VA Innovation Showcase proves to be a big success with over 50 exhibitors displaying commercially available university research.
November 2007 - George Mason University was the host institution for the first annual VA Innovation Showcase, which brought 8 Virginia universities together for the first time to display commercially available university research. More than 50 faculty inventors displayed over 70 technologies ranging from IT systems to health and medical technologies. The event, organized locally by the Business Alliance of Mason, attracted over 250 attendees from the business community.
Born out of an idea from the Academic Licensing Community of Virginia (ALCOVe), the event set out to realize a vision to display commercially available university research at one time and one place. ALCOVe's members include the directors for technology transfer at eleven participating Virginia Universities. ALCOVe partnered with the Business Alliance of Mason to organize the event in Northern VA and tap into the large network of business alliance members, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists in the region.
Throughout the day, several panels presented and discussed how entrepreneurs have successfully tapped into the tech transfer offices to license university research. Issues were raised regarding impediments towards commercializing university inventions, and there was agreement among several presenters that continued dialogue is needed to break down the barriers (real and perceived) between university-generated intellectual property and successful commercialization.
The event was kicked off in the morning by the Secretary of Technology for Virginia, Aneesh Chopra, who provided an overview of recent statewide technology transfer activities from the Center for Innovative Technology's GAP Fund and CTRF Fund. Both of these programs have funds available to assist in the commercialization and development of university research.
Secretary Chopra was enthusiastically supportive of this initial Innovation Showcase, and plans are already being developed to have an expanded Showcase (e.g., with technologies from the Virginia's National Laboratories added to the portfolio of university-derived technologies) return to Northern VA in 2008.
For more information on ALCOVE: www.alcove.org (site under development)