Innovation Week features variety of activities

The Saluki Times
October 13, 2011
By Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale is celebrating Innovation Week with five days of special events highlighting the innovative spirit, technological innovation and entrepreneurship found at the University and throughout the region. The events, set for Oct. 24-28, include workshops, guest speakers, a technology and innovation expo and more.

“Innovation is the cornerstone of American economic progress, and perhaps never more crucial than right now. Regional innovation requires new ideas, research and a culture of entrepreneurship that is supported by the community, the University and a mindset to achieve it. The events during Innovation Week demonstrate our commitment to maximizing our positive economic impacts on the region, and run a wide gamut of efforts from workshops, to descriptions of new inventions, and panel discussions by emerging entrepreneurs. These efforts are sure to contribute to a culture and success for innovation all across Southern Illinois,” said John A. Koropchak, vice chancellor for research and graduate dean.

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‘Operation Mousetrap’ is all about innovation

http://news.siuc.edu/news/April10/040810cjm10103.html

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Operation Mousetrap isn’t about finding a better way to capture a furry rodent; rather, it focuses on ways to help commercialize the research and innovation technologies developed by Southern Illinois University Carbondale faculty and staff.

The inaugural sessions of the entrepreneurial technology transfer program draw to a close this week with nine special presentations highlighting a small fraction of the technology, research and innovation that exists at SIUC. Participants will demonstrate their projects, offering PowerPoint presentations and discussing their business plans while honing their “pitches” for funding.
Media Advisory

Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to cover the Operation Mousetrap entrepreneurial technology transfer program presentations set for Friday, April 9, in Room 241 at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center. Presentations begin at 12:30 p.m. with graduation set for 2:30 p.m. John Koropchak, vice chancellor for research and graduate dean, will present certificates of achievement to participants completing the program.

Since early 2010, participants have been meeting each week to hear a variety of experts discuss topics of interest. They’ve learned about testing their innovations and business concepts, exploring entrepreneurship, identifying funding and working with investors, protecting their business and intellectual property, planning for financial success and much more. Curt Jones, founder and CEO of Dippin’ Dots and an alumus of SIUC, spoke about defining a target market. Jack Goecken, founder of MCI, addressed entering and capturing the market. Participants also heard about testing their business concepts from Curtis Baird, chairman of the board of the School Center in Carbondale.

“In addition to the weekly training and speakers, participants have been meeting with their business coaches to further develop their business plans and investor pitches. This one-on-one assistance gives each faculty or staff member the opportunity to focus on the stage of business development that is most important and applicable to them at this time,” said Kyle Harfst, director of technology and enterprise development at SIUC.

Harfst and Maryon King, director of the College of Business Center for Innovation and associate professor of marketing, both served as business coaches for Operation Mousetrap participants. Operation Mousetrap uses FastTrac TechVenture, an entrepreneurship and business program provided by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The foundation fosters entrepreneurship through such programs all over the U.S., giving people the tools they need to develop or hone their skills to better utilize and market technology.

Essentially, the program works with technology and life science researchers and developers in bringing their innovations from the concept stage to the marketplace. There is an emphasis on intellectual property and some of those participating in the current program are already seeking patents for their work. The participants received scholarships, valued at about $1,500, to be part of the program.

Harfst’s desire to establish an entrepreneurship program for faculty and staff researchers and scientists at the University led Lynn Andersen Lindberg, director of business innovation and research, to approach Mark Petrilli. Petrilli, state director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center, was enthusiastic about the concept and provided partial funding for the inaugural session, according to Andersen Lindberg. The University’s Technology Transfer staff helped identify faculty and staff who had technologies that were ready to take the next step toward commercialization and they received invitations to the program.

Partnering to provide the SIUC program are the College of Business Center for Innovation, Illinois Small Business Development Center, Small Business Incubator Program and the Southern Illinois Research Park.

