Duration: 10/01/2012 to 09/30/2017

Administrative Advisor(s):

NIFA Reps:

Non-Technical Summary

Statement of Issues and Justification

Advancing and coordination of the North Central regions intellectual property is of high significance. Moving research discoveries from the universities into commercial ventures will add to this region's economic capital and job creating capacity. The coordinating committee for advancing intellectual property (IP) collaborations in the North Central states and beyond would address the following questions:


How should the North Central region position its 12 member states for its IP future?


What is the cost of not being strategic in proactively designing its IP future?


What is missing for success now?


What would a mind map for the future look like?


What do venture capitalists need from technology managers that they cannot get now?


Can our 12 states benefit from coordination?


What would coordination look like?


What can be coordinated across our 12 states and what must each state do alone?


Where would we start?


Should we focus our efforts in a particular area first?


What would it cost to coordinate?


How do you assure successful launching of coordinated efforts?


How important is it to have a point person who owns the coordination process?


How would you launch such an effort?


The stakeholders for this coordinating committee include the 12 North Central State Experiment Stations, scientists in agriculture and the life sciences, and technology managers who work most closely with agriculture and life science IP, including commercialization of IP. Venture Capitalists and private sector customers are key customers/stakeholders. Collaborations beyond the North Central region are expected and will benefit all regions of the United States, but for now, this committee requests that members be from within the NC region only.

Objectives

Procedures and Activities

Next Steps in advancing potential Intellectual Capital Coordination:


The technology managers from 11 of the 12 states met initially on July 27, 2009 along with a number of Experiment Station Directors and addressed the following questions/issues:


1. Do the tech transfer staffs at the 12 Land Grant Universities agree that a strategic approach would be beneficial?


2. What activities/collaborations exist already and what can be learned from such activities?


3. Determine interest in proceeding with collaboration of IP in the North Central Region.


4. Determine most important fields to start IP collaboration, based on needs identified.


Two initial Working Groups (Marketing and Best Practices)were established at the July 27, 2009 Meeting. Membership and these committees should be considered fluid and may change over time to meet the needs and goals of this coordinating committee.

The Marketing Working Group consists of:


Christopher Fender, U. of Missouri, Chair


Erin Bender, Ohio State Univ.


Denny Otsuga, South Dakota State Univ.


The Best Practices Working Group consists of:


Emily Bauer, U of Wisconsin, Chair


Emily Wee, U of Illinois


James H. Rhodes, U. of Minnesota


Thomas Herlache, Michigan State Univ.


Lesley Millar, U. of Illinois


Marketing Group Topics:


1. Market to scientists in the industry


2. At the discovery, development, and final marketing levels


3. Discover what companies want and how they want to be approached


4. Develop strategy so that companies can become aware of our assets


5. Third Party Brokers


6. Broaden the client base beyond traditional agriculture


Best Practices Group Topics:


1. Describe best success stories by major issue (Label area specifically)


2. Identify key problems and potential solutions


3. Consider use of webinars as a communication tool for this working group


4. Examples of Best Practices


5. Master Agreements


6. How are the 12 North Central Universities organized around IP


7. MTAs


8. Non-patented licensing, e.g., cell lines and vectors


9. Collaborative Development Agreements


At the April 2010, spring business meeting of NCRA, the North Central Directors approved the creation of a new NCCC for IP coordination. At this meeting the two working groups developed in July of 2009 advanced their efforts. A session was also held with a venture capitalist to seek his input on what may be gained from coordinating IP across the North Central region.


Finally, at the April 2011 NCRA meeting in Indianapolis, the IP managers and the NC AES directors met along with venture capitalists to present the Gap Funding Proof of Concept Paper that is attached at the end of this proposal. Further discussion on moving this initiative forward will occur at the summer NCRA meeting in Dearborn, MI. The proposed effort will help novel and innovative University-based technologies bridge the gap (also known as the "valley of death") between research and commercialization, when federal funding opportunities may not be applicable.

**This committee can be best reached by contacting the NC IP email list at nc_ipmanagers@lists.wisc.edu. Please see the attachments section for more information on the Proof of Concept white paper and the July 27, 2011 teleconference. More documents are stored online in the NC IP group's Dropbox folder. Contact chamilton@cals.wisc.edu for access.

Expected Outcomes and Impacts

Projected Participation

View Appendix E: Participation

Educational Plan

Organization/Governance

The recommended Standard Governance for multistate research activities include the election of a Chair, a Chair-elect, and a Secretary. All officers are to be elected for at least two-year terms to provide continuity. Administrative guidance will be provided by an assigned Administrative Advisor and a CSREES Representative.

Literature Cited

Attachments

Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

MN, NE

Non Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

Iowa State University - College of Vet Med, Kansas State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign