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02 Tt Technology Transfer |
A New Arc : Technology Transfer in the UT System Mr. Arjun S. Sanga, Associate Vice Chancellor for Technology Transfer
I was honored that Chancellor Yudof asked me to serve as interim Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology Transfer during the national search for a permanent leader. I am also grateful for the tremendous support from colleagues internal and external to the UT System, and RTT staff through the transition. Together, we were able to establish several new programs and build on the foundation of the new UT System office. On June 1, 2007, our office moved into the Claudia Taylor Johnson building and Dr. Keith McDowell started his appointment as the new Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology Transfer. Please join me in welcoming Dr. McDowell in his new role with the UT System. The four initiatives below provide a sampling of the activities that reflect the UT System culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. In February, RTT hosted the first ever University of Texas Research and Technology Transfer Showcase. Each campus did an admirable job of communicating their successes. The event was well received as we had over 200 participants including representatives from state legislator's offices, venture capital firms, legal services and industry. During the event we introduced the first Chancellor’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Awards. Congratulations to Julio Palmaz from UTHSCSA who won the award for research and innovation developed at a single institution. Dr. Palmaz’s revolutionary Palmaz stent is used in two million patients annually to prevent arteries from collapsing near the heart and elsewhere in the body. This invention is listed as one of the “10 Patents That Changed the World.” Steven Norris (UTHSCH) and Alan Barbour (UTHSCSA) won the award for research and innovation developed at multiple institutions. This research team found a protein that is used as a diagnostic test for Lyme disease. The test is now commercially available from 11 companies that have obtained U.S. or international licenses. The winners are the finest examples of the heights we can reach in the successful commercialization of intellectual property for saving lives and benefiting society.
In March, I chaired the first meeting of the Nano-electronics Advisory Board to administer a thirty million dollar initiative to recruit eight senior faculty members to three UT institutions. The $30 million initiative is equally supported by Texas industries, the UT System and the State of Texas. The Regents approved $10 million for funding facilities, labs and capital equipment for eight senior faculty members. Additional startup support - including salary, additional equipment and operations support - would be funded through a research superiority grant from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (ETF). Ten million dollars has also been raised by Texas Instruments and other industry partners to fund endowments for distinguished chairs for the eight “top talent” research faculty recruited through this initiative. The hard work of the institutions has resulted in the recruitment of faculty under this program and we welcome these outstanding scholars to the UT System as they come on board. In collaboration with the Office of Academic Affairs A system-wide survey and workshops in Austin, Dallas and Houston helped us understand these issues. We plan to have a report on the findings and recommendations for the UT System completed in September.
Based on the input of the UT Technology Management Council, we worked with the Office of General Counsel to establish Special Interest Groups (SIGs) to hold focused discussions on the following topics: technology licensing, new ventures, software and copyright and patent data management. These SIGs have met via monthly conference calls and have flourished under the leadership of the following individuals: Joe Allred, Rick Friedman, Ray Wheatly and Diane Malner. The new ventures group organized a successful one-day workshop in Austin in July. The licensing SIG and the software/copyright SIG have been working on establishing a generic inter-institutional agreement to streamline intellectual property management among UT institutions. The patent/data management SIG has been working on common data items across the UT System.
As you can see there has been a strong theme of collaboration that runs through all of the initiatives I outlined above. The UT System must continually enhance its national reputation in multidisciplinary, multi-institutional research in order to be a world renowned “System of the First Class.” The UT System through its institutions will lead the nation in the formation and implementation of innovative and diverse partnerships within and external to the UT System. These partnerships are necessary to bring the “best and the brightest” together to solve pressing national needs in biotechnology, nanotechnology and energy for example. Such partnerships are critical in keeping the nation competitive in a global marketplace by generating intellectual capital that can be used to spur economic development by creating new technologies and high technology companies. We are excited about working with you to make this happen.
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Research: A Turbo-Charged Future
Dr. H. Keith McDowell, Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology Transfer
“In the 2020s we will use nanobots to begin augmenting our brains with nonbiological intelligence, starting with the ‘routine’ functions of sensory processing and memory, moving on to skill formation, pattern recognition, and logical analysis. By the 2030s the nonbiological portion of our intelligence will predominate, and by the 2040s…, the nonbiological portion will be billions of times more capable.”
