurship in technology transfer and examined evaluation methods and practices, including a special session on the Congress-mandated evaluation of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, as well as sessions on marketing issues, patent donations, and technology transfer at federal labs.
"The conference offered unique insight into strategies and methods available for moving technology from the lab to create products and services in the marketplace," said Charles Rancourt '70, director of Rensselaer's Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC). Rensselaer's OTC provides support to researchers and members of the campus community relative to intellectual property, with a focus on technology commercialization.
Keynote speakers at the conference included Professor Thomas Allen, the Howard W. Johnson Professor of Management and Professor of Engineering Systems at MIT, and Dr. Russell Bessette, executive director of the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR).
|
Next 