Bridging the other ‘valley of death’ — from lab to market

BY PHILIP BOUDJOUK

For companies and researchers, bringing a technology to market can be a daunting challenge. The first “valley of death” in business often refers to capital that entrepreneurs need for startups. An equally important “valley of death” centers on taking technology from the lab into marketable product blockbusters.

For companies with lean research budgets, universities continue to play a vital role in R&D worldwide. Whether licensing a North Dakota State University-developed technology to bring to the marketplace, or assisting companies in solving challenges to bring their own products to customers, NDSU has a strong track record for transferring technology from the university lab to the marketplace.

From FY 2007 to FY 2011, NDSU generated 256 invention disclosures, filed 142 new U.S. patent applications and produced 486 licenses. By FY 2012, NDSU licensing revenues topped $2 million, growing more than 77 percent since FY 2006.

On average, NDSU processes one federal grant award daily and a research contract with the private sector every week. Cumulatively, NDSU has executed nearly 300 private sector research contracts over the past five years.

NDSU-developed technologies that are moving toward the marketplace include an anti-corrosion primer for aircraft which was licensed to the world’s largest coatings company, miniaturized ground sensors developed for the military and deployed on three continents to protect military assets, biodefensive coatings in development with a North Dakota company, and RFID (radio-frequency identification) tagging systems for military equipment. Other NDSU-developed technology has been licensed to startup companies, including removable coatings for bronze sculptures and architectural components, biocomposites from renewable crop materials and a vertical data mining algorithm and software.

The North Dakota Economic Development Centers of Excellence program provides a mechanism to promote technology-based economic development. Public/private R&D partnerships at NDSU include technologies such as anti-fouling coatings for ships, biomedical devices such as hearing aids, microelectronics for unmanned aerial systems, mobile phone technologies, new optical materials, and anti-icing and anti-soiling coatings for composite materials and wind turbine blades.

Developing new technologies and helping companies solve technology challenges forges partnerships that lead to technology-led economic development. NDSU students are also provided unique opportunities to work alongside NDSU researchers, established global companies and startups to develop new technologies and products for real-world applications. Students are frequently co-inventors on patent applications.

By fall 2013, NDSU’s efforts to transfer technology from lab bench to market will get a boost from a 35,000-square-foot addition of scientific lab space to an existing building in the NDSU Research and Technology Park. Research objectives include R&D and commercialization of top NDSU-developed technologies via private sector partnerships.

The $9 million addition was funded the by U.S. Department of Commerce/National Institute of Standards and Technology and a North Dakota Centers of Excellence Enhancement Program grant approved in 2009.

The R&D partnership between NDSU and companies enhances business success and economic development. It also means research opportunities for students, leading to a highly skilled workforce for the region. The results are compelling. The opportunities are wide open. All of these components represent a bright economic future. PB

Philip Boudjouk Vice president for research, creative activities and technology transfer North Dakota State University Philip.boudjouk@ndsu.edu Twitter: @NDSU

North Dakota is booming – bringing the opportunity to build a financially-sound state for generations to come. As one of the oldest and largest financial companies in the region, Alerus saw a record 66.9% rise in net income and an unprecedented 63.5% increase in share earnings in 2012, meaning more jobs, more available loans, and more assets for North Dakotans. Now that’s a bank you can count on.

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