Working with University Laboratories
Michael Berman
520-626-1223 mberman@ece.arizona.edu

Problem Number One
• A good idea for a new, high-tech device
• Because:
– Better
– Faster
– Cheaper
– An entrepreneur
– Make
MONEY
!

But
• You do not have a laboratory
• Or the right tools in your laboratory
• Costs of foundry can be huge
• And
– You want to keep your ideas

Problem Number One
• So:
– All you need is
LOTS OF MONEY
– or a cheap laboratory

Procuring the Money
Where is the
Money
?
Use your money
– I am worth it!
• FFF
– Your bother-in-law, maybe?
• Outside
– Now it is going to cost you!

How You See Your Idea…
• Your idea is great.
• Everyone should want to give you money
.
• You are a great person.
• You know it will work.
• You will be a great CEO.

How Investors See Your Idea…
• A black box with a handle!

Operating Instructions…
• Step 1:
– Put in one dollar.
• Step 2:
– Turn the handle
.

Results Scenario #1
• If you get out $20, congratulations!
• You have a
business!

Results Scenario #2
• If you get out 42 cents, oops…
• You have a

Business or Hobby?
• The big question
• How to tell?
• Homework:
– Mathematical Model
– Basic laws of physics and engineering
• Make a prototype get
DATA
:

The Steps

Steps Vs Money
Stage Typical
Value
Activity
Pre-seed $600K Concept validation
& product development
Seed $1.5M
Complete product development
First
Round
$15M Transfer to mfg and start selling

100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Retained Ownership
Retained Ow nership
Investor Interest
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
• The further you take your idea; the greater:
• Retained ownership
• Investor interest

Problem Number Two
• University laboratories need money !
• Some like helping entrepreneurs.

How University Labs Can Help
• Many of key tools needed for prototyping:
– Clean rooms & Water systems
– Photolithography & Etch
– PVD & CVD
– CMP
– Oxidation
– Testing & more. . . .

The Solution: University Labs!
• Most universities have four levels of support:
– Office of Technical Transfer
– Research
– Consulting
– Laboratory Services
• Each level has good and bad points

University Labs
• Each Lab unique rules:
– How they work
– Who they work with
– How they charge
• Look around to find want you need
– Tool set
– ??

Laboratory Services
• Many tools are not in full use.
• Less intellectual property conflicts
• 5 X the lab time.
• Research and consulting are available through most university laboratories.

Development Steps with
University Labs

General Areas of Help
• Feasibility studies / Prototyping
• Product development /Applications
• Deferring capital expense
• Skunk works
• Short courses
• SBIR & STTR support
– S mall
B usiness
I nnovation
R esearch
& T echnology
TR ansfer

We’re Already Helping
• Ultra-high efficiency solar electric
• Thermotunneling
• CMP process development (>1)
• A producer of laser diodes
• A developer of fullerenes
• Analytic support for failure analysis.
• 18-meg water shipped from Arizona to
Hawaii
• Great students to hire!

For more details:
Michael Berman
College of Engineering
University of Arizona
Phone: 520-626-1223 mberman@ece.arizona.edu