Leveraging University R&D
to Accelerate Open Innovation

Universities represent a significant amount of research and development expenditures worldwide each year. Maintaining a large university network and then, when appropriate, using technology transfer to access basic research should be a component of every organization’s open innovation effort. In this session, Dr. Gross, CEO of UTEK Corporation will detail the company’s experience with sourcing university technologies to meet corporate open innovation needs. Having conducted more than 99 successful technology transfers with research centers from around the globe, Dr. Gross will help attendees better understand licensing university technologies, and then lay the groundwork for implementing a successful university technology in-licensing effort that can drive corporate innovation.

Dr. Clifford Gross serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of UTEK Corporation. Dr. Gross previously held the appointment of Research Professor and Director of the Center for Product Ergonomics at the University of South Florida. In 1984, he founded the Biomechanics Corporation of America and served as its CEO until 1995. Before this he held positions as Acting Director of the Graduate Program in Ergonomics and Biomechanics at New York University and Chairman of the Department of Biomechanics at New York Institute of Technology. Dr. Gross has received eighteen patents and has produced numerous publications. His most recent book, co-authored with Joe Allen, entitled Technology Transfer for Entrepreneurs (Praeger Publishers, December 30, 2003) describes how companies can utilize federal laboratory innovations to invigorate their product offerings and strengthen their core technology. Dr. Gross received his Master's and Ph.D. degrees from New York University, is a Fellow of the Institute of International Licensing Practitioners and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Technology Transfer Society.

How prize-based innovation is changing the face of R&D

After a number of years in the industry, InnoCentive^® has found that prize-based innovation is a highly effective way of mobilizing bright minds all over the world, to solve problems that matter. We are driving innovation in the corporate, government, and not-for-profit sectors. In this session we will highlight a number of specific examples where InnoCentive has driven breakthrough innovation for organizations.

Among the topics we will discuss:

• Case studies in commercial and not-for-profit sectors

• Best practices we've seen in prize based and open innovation

• We will introduce InnoCentive's flexible Challenge types that allow organizations to address various problems in flexible ways

Dwayne Spradlin is President and Chief Executive Officer of InnoCentive, Inc. Previously, he served as President at business information company Hoover's Inc. and before that he was President and Chief Operating Officer of Starcite, Inc., an online meeting and events planning business. Spradlin served as Senior Vice President of Corporate and Business Development for Verticalnet Inc., the world's largest portfolio of online industry marketplaces. Earlier, Spradlin was a Director in the E-Business and Emerging Technology practice at PriceWaterhouseCoopers. He holds a BA in Applied Mathematics and an MBA from the University of Chicago. He resides in Southlake, TX with his wife and three sons.

Growth beyond the core: fusing inside and outside knowledge to reach new markets

As Open Innovation has been matured, the concept itself has expanded. Today, the most progressive companies have recognized the advantage of looking outside not only for technology, but also for complementary expertise to help them create or enter new markets.

The Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), known for its role in creating much of modern computing, has been deep in the trenches of expertise-based relationships in the last six years. This talk will discuss the nuts-and-bolts of PARC's recent work with both multinational corporations and new ventures. The cases will include a summary of the important lessons for making expertise-based engagements successful, particularly in developing new market opportunities. It will also touch on PARC's own transition from corporate research lab to cross-industry business catalyst.

Topics will include:

• How expertise-based and technology-based relationships differ, in form and function

• Why “insourcing” expertise is an emerging alternative for reaching new markets

• What you need to know to effectively bring new expertise into the company through external relationships

Jennifer Ernst is Director of Business Development at the Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), a subsidiary of Xerox Corporation. She is responsible for developing and managing the company's corporate relationships in the US and Europe. Her background includes managing PARC's Communications Department, participation in an experimental research program on design, and experience in broadcast television. Jennifer holds an MBA from Santa Clara University and a BA in Radio/Television from San Francisco State University. She is a former member of The Conference Board’s Council on Innovation and a current member of Tech Connect Advisory Board.

Conference Info:

CODEV SPONSORS:

Gold Sponsor

Special Presentation

Tools / Services Sponsors

UTEK Presentation

InnoCentive Presentation

PARC Presentation

Silver Breakfast Sponsor

Breakfast Presentation

Silver Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor

Distinguished Faculty Sponsor

Supporting Organizations