Technology commercialization office revamped to aid researchers
The Texas Tech University System is making changes that will help researchers introduce their new discoveries to the marketplace. The Office of Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property has been renamed the Office of Technology Commercialization.
"This is the first step in our plan to create a world-class technology commercialization function for researchers at Texas Tech. David is a huge asset to this process and we are happy to have him leading this initiative," said Chancellor Hance.
Commercial Inventions. Some well known commercial inventions to come out of a university setting include Gatorade (University of Florida), Google Inc. (Stanford) and Taxol (Florida State University), which the National Cancer Institute has described as the most important cancer drug in 15 years.
The main function of the new office is to take a researcher's ideas, concepts and/or inventions to the marketplace. David Miller, who previously served as the managing director, has been named Vice Chancellor of Commercialization.
Proof-of-Concept. Miller and his team will continue developing startup companies, assembling an infrastructure to provide "proof-of-concept" funding and building relationships with external funding partners.
"Our researchers are some of the best in the world at what they do and we want to be able to offer them the opportunity to take their work to a more public forum," said Miller. "At the same time the process benefits Texas Tech by creating a future revenue stream from products created from its research efforts that become commercially viable. That money can then be used to support continued research and to provide scholarships."
Once an idea or invention qualifies for commercialization, a financial investment is made by the university to fine tune the concept and determine its viability in the marketplace. The office works with partners to support continued efforts toward a startup business.
Written by Michelle Hougland
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