The University of Rochester (NY) also is stretching its commercialization efforts by making a key staffing change. U-Rochester has created a new position — vice-provost for technology transfer policy — as part of a multi-year effort to increase the number of science and engineering discoveries that can be developed by entrepreneurs and turned into commercial technologies. Gail Norris, former director of the OTT for the College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering, has been named the new vice-provost, while Corine Farewell, former deputy director of the OTT, will take over as director. “By broadening Gail’s responsibilities in tech transfer and bringing Corine into the directorship, we’re enhancing our ability to commercialize the amazing research that goes on here,” says Ralph Kuncl, the university’s provost and executive vice president. “We’ll be more responsive to the needs of entrepreneurs than ever before.”
As vice-provost, Norris will help develop strategies for the licensing and commercialization of IP developed at U-Rochester, foster corporate collaborations, and assist in establishing start-up companies that use technology developed at the university. As the new OTT director, Farewell will continue to provide guidance to university researchers on all aspects of protecting and commercializing innovations. She’ll also offer strategic direction for the licensing and commercialization of the university’s patent portfolio and work with the business community to identify technology needs and negotiate transfers of technology to meet those needs. For instance, students in the department of biomedical engineering senior design class have been working with the OTT to protect IP generated in the class and to produce real products from these discoveries. Farewell also plans to explore novel marketing channels such as social networking and Internet video to publicize research developments that are ready for commercialization and, in collaboration with U-Rochester’s Medical Center OTT, to establish a venture capitalist-in-residence program.
Source: University of Rochester News