“The law of accelerating returns will continue until nonbiological intelligence comes close to ‘saturating’ the matter and energy in our vicinity of the universe with our human-machine intelligence.” The Singularity is Near, Ray Kurzweil (2005)
Futurist Ray Kurzweil, in his book “The Singularity is Near,” predicts that the convergence of the physical, biological and social worlds through the nanoscale dimensions of time and length will lead exponentially to an intelligence singularity by the middle of the 21st century that will be the dawn of a new age for mankind. Where and when the singularity occurs and whether it involves human augmented intelligence or computers becoming sentient can be debated, but it is clear that Kurzweil has tapped one major research theme of the 21st century: network science. Indeed, the National Research Council has produced a 2005 report entitled, “Network Science,” in an attempt to define this emerging theme, a theme based on a holistic approach to system dynamics and layered architectures. At the heart of the Kurzweil argument is the notion of the law of accelerating returns or exponential growth such as Moore’s law of processor performance. In essence he argues that all of research and development operates “on steroids” instead of a linear growth scale. What does this convergent exponential growth presage for research administrators?
In a broader context, the modern university of the 21st century is slowly evolving from the cloistered paradigm of European vintage to a vision and mission that encompasses most facets of modern society whether they be workforce development through education and training of students, research and development including knowledge creation and innovation to commercialize intellectual property and foster regional and statewide economic development, or service to society to address both management of national resources or developing solutions to critical problems. Universities must become leaders of the national agenda, Far too many reports, studies and books by national entities and prominent writers have documented the perceived and real difficulties facing the United States as we enter the 21st century, including such items as the war on terror, global competitiveness, the energy crisis, global climate change, and many more. Virtually all of the reports point to universities as playing a major role along with industry and government in the infrastructure that must address and solve these issues. These increasing demands and responsibilities for universities and their faculty and staff are further impacted by limiting factors such as diminishing financial support from government, increasing compliance rules and regulations and the expectation that more will be produced from less. While academe must be aware of these challenges and take them into account, it is also a time of great opportunity with the potential to move The University of Texas System and its institutions forward through vision and leadership to a dominant role among peer institutions as all institutions of higher education struggle with the transformational effects of a diverse global society and the coming Kertzweil singularity. Central to any plan for academe to address success in the 21st century is a culture founded on core values and fundamental principles. Ultimately, as citizens of the United States, we all want to enjoy a high standard of living and know that our children will lead better and more productive lives in fulfilling jobs. We want to produce not just citizens, but people who lead from a set of core values and principles based on life-long learning and collegial discourse. The core values of The University of Texas System are: RTT is a major new instrument at the UT System to address these issues of the 21st century in a cross-cutting manner through analysis, communication, formation of new policies and procedures, seed funding, facilitation of collaborative research, and other value-added functions and operations. These are exciting times as we witness and participate in the oncoming Kerzweil singularity, whatever form it takes. Our office and staff are committed to working with all parties in the UT System to address these challenges. In future RTT newsletters, we plan to provide you with a meaningful communication link that brings all of us together. As the new Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology Transfer, I look forward to working with you!
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03 Rp The Research Process |
The following is a brief synopsis of the purpose, funding priority, and submission information for the three types of awards/grants available from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund, managed by the Texas Governor’s Office. For additional information on the funding opportunitites, visit the ETF website. Important notice: I. Research Superiority Acquisition AwardsPurpose: The Research Superiority Acquisition goal is to bring the best and brightest researchers in the world to Texas. This enables our Texas academic institutions to continue to build expertise in key research areas, attract and encourage students to pursue advanced degrees in math, sciences, and engineering, and provide an invaluable resource to the community, especially fostering innovation and commercialization in our companies.
Priority: Priority for Research Superiority Acquisition is given to proposals that involve scientific or technical fields that have a reasonable probability of enhancing this state's national and global economic competitiveness, may result in a medical or scientific breakthrough, are interdisciplinary, have or may attract federal and other outside funding for research superiority, and are likely to create a nationally or internationally recognized locus of research superiority. Preference for this award is given to proposals with a high likelihood of commercialization in key areas for the State of Texas.
