Each of us attends the AUTM Annual Meeting for a variety of different reasons however many of us attend for one main reason: the conference has a smorgasbord of networking opportunities (the food is pretty darn good too). Last year approximately 65% of Annual Meeting survey respondents indicated that they attend the meetings mainly to network. Networking can mean networking with “old” friends (those who we haven't seen in a year) or better still interacting with new attendees, or best yet meeting AUTM members who represent companies. So if you see me squinting to read a name badge it is either because I don’t feel like digging out my glasses out of my bag or it is because I am trying to figure out if the person across me works at a company.
AUTM annual meetings have traditionally had an Industry/Academia Forum to help facilitate interaction between industry and academic technology transfer members. Academic technology transfer folks want to meet the industry members in a relaxed setting and the industry folks feel the same way. This year we are hoping for a bigger and better event (of course I am biased since I am organizing this event). This even is generously sponsored by University of Pittsburgh Office of Technology Management and University of Toledo.
Based on feedback from members who represent industry, we have a revised format where we will have the industry members specifically tell us what kinds of technology they are looking for (very short oral pitches of just a few minutes each; there will be no slides shown!). We have a great lineup of folks from companies participating including Merck, Syngenta, Novo Nordisk, Cook Medical, etc. And we have a few of these coveted spots still available. So if you are an industry member and you plan to attend the AUTM Annual Meeting in San Antonio this year, please do send me a note letting me know of your interest in participating in this forum. You can reach me at gayatri@umd.edu.
Oh and I forgot the fun part - after the pitch session concludes we will be moving over to a networking session in a section of the Exhibit Hall where the industry folks will be positioned at tables for one on one networking and informal discussions about your organization’s best technologies. I neglected to mention that there will be an open bar set up during this part of the forum event. Now if that doesn't bring a crowd out to the Industry/Academia forum this year - I do not know what will. So show up with a huge stack of cards and make sure you leave with a stack (and not one of these should have your name).
Industry/Academia Partnering Forum
Thursday, Feb. 28, 4 – 5 p.m.
Room 103A (Street Level)
Industry/Academia Networking Reception and Exhibits
Thursday, Feb. 28, 5 – 6 p.m.
Exhibit Hall A (Street Level)
See you in San Antonio!
Sincerely,
Gayatri Varma, Ph.D.