Agenda - WBTshowcase 2010

This session provides an introduction to the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC) and the mechanisms used to work with federal laboratories.

This session will focus on methods that have been successfully utilized to assess and optimize the potential market return on early stage technologies. Technology valuation relies on a variety of key inputs, ranging from a clear understanding of market utility to well defined strategies for adequate IP protection. “Value” is often defined as enhanced performance beyond what is currently available. Even better is adding “Value” at a lower cost. A panel of experienced practitioners will discuss how to identify and quantify the maximum value potential for early stage technologies.

The importance of effective collaboration between government, academia, and industry, or triple helix partnerships,that can efficiently move science-based knowledge from discovery to commercialization is widely accepted.  Equally critical in creating new value chains is the partnership among academia, venture capital, and entrepreneurs that can result in the successful commercialization of new technology.  The unique combination of intellectual, strategic, and financial capacity provides the framework for driving innovation.  The academic medical center is able to monetize select innovation by:  license of the technology to a partner, the outright sale of the intellectual property, or launch of a new company.  Developing new technology is an art and a science. Likewise, the building of a company is an art and a science.  The capacity to manage resources and risk effectively plays a critical role in the commercialization of innovation in the marketplace.

Corporate Venture Capital investment can offer tremendous strategic and financial opportunities to both the corporation (investors) and entrepreneurs (investees). But all too often the inherent structural incompatibility between mature and early-stage firms, strategic misalignment between the parties, or inattention to aligning incentives can cause even the most promising CVC-based partnership to turn out badly for all involved. In this session, we’ll explore some of the critical elements that can affect outcomes from both sides of the equation, discuss the process and pitfalls that arise when strategic investors and entrepreneurs engage with one another, and share some disciplines that both sides can apply to make the relationship work. Attendees are encouraged to email any relevant questions to acaper@synchronyvm.com in advance.

Developing and commercializing market-ready technology with a university can offer tremendous benefits, but the relationship can be a minefield to negotiate. Success has a great deal to do with the terms of engagement and the willingness to make the deal work on both sides.

Mike Rainone is the founder of PCDworks, Inc., a technology development firm that specializes in new product development, and the president of Active Water Sciences, Inc., a new partnership between PCDworks, Inc. and Sam Houston State University that offers breakthrough products for wastewater management. Co-presenter Dan Davis is Associate Vice President for Research Development and Technology Commercialization at SHSU. Rainone and Davis will outline the do's and don'ts for companies hoping to find, develop and market new products with universities.

Last year at the WBT, DoD hosted a seminar discussing some of the programs and approaches DoD has instituted to find work with businesses beyond the traditional methods of the Government procurement system and its inherently rule based business processes. DoD is now using some innovative way to work with companies that do not traditionally work with them. There are great technologies and products in the private sector that have been developed for purposes not related to DoD needs but have applicability to Defense programs. The challenge for DoD is how to bring those technologies into use for our warfighters. This session will focus on just three of the many pathways that have been opened to bring industry together with DoD in partnership arrangements that make good business sense and help DoD acquire products meeting critical needs. Today’s panel will discuss use of the Defense Production Act, Title III program in it’s establishment of reliable domestic sources, the use of MilTech to provide manufacturing, supply chain, and design assistance to small innovative companies, and the use of the DoD Open Business Cell to open the door to innovative partnering on product development and delivery.

This session will explore how regional economic development goals are being realized by leveraging federal R&D and venture capital.