Summer 2004 -- Vol. 21

Some Offices That Support the Commercialization
of Penn State Research Discoveries

Office of Industrial Research
Tanna M. Pugh, director

The Industrial Research Office matches faculty expertise to industry needs. It assists companies in identifying and accessing Penn State faculty expertise and research centers, and works to foster University-industry research partnerships by helping to assess a company's technical needs and by facilitating linkages to appropriate Penn State resources. "We help companies to produce higher-quality, lower-cost products and to implement more efficient processes through the application of Penn State's expertise and developed technologies," says Tanna M. Pugh, director of the Industrial Research Office. For more information: phone 814-865-9519, web <www.techtransfer.psu.edu/iro/>

Intellectual Property Office
Ronald J. Huss, director

Penn State established the Intellectual Property Office in 1989 to manage Penn State's intellectual property by assessing the commercial potential of approximately 200 University inventions per year, by formulating and implementing patent strategies, by marketing University inventions, and by negotiating license agreements with companies having the interest, capability and resources to commercialize them for the benefit of the public, the inventors, and the University. "We try to get our faculty coming at a problem from one side and the business community coming at it from another," says Gary Weber, associate vice president for research and director of technology transfer. Because there is no one-size-fits-all route to research commercialization, the goal of the office is to support the faculty members’ efforts to develop a suitable approach. "In one instance, licensing might be the right route," says Weber, "while in another it might be an equity position." The office provides services from the early stages of obtaining patents through licensing or establishing a business venture. For more information: phone 814-865-6277, web <www.techtransfer.psu.edu/ipo.html>

Research Commercialization Office
Daniel R. Leri, director

The Research Commercialization Office screens inventions for patentability and market potential and assists Penn State faculty and staff with the creation of new companies based on University research and technologies. It provides an interface at Penn State with multiple sources of early-stage capital, identifies mentors and potential management team members, and coordinates with the Intellectual Property Office and the Industrial Research Office to identify and focus available expertise and resources. Space for start-up companies is available in the Innovation Park at Penn State and in the Penn State Zetachron Center for Science and Technology Business Development, a gift of Dr. and Mrs. Wally Snipes and family. For more information: phone 814-863-6301, web <www.techtransfer.psu.edu/rco.html>

Innovation Park
Karen L. Dickinson, director

Penn State's Innovation Park bills itself as an "Engine of invention and a catalyst for job creation. Located at the University Park campus, it facilitates collaborations among technology companies, government agencies, and Penn State by providing space; business-support services; and access to Penn State researchers, students, and facilities. Services that help companies transfer Penn State's knowledge to the marketplace include technical consultation, access to public and private funding sources, facilitation of research collaborations between university and industry partners, commercialization of technology, intellectual property services like patent and licensing assistance, marketing consultation, business and strategic planning assistance, and business incubation. Currently, there are 40 tenants at Innovation Park employing more than 1,000 people, and Penn State recently broke ground for the first building in Phase 3 of the Innovation Park, which includes 75 acres in a mixed-use, multi-tenant facility. In addition, Innovation Park tenants have actively participated in Penn State's internship program with over half hiring student interns. For more information: phone 814-865-5925, web <www.innovationpark.psu.edu>

Steve Miller and Barbara K. Kennedy

Back to Science Journal Summer 2004 Index

Penn State Home Page | Eberly College of Science | Find a Person | Locate a Building | Search | Site Index

Students | Alumni | Visitors | Researchers | Faculty and Staff | Postdoctoral Fellows | Corporate Interests
Academic Programs | Research | Dean's Office | Development and Alumni Relations | News and Events | Directory

This page was last updated on 21June 2004

If you would like to communicate with the keepers of the Eberly College of Science Web server, send electronic mail to: science-web@thunder.science.psu.edu
Technology Webmaster: Joseph K. Carlson < jkc3@psu.edu >
Content Webmaster: Barbara Kennedy < science@psu.edu >