Husk-E-News: May 2008

The University of Connecticut recently recognized 14 faculty members for contributions in the areas of research, product development and commercialization at the sixth annual President Patent Awards Dinner at the Alumni House on the Storrs Campus.

The President’s Patent Awards Dinner, co-hosted by UConn President Michael J. Hogan and the Office of Technology Commercialization, recognizes an inventor, or team of inventors for their discoveries that have resulted in commercial applications of notable value to society.

In 2007, the University of Connecticut received 26 patents from the work of faculty researchers bringing to 268 the total number of patents UConn has received. Of that total, 152 patents have been issued to UConn since the year 2000, with over half in the past eight years reflecting the increasing number of faculty and researchers receiving patents for their discoveries.

“Having patents is fine, but we get them so we can license them,” said Mike Newborg, Executive Director of the University’s Center for Science and Technology Commercialization, which is the patent and licensing office for the University. “Of these 26 patents, 19 have already been licensed to nine different companies; and of these nine companies, four are UConn or UConn R&D start-ups and of those at least two are located at the University as part of the The Technology Incubation Program .”

The Office of Technology Commercialization provides programs and services to faculty and industry to increase commercialization of UConn technology and support Connecticut’s economic development.