October 5, 2006
UW TechTransfer reports increases in invention disclosures, licensing agreements, options
UW TechTransfer, which facilitates the commercialization of UW research, has announced record growth in key areas for the 2006 fiscal year. Invention disclosures, which are a key indicator of the University’s ability to create innovative technologies and materials, increased 16 percent over 2005, to 310. The disclosures represent 36 new software and copyright-based innovations and 274 potentially patentable inventions.
Licensing agreements and options, which formalize the transfer of technology between the University and businesses, grew from 109 in 2005 to 153 in 2006 — a 40 percent increase. Ten new start-up companies based on UW research were also reported in the fiscal year, the majority of which are located in the Puget Sound region. They are Pavia Systems, Seredigm, Advanced Electroluminescent Systems (AES), Focused Scientific, High Grade Technology, Mirabilis Medica, Project Implicit, Promentix, Retinagenix and VP Diagnostics.
James Severson, vice provost of UW TechTransfer, cited three key trends from the 2006 fiscal year results and developments in the technology transfer process:
- An improved business climate as researchers are more motivated to create start-ups and venture capitalists are willing to provide the needed funding.
- Increased support and the promotion of technology transfer by University leadership — for example, President Mark Emmert’s recent Ideas to Innovation Summit held on Sept. 18.
- Researchers encouraged by reports drafted by the Washington Economic Development Commission and funding initiatives like the Life Sciences Discovery Fund that promote research commercialization.
“The positive results from the 2006 fiscal year are a tribute to the hard work of our staff and the desire of our faculty to see the results of their research commercialized,” Severson said. “We continue to build strong relationships across campus and throughout the business community which will translate into getting more ideas off campus and into the hands of the public.”
Fiscal Year 2006 Start Up Companies:
Company | Product/Service |
Advanced Electroluminescent Systems (AES) | AES will commercialize organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology. This low-voltage, low-cost, and environmentally friendly lighting will likely replace traditional lighting. |
Focused Scientific | Focused Scientific is using lipid tubules, micro-sized tubes made of fatty materials, as a carrier for drugs in the human body. |
High Grade Technology | High Grade Technology is commercializing high intensity focused ultrasound systems intended for intraoperative visually guided hemostasis and ablation. This new technology helps surgeons to efficiently control the blood flow and to |
Mirabilis Medica | Mirabilis Medica was formed to develop a high intensity ultsasound machine to noninvasively treat uterine fibroids—small, noncancerous tumors that are a leading cause of hysterectomies. |
Pavia | Pavia Systems, Inc. offers Web-based, interactive rich-media content for training the nearly 1 million employees of the paving construction industry. Created by UW professors, the customizable software is a cost-effective alternative to classroom training. |
Project Implicit | Project Implicit was formed to bring the implicit association test (IAT) and its improvements into wider use. IAT demonstrates our conscious-unconscious divergences and has uses in the education, marketing, and employment fields. |
Promentix | Promentix is an early stage biotechnology company developing therapies for protein aggregation diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. |
Retinagenix | Retinagenix is an early stage biotechnology company, developing and commercializing synthetic retinoids for treatment of retinal diseases. |
Seredigm | Seredigm was founded to commercialize proprietary compositions that protect against tissue damage in a variety of acute or chronic medical conditions like heart attacks. |
VP Diagnostics | VP Diagnostics has developed software products that identify, analyze and visualize the dangerous vulnerable plaque responsible for most strokes. |
Since it’s founding in 1982, UW TechTransfer has helped create more than 200 companies in Washington state and abroad. In the 2006 fiscal year, UW TechTransfer generated $23.5 million in total revenue from all sources. Additionally, UW TechTransfer manages a total patent portfolio of over 2,000 issued and pending patents filed in the U.S. and around the world.
Visit: http://depts.washington.edu/techtran/ for more information.