Operation Mousetrap participants successfully completing the intensive 12 sessions will get certificates of achievement on Friday, April 9, from John Koropchak, vice chancellor for research and graduate dean. The graduates are eligible for three months of free rent at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center through the Small Business Incubator Program and can also apply for $5,000 to $10,000 in challenge grant funds from the Southern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center.

The ultimate goal of the program is increasing the number of technology-based companies emerging from SIUC research and locating in Southern Illinois, Andersen Lindberg said.

“The program has been so successful that plans are already under way for the second Operation Mousetrap program, set to begin in August,” said Andersen Lindberg. “In addition, the program staff will continue to work with this first group of participants to assist them in the next phases of their entrepreneurial tech transfer activities. We’ll be offering them business coaching, follow-up workshops and seminars throughout the year.”

Participants in the inaugural Operation Mousetrap include:

• Ken Anderson, professor, geology.

• Bakul Dave, associate professor, chemistry and biochemistry.

• Peter Fadde, associate professor, curriculum and instruction.

• Thad Heckman, assistant instructor, architecture school.

• Yuqing Hou, assistant scientist, graduate school.

• David Lightfoot, professor, plant, soil and agricultural systems.

• Sebastian Loh, assistant professor, curriculum and instruction.

• Luke Tolley, associate professor, chemistry and biochemistry.

• Tom Upton, associate professor, Rehabilitation Institute.

SIUC team wins fourth in global innovation contest

Saluki Times, March 31, 2010
By Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill -- A team of Southern Illinois University Carbondale researchers, students and entrepreneurs brought home a top prize in a national technology innovation contest.

The team won fourth place at the Global Venture Challenge 2010, a contest based at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The SIUC team was one of just 22 finalists from five countries competing for cash prizes at the contest, aimed at finding innovative ideas from graduate students to address the world’s needs for energy and security.

The team pitched the so-called “nanoscopic electronic nose,” a device in which tiny nano-scale wires stand in for the biological smell detector cells present in a mammal’s nose. Because of their tiny size and chemical reactivity, nanowires can detect extremely small concentrations of chemicals in the parts-per-billion range. Sensors based on this technology also are extremely stable and power efficient.

When assembled in arrays of sensors and coordinated by software, such sensors can form a sort of electronic nose that can send detailed information about the environment. Applications might include very small, power-efficient sensors that can send doctors real-time information about a patient’s blood glucose level, for example, or lead to improved radio frequency identification tags -- often used in the retail sales industry, but with many other potential applications -- that can sniff the air for explosives or other chemicals.

The team presenting the device included Andrei Kolmakov, assistant professor in the Department of Physics; Victor Sysoev, a former visiting Fulbright Scholar from Saratov State Technical University in Russia; physics doctoral student Evgheni Stlecov; Renee Favreau, a senior in marketing; Jenni Janssen, assistant director of the SIUC Center for Innovation; Gina Montgomery, a senior in industrial design; and Maryon King, associate professor of marketing. Read More...

SIU To Present System Technology & Innovation Expo March 30

http://www.prweb.com/releases/technology_innovation/expo_biochemistry/prweb3597054.htm

The Southern Illinois University system, which for decades has provided a fertile environment for the development of major technologies, will showcase current research and inventions March 30 when the system presents the Technology and Innovation Expo on the SIU Edwardsville campus.

Edwardsville, Ill. (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 12, 2010 -- The Southern Illinois University system, which for decades has provided a fertile environment for the development of major technologies, will showcase current research and inventions March 30 when the system presents the Technology and Innovation Expo on the SIU Edwardsville campus.

Faculty inventors in the fields of biochemistry, engineering, medicine and pharmacy from SIU Carbondale, SIU Edwardsville and the SIU School of Medicine in Springfield will combine forces to showcase the latest research under way on the three campuses. The Expo also will focus on opportunities for potential partners to help make this cutting-edge research a commercial reality.

The Expo is scheduled from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. that Tuesday in SIUE’s Morris University Center. The event will feature presentations by SIU faculty inventors who have technology to license. The event promises to bring together academics, entrepreneurs and business people to increase awareness of available technologies that can lead to new products and innovations in a networking environment.

