School:Texas Tech University

Introduction:

With over 60 centers and institutes research is strong through all departments at Texas Tech University.  However, many efforts are still being made to translate this research into industry.  With the construction of a Research Park that will house new startups, entrepreneurship is on the rise.  

Promoting Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship:

Texas Tech University has a number of student organization that promote and engage students in innovation and entrepreneurship:

Texas Tech Innovation Mentorship and Entrepreneurship (TTIME) is a student organization for both undergraduate and graduate students of any discipline. This program promotes entrepreneurship while connecting students with innovative faculty mentors.  TTIME currently host a 3 Day Startup event every semester to promote and facilitate entrepreneurship.

The Media Entrepreneurship and Innovation Group is a student organization from the College of Media and Communications that promotes startup media companies and entrepreneurial projects.

Texas Tech also has a chapter of the Collegiate Entrepreneur Organization, which through the College of Business promotes entrepreneurship.  

At the undergraduate level, student innovation is fostered through the many research opportunities. While funding is available for students to travel to conferences to present their research, little assistance is available for student to turn their research into a startup.  

Encouraging Faculty Innovation and Entrepreneurship:

Faculty primary responsibility lies in research but they should also partake in some entrepreneurial endeavors (60/40). Faculty already have teaching and research responsibilities which take up upwards of 60 to 80 hours of their time. Therefore, expecting them to also chase after companies to buy into their research or consider their patent portfolio should be incentivized for doing extra work.

Actively Supporting the University Technology Transfer Function:

It is the responsibility of the office of technology commercialization to recognize when a technology is considered groundbreaking, especially after winning many accolades (i.e. Dr. Harvinder Gill's Pollen and Microneedle patents). Staff should be taught to analyze and interface with faculty regularly following up with faculty on their projects and  interest in industry partners. It would help if there were subject matter experts in the office with technical qualifications in the faculty disciplines; be it a phD in engineering, Biology, Computer Science and MBA and a JD. The staff in the commercialization office needs to be motivated.

Facilitating University-Industry Collaboration:

There needs to be a reward or incentive for faculty to pursue entrepreneurial endeavors. Such a reward could be university sponsored funding for the most innovative technology idea. Also, faculty needs to know their interests will be protected and that they will not be thrown under the bus or that the technology will be licensed to qualified personnel or business, with technical capabilities or the ability to recognize that they will need inventor help to move technology forward.

Engaging with Regional and Local Economic Development Efforts:

We also need to maintain a better alumni network. Whenever a new technology is developed that can interface with industry we need to tap into alumni and present the opportunity to them seeking their opinion and support to connect with industry. Need to better educate faculty and students on the advantages of going through Texas Tech to commercialize technology and update them on existing industry partners.

Related Links:

Spring 2015 UIF Leadership Circle Candidates:

Francis Atore

Benjamin Simmons

Valente Rodriguez

Victoria Young

Taylor Person

South Plains Connection:

Marshal Head