Launch a Proof of Concept Center and Get More Technology to the Marketplace
Originally presented September 14, 2011

Proof-of-Concept Centers are a different breed than incubators, accelerators, and prototype centers. A genuine POC center combines a number of commercialization activities -- not just lab space, funding, or mentoring -- that provide researchers with the support needed to continue IP development and bring more of their technologies to the marketplace.  For universities that have adopted this more comprehensive approach to supporting research with commercial  potential, the rewards have been substantial in the form of more start-ups, more licenses, and more inventions that cross the commercial divide and ultimately achieve public benefit.

To highlight the opportunities that proof of concept centers hold for university technologies, and how they can be best established to mesh with your current commercialization activities, we've recruited three outstanding panelists: Stephen S. Tang, PhD (President and CEO of University City Science Center, Philadelphia), Mark Galvin (Managing Director of the New Hampshire Innovation Commercialization Center), and Marc  Sedam (Executive Director, University of New Hampshire Office for Research Partnerships and Commercialization). Each presenter brings a unique perspective to the program, both from a POC point of view and the TTO point of view.

Join us for this informative webinar where our expert faculty panel will reveal:

• What POCs are -- and what they aren't
• Where do POCs fit into university IP commercialization plans
• Insight into the mechanics of POC programs including:
• Requirements of researchers, TTOs and university administration
• Differences between competition-based centers and "rolling" admission
• Fundraising opportunities and issues
• Conflict of interest
• Understanding of the university's and TTO's role, and moving the center toward self-sufficiency
• Best practices for planning and launching a POC

Your Panel of Presenters:

Steve Tang became President and CEO of the University City Science Center in February 2008. Steve previously served as Group Vice President and General Manager with Olympus America Inc., where he led U.S. operations for the company's $1 billion global Life Science businesses. Before joining Olympus in 2005, he was president and CEO of Millennium Cell Inc. (NASDAQ: MCEL), an energy technology firm he led through its initial public offering in 2000. Previously, he served as Vice President and Managing Director of the global pharmaceutical and healthcare practice of A.T. Kearney Inc., and was Vice President and Co-managing Director of the global chemical and environmental practice for Gemini Consulting Inc., now known as Cap Gemini. Prior to that, he was the Assistant Director and Senior Research Engineer at the Lehigh University Center for Molecular Bioscience and Biotechnology in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Mark Galvin is Managing Director of the New Hampshire Innovation Commercialization Center, where he has overall leadership responsibility for assuring success of the Center's mission. Mark excels in equity-based fund raising, team building, rapid growth business management, system architecture, matching technologies to emerging business needs and building and motivating channels to market. He founded and was President and CEO of PRI in Salem (acquired by Xircom in 1995), RAScom, Inc, Salem, NH (acquired by Excel Switching in 1999), Cedar Point Communications (currently operating in Derry) and Whaleback Systems (currently operating in Portsmouth). PRI, RAScom and Cedar Point were all recognized by Inc. and Entrepreneur Magazine as among the fastest growing private companies in the U.S.

Marc  Sedam, Executive Director in the University of New Hampshire Office for Research Partnerships and Commercialization, has an extensive background in intellectual asset management, licensing, and start-up formation.  He currently serves as the head of the University of New Hampshire's technology transfer office and concurrently serves as the Executive Director of the New Hampshire Innovation Research Center, New Hampshire's only translational research funding program.  Prior to UNH, Marc was the Chief Operating Officer of Qualyst, a UNC-Chapel Hill spinout which studies the impact of drug transporters on the safety and efficacy of drugs. Marc was also the Associate Director-Life Sciences for The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's technology transfer office where he helped UNC become the top single university in start-up formation in 2001. He is a frequent speaker on issues relating to intellectual asset management and university start-up formation.