Sept. 3 , 2002

Office of Technology Commercialization Reports Increased Activity

Intellectual property and technology commercialization are important elements of the Rensselaer Plan. In order to better serve the Rensselaer faculty, staff, students, and alumni, the Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) has received a substantial grant, increased its staff, doubled its invention disclosures and commercialization deals, and has created robust networking and outreach programs. The OTC now reports directly to the President's Office.

Chuck Rancourt '70, director of OTC, reported 70 invention disclosures in fiscal year 2002 — more than double that of previous years. Additionally, commercialization deals doubled to nine.

Recently, OTC was awarded a $100,000 grant from NYSTAR under its Technology Transfer Incentive Program to establish a new program for business alliance and strategic outreach to enhance business interactions with the nanoelectronics industry.

Chris Gesswein and Paul Fredette, both Rensselaer graduates, have joined the office. Gesswein is the licensing associate and Fredette is the assistant director.

As part of "entrepreneurship across the curriculum," Rensselaer alumni have made in-class presentations on intellectual property, patents, and licensing. The OTC also is working with management professor Gina O'Connor on her course Commercializing Advanced Technology.

Networking activities include the alumni reunion of technology law and commercialization professionals at the annual meeting of the American Intellectual Property Law Association in Washington, D.C., which earned a CASE award. A listserv and affinity group has been created to serve alumni in the patenting and licensing fields. OTC has hosted a Patent Day and an Intellectual Property Career Forum and Career Fair. The office runs a successful internship program with area law firms and the University at Albany Law School.

For more information, go to: www.rpi.edu/dept/otc/