Submission Information: The institution must commit to acquiring a new or enhancing existing research superiority (talent) at a Texas public institution of higher education and be sponsored by the institution's president and the board of regents chairperson. The University of Texas System’s Office of Research and Technology Transfer will submit proposals on behalf of all UT System Institutions. The President of the University of Texas institution making the submission should forward an original hardcopy & electronic copy of the proposal to Dr. H. Keith McDowell, Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology Transfer, 210 West 6th Street, Austin, TX 78701, hmcdowell@utsystem.edu. II. Commercialization AwardsPurpose: The Commercialization award provides for early-stage investment in new, technology-based, efforts with private entities that might work with both private and public higher education in Texas. Success in this endeavor may provide an economic boost to the state now and in the future.
Priority: Priority for funding is given to proposals that involve emerging scientific or technology fields that have a reasonable probability of enhancing this state’s national and global economic competitiveness.
Submission Information: Contact the appropriate Regional Center of Innovation and Commercialization (RCIC) for details on how to submit applications. A copy of the application should be submitted to the UT System Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology Transfer, Dr. H. Keith McDowell, UT System Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology Transfer, 210 West 6th Street, Austin, TX 78701, hmcdowell@utsystem.edu. Submit completed commercialization applications directly to your local RCIC by 6:00 a.m. on:
III. Research Grant MatchingPurpose: The Research Grant Matching goal is to create public-private partnerships which leverage the unique strengths of universities, federal government grant programs, and industry.
Submission Information: Proposals for the Research Grant Matching quarterly submissions should be sent to The Office of the Governor, Attn: Mark M. Ellison, Director of the Emerging Technology Fund, P.O Box 12428 Austin TX 78711. A copy of the application should be submitted to the UT System Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology Transfer, Dr. H. Keith McDowell, UT System Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology Transfer, 210 West 6th Street, Austin TX 78701, hmcdowell@utsystem.edu. Research Grant Matching Submission Deadlines are the following dates by 5:00 p.m.:
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04 Ia Important announcements |
News and notables New Staff at the Office of Research and Technology Transfer We are excited to report that RTT is now fully staffed with a skilled and energetic team. Do not hesitate to contact any one of us with questions or outstanding ideas. We enjoy hearing from each of you.
Dr. H. Keith McDowell, Vice Chancellor Mr. Arjun Sanga, Associate Vice Chancellor for Technology Transfer Dr. Mickey Stevenson, Research Specialist Mrs. Esther Cantu, Senior Administrative Associate Mrs. DeDe Whitaker, Administrative Associate
We have now moved to a new office across the street and can be contacted at the following location:
UDATE: The UT System Techology Transfer Data System
RTT is moving ahead with the implementation of a pilot data viewing system that will link all 15 UT institutions. The data system is different from a "data warehouse" in that a separate database for the storage of data will NOT be created and the UT System will not interrupt current business practices in place at each institution. The data system, as designed and executed by the Office of Research at UT Arlington, will simply allow specified users to view data that are held and managed by each UT institution. Thank you to UT Arlington, UT Dallas, and UT Southwestern for agreeing to be a part of this pilot project. We plan to link to other UT institutions in 2008. If you have any questions about the data system, please contact Dr. Mickey Stevenson. call for university commercialization examples
The Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) is compiling the 2008 edition of the Better World Report that showcases stories of academic innovation and technology transfer. This edition will focus on collaborations that universities develop in order to move university research to the marketplace. Stories that are submitted by September 5 will be considered for the 2008 edition. Please submit your stories today!
Career Resources for Scientists
Science Magazine highlighted several resources for grant writing that may be particularly useful during increased competition for external funding.
Grant Writing for Tight Times, A. Kotok Provides tips for successful proposals during increased competition.
The NIH R01 Toolkit, Science Careers Editors Gives lessons for grant writing for the primary NIH grant program.
A Guide to NSF Success, L. Madsen Might be especially helpful as the NSF budget increases in the near future.
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05 id important dates |
Upcoming research and technology events
August 30, 2007 Hilton Austin, Austin, TX
National Association of Seed and Venture Funds September 17-19, 2007 Little Rock, AK
UT System Meeting of Institutional Research Officers September 24, 2007 UT System Complex, Austin, TX
October 2-4, 2007 Dallas Convention Center, Dallas, TX
Next Generation Biofuels Conference October 15, 2007 InterContinental Houston, Houston, TX
International Wireless Internet Conference October 22-24, 2007 Thompson Conference Center, Austin, TX
Council on Government Relations October 25-26, 2007 Washington Marriott, Washington, DC
November 1-2, 2007 Houston, TX
National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC) November 11-13, 2007 Hilton New York, New York, NY
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