“American universities have carried much of the responsibility for technology transfer from the laboratory to the commercialization of ideas and inventions," said SIU President Glenn Poshard. “The SIU system is proud to have played a major role in this endeavor over many years.

“The SIU Technology and Innovation Expo allows the campuses to display our efforts in this process,” he said.

Faculty inventors will present throughout the day, including SIU School of Medicine's William Halford, PhD, who will talk about the latest progress of his work in herpes vaccine. Inventors from SIU Carbondale will reveal the latest research in biofuels and advanced materials startup companies that have resulted from university research.

SIU Edwardsville’s featured inventions range from new drugs for treatment of Alzheimer's to magnetic refrigeration, a promising energy technology.

Keynote talks will be given by successful industry collaborators James Bashkin, chemistry director/co-founder of NanoVir, and Matt Kulig, serial entrepreneur and currently COO for Aisle411.com

Also featured at the Expo in the afternoon will be a panel of experts discussing “Ideas to Markets: Successful Technology Commercialization.” Panel members from industry, university administration, inventors and investors will provide insight into the technology commercialization process.

Throughout the day exhibits and poster presentations by speakers, SIU faculty, students, and event sponsors will be on display in the common areas. The event will include lunch and a catered reception for attendees. Registration is required and tickets are $25 per person.

Event information—including the Expo agenda, speakers, sponsorship opportunities and registration—is available online: http://techtransfer.siuc.edu/tie/s10, or by calling (618) 650-2166.

Sponsors for the event include Ameren Economic Development, Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP, Madison County Community Development, St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, the Madison-Bond Workforce Investment Board and Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois.

The event is being organized by the SIUC Technology Transfer Program, the SIU School of Medicine, the SIUE Graduate School, the SIUE Southwestern Entrepreneurship Center and SIUE’s University Park, a research park on the campus.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale:
Founded in 1869 as a small teachers college, SIU Carbondale is a student-centered, comprehensive research university offering more than 200 majors, minors and specializations. SIUC is a Carnegie II doctoral/research-extensive (the highest category) institution offering more than 60 master’s and 30 doctoral programs. The National Science Foundation ranks SIUC 101st among public universities in the United States for total research and development expenditures, and 142nd among all universities in the country—placing the University among the top 4 percent of U.S. higher education institutions for research.

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine:
The mission of the SIU School of Medicine is to assist the people of Central and Southern Illinois in meeting their health care needs through education, patient care, research and service to the community. The School of Medicine trains caring and competent physicians, while developing new models for providing health care in rural areas. Our medical research provides the engine for continued growth in biomedical related economic development and clinical care. Our 220-plus full-time faculty physicians, who practice as SIU HealthCare, offer primary care and a variety of specialized services, many not available elsewhere in downstate Illinois.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville:
SIU Edwardsville boasts a unique academic portfolio offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in the arts and sciences, nursing, education, business and engineering as well as professional degrees in dental medicine and pharmacy. In fiscal year 2009, SIUE faculty and staff received more than $29 million in grants and contracts for research, teaching and service initiatives. For the fifth consecutive year, U.S.News & World Report has heralded SIUE for its Senior Assignment Program, and lists SIUE among the top 15 public Master’s universities in the Midwest and in the top one-third of all public and private Midwestern universities. Also, in its 2010 Best College edition, U.S. News included SIUE as one of 77 “up and coming” schools in the nation, specifically referring to SIUE as “firmly focused on improving the job they’re doing today.”

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SIUC Technology Advances to the Semi-Final Rounds of Global Venture Challenge 2010

The Center for Innovation is excited to announce that Dr. Andrei Kolmakov's Nanoscopic Electronic Nose technology advanced to the semi-finals round in Global Venture Challenge 2010.

C4I has been spearheading efforts to advance select SIUC technologies via participation in new venture competitions, with support from the SIUC Tech Dev team members. The extra focus the competitions bring to the technologies can lead to additional research and commercial opportunities.

