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Building Innovation Networks: The Role of Universities

Building Innovation Networks: The Role of Universities. Mike Szarka Manager of Technology Transfer & Commercialization UOIT. The Role of Universities in Innovation Networks. What is happening at YOUR university? Why partner with universities on research?

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Building Innovation Networks: The Role of Universities

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  1. Building Innovation Networks:The Role of Universities Mike Szarka Manager of Technology Transfer & Commercialization UOIT

  2. The Role of Universities in Innovation Networks • What is happening at YOUR university? • Why partner with universities on research? • What are the things that universities CAN’T do well? • A path forward?

  3. UOIT: A brief history • Announced with seed money on May 9, 2001 in the Provincial Budget • Bill 109, an Act to Establish the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, was passed by the Ontario Legislature on June 27, 2002 • First four-year degree classes graduated in May 2007

  4. The Mission of the University To provide undergraduate and postgraduate university programs … that are innovative and responsive to the individual needs of students and to the market-driven needs of employers Advance the highest quality of research Contribute to the advancement of Ontario and Canada…with particular focus on Durham Region and Northumberland County Offer programs with a view to creating opportunities for college graduates to complete a university degree

  5. Faculty of Business and Information Technology Faculty of Criminology, Justice and Policy Studies Faculty of Education Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science School of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science Faculty of Health Sciences Faculty of Science Academic Units

  6. Big Science • Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE) Partnership with GM Canada as part of their $2.5 billion Beacon Project • New $58 million facility at UOIT for advanced design and engineering • New $24 million temperature controlled wind tunnel (largest of its kind in Canada)

  7. Cameco Research Chair • $1.5 million project, expanded proposal recently submitted • Corrosion and fluorine production • Automation/Robotics • Waste management

  8. Research of Interest to Manufacturers • IT security • Wireless and telecommunications • High-performance computing and modelling • Energy (including nuclear) • Corrosion • Robotics, automation and controls • Automotive systems, vibration and noise • Engineering design • Manufacturing and materials • Fluid mechanics

  9. Industrial Research Collaborations • GM • Web in Motion • Three Wise Men • Canada Rubber • Oshawa PUC • Messier-Dowty • Bell Canada • MDF Mechanical • GE Plastics • Marnoch Thermal Power • BRIC Engineered Systems • Veridian • E.I. Williams • AECL • OPG • Cameco • Zircatec • NWMO

  10. UOIT Technology Transfer • Technology Transfer office established September 2005 • Mike Szarka hired to establish office after three years at OCE and six at UofT • Szanne McNutt joined June 2007 • Significant commitment to innovation at a young institution!

  11. OPIC established in partnership with Ryerson, Trent, Brock, Laurentian, Nipissing, Lakehead • Funding from NSERC IPM and ORCP to create larger virtual TT office • Broad range of expertise • Demonstration project fund • Coordinated educational events

  12. UOIT Technology Transfer First eighteen months: • Thirteen invention disclosures • Four demonstration projects funded • One OCE market readiness project funded • One start-up company created, another two under discussion • One issued patent and three patent applications under management

  13. UOIT Technology Transfer • Plastic wood • Hotlink optimizer • SPSS assistant • Koolplate • Micro heat engine • Rotational molding • Stability analysis • Engine design • Handicapped door entry system

  14. Why Partner with a University? • Facilities • People • Fresh perspectives • Low cost • Huge leverage • Consider a modest investment of $27,000 by a company to a university project

  15. Leverage Opportunities in University Partnerships Sample budget:

  16. Leverage Opportunities in University Partnerships Add leverage from OCE:

  17. Leverage Opportunities in University Partnerships Add leverage from NSERC:

  18. Leverage Opportunities in University Partnerships But wait, there’s more… The industry contributions are still eligible for the SR&ED tax credit, so about $20k or more will come back. So for only a few thousand dollars out-of-pocket you get: • Three B.Sc. engineers/scientists • One Ph.D. researcher • One professor (who isn’t even in the budget) • Access to the university’s equipment and facilities BEAT THAT!

  19. Other Benefits • Interacting with new graduates and students (recruitment) • Internships and student projects • Windows into the wider community

  20. Other Resources • Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) • NRC-IRAP • SR&ED

  21. When NOT to work with a University • Very short projects that need to be done very quickly • When absolute secrecy must be maintained (i.e. no patenting) • The university may still be able to help through consulting agreements

  22. “This country is doing dismally in the critically important area of innovation” – Anne Golden, President, Conference Board of Canada in Globe & Mail June 13 1 Switzerland A 2 Sweden B 3 Finland B 4 United States B 5 Germany B 6 Netherlands C 7 Britain C 8 Belgium C 9 Denmark C 10 Ireland C 11 Japan C 12 Austria D 13 France D 14 CANADA D 15 Norway D 16 Australia D 17 Italy D A Path Forward?

  23. A Path Forward? • Ontario is one of the best places in the world to do R&D • Collaborations start with people • Relationships • Networking • Synergies • Networks are “broadband” • Universities can serve as a hub for an innovation network

  24. Dr. Mike Szarka Manager, Technology Transfer & Commercialization Phone (905) 721-8668 x2523 E-mail: mike.szarka@uoit.ca

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