A multidisciplinary program at Arizona State University’s (ASU) Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law that trains students to provide legal and business consulting services to cash-strapped entrepreneurs has been renamed to reflect its expanded client base and service offerings. The old Technology Ventures Services Group (TVSG) — a for-credit course for ASU graduate students in law, business, and engineering — has been combined with some undergraduate programs into the Innovation Advancement Program (IAP). Students in the law school’s Healthcare Entrepreneurship Clinic and Lisa Foundation Patent Law Clinic also are working in conjunction with the new program.

Eric Menkhus, clinical professor at the College of Law and director of the IAP, says the new name more accurately reflects the breadth of the clinic’s work. While the TVSG only assisted technology start-ups, the IAP also will work with innovators in health care, select nonprofit organizations, and other innovative companies or individuals poised to have a positive impact on Arizona’s economy. The IAP will continue to be housed at SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center.

In addition, the TVSG’s Technology Ventures Legal Clinic — comprised of law students who handle business formation, employment issues, licensing, limited patent work, and other IP issues — has been renamed the Innovation Advancement Legal Clinic. And Technology Ventures Consulting — through which other ASU students perform market research and analysis, technology and supply chain assessments, financial model creation, leadership team analysis, and other business-planning services — has been renamed Innovation Advancement Consulting. The IAP also has renewed its partnership with ASU’s Arizona Technology Enterprises, the university’s IP management arm and TTO.

Source: ASU News

Posted September 15th, 2010 under Tech Transfer

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