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Critical Issues
“It has been the risk takers, the doers, the makers of things who have carried us up the long, rugged path toward prosperity and freedom.” -Hillary Rodham Clinton, United States Secretary of State "The human capital aspect of technology transfer is often undervalued, but it is a fact that the students our universities educate and the faculty who conduct our research are usually the most effective means through which translation and technology transfer occurs. For example, many of the most successful university-industry interactions are based on the education and training of students who have the specific skills to meet industry needs, or on relationships that top-notch faculty members have with particular companies. These interactions do not center on intellectual property (IP) at all. Therefore, as new models for commercialization are developed, an emphasis should be placed upon fostering new interactions, relationships, and linkages, both formal and informal, that help to facilitate these efforts. Education and training must also be considered to be major components of such models." -Joint Statement -- AAU, APLU, ACE, AAMC, CGR — May 2010
The following 12 categories were identified and categorized from the final data analysis: • Challenges • Collaboration • Communication • Ecosystem • Education • Entrepreneurship • Funding • Leadership • Interdisciplinary • Proof of Concept • Risk • Strategy Appendix C provides a method of gaining some perceptive on the assembly of Critical Issues from the large set of themes. In the following section, a more detailed narrative is provided for the categories and how they emerged from the data. Throughout the iterative analysis process described here, it became apparent that respon-
dents were relatively engaged in the areas of innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization of university research. Alternative points of view were expressed and sharp lines of argument were evident in a majority of responses. One clear message was consistent among most—few regard the status quo as desirable. Most agree that the valley of death is alive and well, but like most political issues a consensus was not reached for solutions to the problem. Some approaches lay the responsibility at the feet of the federal government with strong calls for additional funding of research programs targeted for universities and research laboratories. Other opinions focused on local communities hoping they would take greater interests in university research and develop strong innovation ecosystems. Still others argued that it is angel and VC investors who should step up to the plate and enrich university research with more early-stage funding as a way of incentivizing commercialized research. Many others lay the blame directly on universities and an archaic research culture.
Collective Genius: Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Commercialization of University Research
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