National Academy of Inventors Auburn University Chapter Newsletter Vol. 1, Issue 2 March, 2014 The AU Chapter of the National Academy of Inventors (AU-NAI) follows the mission of the National Academy of Inventors by honoring academic invention, recognizing and encouraging inventors, encouraging the disclosure of intellectual property, educating and mentoring innovative students, and translating the inventions of its members to benefit society. In 2010, Auburn University became the fifth charter member institution of the NAI, and its chapter was formed in 2011. Now there are over one hundred chapters at institutions in the United States. The numbers of researchers around the country producing patents and transferring their technology to achieve commercialization in the promotion of entrepreneurship are increasing at a rapid pace. The goal of the AU-NAI on campus is to encourage creative thinking and enhance the spirit of innovation so that the full benefit of our research will reach fruition. We seek to increase the AU membership and participation. The requirement for membership is to be a named inventor on one or more patents. This newsletter highlights some of related activities and accomplishments over the past year. Auburn University s Vodyanoy Named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) has named Dr. Vitaly J. Vodyanoy, a professor of physiology and director of the biosensor laboratory in Auburn s College of Veterinary Medicine, as one of its 2013 Fellows. Representing 94 research universities and governmental and nonprofit research institutions, the 143 new Fellows collectively hold more than 5,600 U.S. patents. Selection as an NAI Fellow is a high honor, said Anne Chasser, former U.S. Commissioner for Trademarks at the USPTO and chair of the NAI Fellows Selection Committee. "The Fellows have made outstanding contributions to innovation and discovery, in ways that have had a significant impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society." News AU NAI celebrates its fourth anniversary as a chapter in the national organization Dr. Vitaly Vodyanoy receives honor as Fellow in the NAI Technology transfer process summarized Inventor and entrepreneur to speak at AU-NAI annual luncheon AU researchers submitting patent disclosures and patents Dr. Paul Swamidass teaching Engineer- Entrapreneur course Students participate in $9000 business plan contest
Included in the 2013 class are nine Nobel laureates, 69 members of the National Academies, 23 fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 23 fellows of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, five inductees of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, six recipients of the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation, and two recipients of the U.S. National Medal of Science. A current member of the AU Chapter of the National Academy of Inventors, Vodyanoy joined Auburn s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1989. He received his M.S. in Physics from Moscow Physical Engineering Institute and his Ph.D. in biophysics from Agrophysical Research Institute, Leningrad, USSR. I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Vodyanoy and found him to be an intellectually gifted scholar and gentleman, said John Weete, Auburn s assistant vice president for technology transfer and commercialization. His ability to recognize and creatively overcome technical obstacles to research is remarkable. Vodyanoy is probably best known for his creation of a better illumination system for the light microscope that greatly enhances the resolution power of the light microscope. Licensed to CytoViva, Inc., microscopes with his illumination system are being sold worldwide and have found a niche in nanomedicine research where they can visualize nanoparticles that cannot be seen withtypical light microscope. This technology won the prestigious R&D Magazine 100 Awards in 2006 and 2007, and the Nano 50 Award in 2007, and is currently enabling researchers in biomedical and other fields to advance their science and find solutions to health, environmental, and other problems. The criteria for Fellow recognition are rightfully rigorous, said Calvin Johnson, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Vodyanoy is truly a remarkable and creative individual, an outstanding citizen of our university and deserving of the recognition and honor of being named NAI Fellow. Inventor and Entrepreneur to Speak at AU-NAI Annual Luncheon April 17, 2014 Samuel Bonasso will be the highlighted speaker of the upcoming annual luncheon at 11:30 AM on April 17th at the AU Hotel and Conference Center. Bonasso is an entrepreneur and inventor who holds several U.S. patents and one Canadian patent. He is currently the president and founder of his own company, and leader of Strategic Consultancy, a strategic organizational development and innovation consultant firm. His vast experience includes being the Administrator and Deputy Administrator of DOT Research and Special Programs, Chairman of Literati Information Technology, LLC, Secretary of Transportation for the state of West Virginia, President and founder of Alpha Associates, President and founder of Ski Lift International, and a civil engineer. Throughout his career, he has been sought as a speaker as an emcee, facilitator, teacher of the art of communication, and creativity and event speaker. Above all, he is an inventor who rose from the ranks to become a successful entrepreneur and motivator. AU faculty interested in attending the NAI luncheon should register with Rhea James at 844-4977.
