MSU Technologies (MSUT) reached a significant milestone in February when it received invention disclosure number 120 for FY 2009. “That was our goal for the fiscal year,” says Executive Director Mike Poterala. “The fact that we reached it with four months to spare tells us that faculty are thinking more about the potential commercial applications of their research results and are becoming more familiar with what MSUT can do to help them move their technologies toward the marketplace.”
And that is only one of the highlights this year. MSUT has licensed 77 technologies so far this fiscal year. They include software, specialty materials, “green” chemical processes, and potato and wheat varieties.
The MSUT Web site was expanded with the addition of more than 140 technologies listed and cross-referenced by subject area. “Anyone looking for technologies that are available for licensing can get preliminary information from the site,” Poterala says. Already, media and interested third parties have contacted MSUT for more details about some of the technologies. The list is updated as new technologies with patent protection become available.
MSUT is also providing technology listings to The Right Place, Inc., the organization charged with enhancing economic development in western Michigan. “The Right Place has extensive business and industry contacts,” Poterala says. “Adding MSU’s technology opportunities to The Right Place Innovation Works portal will be a great advantage to us.”
In early March, a new associate director took over management of day-to-day operations of the office. Mary Mayer came to MSUT from GM Powertrain, where she was senior manager and lead negotiator for new business development. She was responsible for managing the new business development group and licensing intellectual property that generated more than $100 million in annual revenue. Earlier, she was associate director for strategic alliances in the global R&D division of Pfizer. There she successfully negotiated more than 700 intellectual property, sourcing, and technology transfer contracts. “Mary’s corporate experience plus her M.B.A. and a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry make her a wonderful addition to the MSUT staff,” Poterala says. “We’re delighted to have her here.”
Also in March the MSU Foundation approved a new grants program, Targeted Support Grants for Technology Development (TSGTD), that will support development of technologies identified as having commercial potential. MSUT technology managers will nominate projects to receive the funds. “These will be late-stage projects that are ready for the tipping point,” Mayer says. “These funds will support the little bit of additional work they may need before they can be viable in the marketplace.” The OVPRGS Office of Internal Grants will work with MSUT to manage the program.
Earlier this year, Kari Haldenwanger joined MSUT as a technology manager with a focus on life sciences and engineering technologies. She came from GM Purchasing, where she helped acquire external technology from around the globe. “Her corporate experience and background in engineering and chemistry make her a valuable addition to our staff,” Poterala says.
Other recent hires include Brandon Smith as coordinator of material transfer agreements and confidential disclosure agreements, Betty Crowell as agreements secretary, and Nancy Bieber as patent secretary. “These hires will help us improve our capacity and effectiveness,” Poterala says. “All of us at MSUT work to support faculty, facilitate research activity, and commercialize research results.”
And late last month, MSUT announced that the office will be moving to downtown East Lansing, just across Grand River Avenue from campus in the SmartZone space adjacent to the East Lansing Technology Innovation Center. “This move will make it easier for faculty to reach our office and for our technology managers to visit with faculty,” Poterala says. “Easy accessibility and regular interactions with faculty are essential.” Renovation of the space above Barnes and Noble is under way; the move is expected by late summer or early fall.
“Our efforts at MSUT are all directed at helping us be effective stewards of the university’s intellectual property,” Mayer says. “This is an exciting place to be.”