70 likes | 165 Views
the Need for More. √. Innovation and Entrepreneurship within the Harrington Department of Bioengineering Arizona State University Gary T. Yamaguchi, Ph.D. Associate Professor. Arizona State University. ABET accredited B.S.E. Bioengineering degree emphasizing both breadth and depth
E N D
the Need for More √ Innovation and Entrepreneurshipwithin the Harrington Department of BioengineeringArizona StateUniversityGary T. Yamaguchi, Ph.D.Associate Professor
Arizona State University • ABET accredited B.S.E. Bioengineering degree emphasizing both breadth and depth • Approx. 400 undergrads; 80 grad students (4X increase since 1987) • Introductory Engineering Design (Freshman, 1 sem) • Intermediate Engineering (Product) Design (Jr, 1 sem) • Bioengineering Capstone Design (Sr, 2 sem, individually mentored) • Prosthetic & Rehabilitation Engrg Design (graduate)
ASU Bioengineering Internship Program • Since 1996, 151 internship experiences have occurred in partnership with 32 medical device and biotechnology companies • Many Senior Design Projects are mentored by corporate sponsors
NSF Senior Design Projects to Aid the Disabled • Program started by Jack Winters and Gary Yamaguchi in 1989; funding continues to 2008 • 118 Projects completed to date, a majority published annually in NSF Engineering Senior Design Projects to Aid the Disabled(Enderle & Hallowell, eds.) • How many of these have been commercialized? • How about new devices and technologies developed from research and development projects? • My own experience: 13 years, 4 disclosures, 2 provisional patent applications, 2 patent applications, one outside company licensee, zero dollars Zero so far...
Plastic Injection Molded Split Hook; Rollerblade bearing Epoxy Impregnated Fiberglass Sockets Plastic Sliding Strip Elbow Components Low Cost Prostheses, via SBIR Mechanism
Office of Technology Collaboration & Licensing • Under the Vice President for Research and Economic Affairs • General model, probably typical of state universities: • Professor comes up with an invention • Professor discloses invention to university • This office examines invention and files provisional patent application for 1 year protection • University seeks a company to license and commercialize invention • University hires outside law firm to file patent application with input from inventors • Royalties received are split in thirds to the inventors, the inventor’s department, and to the university
Questions and New Developments • Financially supported graduate students are considered university employees, but self-supported grads and undergrads remain outside of this process (sort of) • Arizona lags many other states in Tech Transfer because the state Constitution prohibits universities from taking equity in companies • New governor Janet Napolitano is in support of a proposed amendment allowing universities to take stock or equity, and become shareholders in companies • This will release the (often small) startup companies from raising the cash necessary to pay licensing and royalty fees up front