Innovation Week — which features a series of events that highlight UNMC personnel who have worked to move their ideas to the marketplace — returns to campus next week (Oct. 15-18). (See a full list of Innovation Week activities.)
In advance of Innovation Week, UNMC Today chatted with Michael Dixon, Ph.D., president of UNeMed, UNMC’s technology commercialization arm, about his group’s recent activity.
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Michael Dixon, Ph.D. |
One of our new programs that we are very excited about is the NRI-supported Proof-of-Concept grant program. It is is administered through the University Technology Development Corporation and provides essential development funds to help move early stage technologies, with strong commercialization potential, through the “Valley of Death.”
We also are excited to have added more than 30 years of biotechnology development expertise with the hire of our new Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Dr. Gary Madsen. … I encourage everyone to attend Dr. Madsen’s first UNMC seminar at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the Durham Research Center Auditorium.
What do you see on the commercialization horizon at UNMC in the next year?
Last year we had a record-breaking year for almost all of our metrics. We received more than 100 inventions and signed more than twice as many licensing deals as the previous year. As the research engine continues to track upward, I foresee more innovation and more corporate relationships being forged. In addition, as the federal budget shrinks, I believe industrial partnerships will be a key element to the continued upward trajectory of our research enterprise.
What is the key message you want people to take from Innovation Week this year?
For me, the key message is for every person on campus to realize they are an important part of the UNMC innovation ecosystem. New and valuable ideas come from every department, school, and building on campus. The conception and development of new ideas to make the world a better place knows no boundaries. UNeMed is here to help provide the advice, pathways and connections to help ideas grow. Call us any time.