Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship (Discontinued) - Volume 2, Issue 1, 2015

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program was created to stimulate technological innovation and business development at early stage companies in the United States. In its 21-year history, the program has channeled over $35 billion of public funds to private businesses in the form of approximately 137,000 grants. However, the question of whether SBIR funding effectively spurs new innovation and promotes c Read More

Major changes in U.S. patent law are having an impact on the value of patents. The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) introduced numerous changes to U.S. patent law including the switch to a first to file patent system from a first to invent patent system. New proceedings at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to challenge the grant of issued patents have produced quick results and emerging trends. Recent U.S. Sup Read More

The Biotechnology and Life Sciences Advising (BALSA) Group is a graduate studentand post-doctoral fellow-led strategic consulting firm dedicated to supporting economic growth and development in St. Louis, Missouri. BALSA has been recognized by St. Louis civic leaders as a valuable player in the St. Louis entrepreneurial community and has demonstrated that graduate students and post-doctoral fellows – without formal traini Read More

Universities and state governments are increasingly looking towards their technology transfer offices to aid in the incubation of new innovations to create new ventures and promote economic development. For a new start-up company to succeed, a strong technology founder and partners with business experience are crucial. Many universities are utilizing entrepreneur-inresidence (EIR) programs to attract professionals with ext Read More

The flaws in the training of PhDs in life science disciplines are impacting the state of academic biomedical science in the United States (U.S.) as well as the fate of PhD students and postdoctoral fellows. In the absence of sweeping changes to the U.S. graduate training model, these circumstances will degrade the pipeline of highly educated scientific innovators and entrepreneurs. To counter this, a wide range of unique programs ar Read More

This paper examines some of the hindrances in moving the small and medium size manufacturing firms, with revenues ranging from U.S 1 to 50 million dollars, towards sustainability conscious and environmentally responsible corporate culture. Economic cost and benefits of transition to greener enterprise with greater energy efficiency and waste management in operations are estimated. Case studies of five manufacturi Read More