I’ve been thinking a bit about the overlap between economic development (ED) and technology transfer organizations (TTOs). So much so that I’ll be discussing it next week in a panel in Baltimore.
TTOs’ compatibility with ED agencies is not surprising, given their potential for generating start-up companies and helping local industry expand via the technologies created by their researchers, professors, and other faculty and staff. Some TTOs even have formal ED goals as part of their metrics. Yet, my observations indicate that many TTOs are not fully collaborating with their counterparts in regional ED agencies.
Because TTO–ED agency collaboration is an area in which growth is needed, I will be leading a panel on this topic at the Eastern Region meeting. (Information about the meeting is available online: http://bit.ly/j1NhY8)
Titled, “Play Well with Others: How to Collaborate with Economic Development Organizations,” this panel will consider the mutually compatible interests between regional ED agencies and TTOs, particularly at universities and government labs. The goal? For attendees to be able to hit the ground running with a plan to achieve better TTO–ED agency collaboration.
The panel will present three examples of ways to structure TTO–ED agency relationships, as described by:
* Andrea Adkins, licensing associate at the University of Central Florida
* Dr. Paul Ulanch, director of technology and commercialization at the Small Business & Technology Development Center, which is part of the University of North Carolina System
* Stephen Auvil, vice president of Tech Transfer and Commercialization at Maryland’s Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO)
After brief presentations by each panelist, we’ll have an engaging and informative dialogue about the advantages and challenges of TTO-ED collaboration, with lots of audience Q&A.
This dialogue, along with some how-to guidance I’ll discuss based on our paper, “Enhancing Economic Development through Technology Transfer of Federal- and State-Funded R&D,” will allow attendees to come away with practical steps that their TTO can take in establishing and building relationships with their regional ED agencies. (To download this paper, visit: http://www.fuentek.com/publications.php)
So, Eastern Region attendees should be sure to stop by Session 2A from 10:30 am. to noon on Monday, May 23rd. I hope to see you there!