AU Technology Transfer Office Gives Assistance to Researchers Technology Transfer is the process by which research discoveries, inventions and other creative works are transformed into valuable products and services that benefit society. This process may be long and complex, requiring creativity, skill, and persistence. At AU, the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) has the responsibility for the commercialization of intellectual properties produced by faculty, students, and staff. OTT s staff is comprised of 7 full-time staff members, 2 part-time staff members and several student interns who work on behalf of the University to identify, evaluate, and protect intellectual properties created at AU as well as manage the marketing and licensing of these properties. The office uses a structured process to analyze the commercial potential of new ideas and technologies coming out of AU s colleges, research centers and institutes. This is accomplished through a cooperative approach with the inventors, diligent market research, and focused marketing efforts. We take pride in supporting the University s mission through intellectual property commercialization.
Technology Transfer Results at AU 2009 to 2013 FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY 2012 FY2013 Invention Disclosures 87 105 64 87 65 U.S. Patent Applications Filed: Standard 15 17 12 15 9 Provisional 65 91 63 82 86 Other 1 2 4 10 9 U.S. Patents Granted 14 25 17 14 22 Total Granted U.S. Still Active 126 149 161 171 182 Licenses/Options Executed 15 25 20 17 7 Active Licenses/Options 66 63 67 79 85 Start-up Companies Formed 0 1 3 1 0 Total Active Startup Companies 14 14 17 16 16 Option and License Income $693,452 $770,135 $630,334 $646,659 $835,897 Dr. Paul Swamidass Offers Engineer-Entrepreneur Course Dr. Paul Swamidass, Director of the Thomas Walter Center for Technology Management at AU, offers a new Engineer-Entrepreneur course during spring 2014 for undergraduate and graduate students with total enrollment of 20. Engineering students are NOT required to take this course they are in this class by choice. Students are introduced to the Seven Phases of Technological Innovation, and as engineers they learn the importance of the first three pre-startup phases namely, idea phase, product development phase and business plan phase. Students are assigned to teams and each team starts with an idea and learns to reduce it to a commercializable product. In the process they also learn to conduct patent searches and learn to prepare provisional patent applications. They are encouraged to apply for a provisional application, if necessary, to protect their invention resulting from the class project. Product development takes place with target market identification, potential customer survey to find price, customer interest, and product features. A market research is conducted to ensure there is sufficient market for their startup for years to come. Each team completes a business plan which includes the description of the need for their product, description of their product, patent search results, customer survey, market research, production and sourcing decisions, marketing, sales and distribution, estimate of demand for five years, cost and price, and cash flow for five years. Each team submits a written business plan and makes a presentation to invited judges.
AU Students Participate in Contest for Engineering Invention For the last four years, the Thomas Walter Center has conducted contests for AU students to develop their business startup skills (2014: $9000 business plan awards). This year, the focus was on startups based on engineering inventions. A Steering Committee consisting of Mr. James Corman, Dr. Paul Swamidass and Dr. John Weete announced the contest in fall 2013. A presentation by the two finalists occurred on March 21, 2014. For interested students, Dr. Swamidass conducted several workshops on refining their idea, reduction of their idea to a viable product and business plan preparation. The two finalists selected by the Steering Committee are (alphabetical): Digital sports training tool for improving performance by Haitham Eletrabi and team; and Hydrogen-fueled vehicle by Matthew Phillips. Both businesses have a high degree of engineering content and design. Both have filed provisional patents for their idea/product days before their public presentation. They used their training in the workshops to file their own provisional patents as micro entities for a very small fee. The winner was Haitham Eletrabi for his invention to help athletes improve their performance using sensors that transmit data to a nearby smart phone for digital feedback to the athlete. AU-NAI Board Members President: Zhongyang Chen President Elect: James Barbaree Vice-President: Bernhard Kaltenboeck Secretary: Gwynnedd Thomaas Bernard Kaltenboeck Ram Gupta Christopher Easley William Ravis Tung-shi Huang Ex Officio: John Weete Jan Thornton Editor: James Barbaree