New Venture Creation and Technology Commercialization
Presented by:
Charles Hasemann, Ph.D. (MSU Innovation Center & Business-CONNECT),
Brian Abraham, Ph.D. (Spartan Innovations) and
Rich Chylla, Ph.D. (Michigan State University Technologies)
For faculty and graduate students working in research, there are few things more thrilling
than making a new discovery. But once the experiments are completed, the papers are
written, the articles are published and the students have received their diplomas, what is
the tangible impact of the discovery? For some fortunate researchers, the thrill of
discovery is only surpassed by the rush of seeing their discovery transferred into products,
services, and companies. But for many researchers, there are myriad questions about how
this happens and how they can help make it happen.
ABSTRACT
MSU discoveries can create attractive opportunities for faculty and student peer recognition.
These same discoveries can also create economically viable entrepreneurial opportunities. MSU
Business-CONNECT, Spartan Innovations and Michigan State University Technologies (MSUT)
work with students, faculty and employees to assess opportunities, analyze business
fundamentals, seek early stage corporate funding, and manage the formation and launch of new
ventures. Specific topical areas of discussion include the following:
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Intellectual property;
Licensing intellectual property;
Technology maturity;
Applications of the technology to market needs;
Advantages of the technology over incumbent technologies;
Assessment as a disruptive or sustaining technology.
Assessment of commercial partnering opportunities and relationship building
When commercializing university technology, MSUT and Spartan Innovations work with inventors
to perform business due diligence assessing multiple technological and market parameters
including the following:
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Markets impacted by the technology;
Key applications within target markets;
Incumbent technologies and competitors;
Barriers to entry;
Potential business models; and path(s) to market.
Faculty, graduate students, and potential entrepreneurs are invited to join this presentation to
better understand how MSU discoveries can be transformed into commercial partnering
opportunities, commercial products, business opportunities, and growth-oriented startup
companies.