For the next step of the Challenge, teams are required to complete a 5-page commercialization plan for submission by March 8th. First place winners will be awarded $25,000.

Read more about Dr. Kolmakov's technology on the SIUC Technology Transfer website or in this summary (PDF).

The Technology and Innovation Expo

The Technology and Innovation Expo took place in Carbondale on October 9. More than 110 people were in attendance, including businesspeople, university faculty and staff, and regional economic development and media representatives.

After a welcome by Dr. Don Rice, Dr. Bob Gower gave the keynote speech to start the day. He talked about how large disruptive innovations are no longer coming from large companies. Large companies are losing the ability to innovate, in terms of doing meaningful research and taking the associated business risk. This is because large corporations lack the necessary culture that supports disruptive innovation. As with "The Innovator's Dilemma," great companies that do everything right sometimes still fail because they are out-innovated.

Dr. Gower suggested that this change presents a big opportunity for research universities such as SIUC. He pointed out that the best researchers nowadays are at universities. In his opinion, it's not money that is the most important ingredient for success, but drive and desire, a key trait of entrepreneurs. So, the combination of universities working with independent entrepreneurs will be the combination that will result in the big disruptive innovations moving forward.

His specific suggestions to SIUC were to continue to create research opportunities, and to continue to avoid too much bureaucracy and arrogance as the university grows. He referred to his pleasant experiences with SIU leadership and researchers and noted that it was an important asset of the university.

The morning presentations ranged from the contour table instructional laser device to an "Objective Tinnitus Testing Device" from the SIU Medschool. Several of the inventors talked about their experience of the inventive process and recognizing a need as the first step.

Thad Heckman demonstrated his contour table laser device for architectural instruction. He spoke of his experience using it in the classroom with positive results, and potential additional applications.

Dr. David Lightfoot talked about "Adding value to the annual $5 billion generated from sale of Illinois crops" and his four patents related to the subject, some of which are currently licensed by industry partners.

Dr. Bakul Dave talked about one of his patents that has applications including odor prevention, color protection and wrinkle prevention for fabrics.

Dr. Luke Tolley talked about his DIABLA invention for finding protein targets and its many applications from better enzymes for biofuels to personalized medicine.

Kristy Owen traveled to Carbondale from the SIU School of Medicine in Springfield for the day to present the "Objective Tinnitus Testing Device," and licensing opportunities available for human and animal applications.

Two patentees were honored during the luncheon, provided by Great Boars of Fire. Bruce DeRuntz received a plaque for his "Wire Connector Driver" design patent, issued July 22, 2008. David Lightfoot received a plaque for his "Method of determining soybean sudden death syndrome resistance in a soybean plant" greenhouse assays patent that was issued October 30, 2007.

Curt Jones entertained the lunch crowd with a talk about his experiences with the innovation process and some current directions of Dippin' Dots and his other projects. Event attendees were able to sample Dippin' Dots' new "Coffee Frappes" product throughout the day.

The afternoon technology session was focused on environment and energy, and the complete summary is available on the SIU Energy Technology Weblog.

The reception following the event was catered by La Bella Notte, an emerging local specialty catering team, with wine provided by Blue Sky Vineyard. Several sponsor organizations featured exhibits in the Atrium throughout the day.

The event's goal was to raise awareness of SIUC in business and industry as a center for technology and innovation, and more information will follow with more details about specific aspects of the event. More information about the event and the days' agenda is available here: http://techtransfer.siuc.edu/tie/agenda.html.

The feedback from presenters and attendees of the event was wholly positive, with reports that the quality of the presented work exceeded expectations, and that they would resoundingly attend the event again next year and recommend it to others.

As a result, the organizing committee is planning additional initiatives to further increase awareness of university technology and facilitate outcomes and deal flow. One of the first activities is this weblog. More information will follow in the coming weeks about the purpose and goals of the SIUC Technology Development weblog.