20202019-2020 Annual Report
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Be confident in the collaborative partnership
Arjun Sanga President
The close of fiscal year 19-20 was as challenging a time for our regional comprehensive campuses as we have ever had in the 20-year history of WiSys. The global coronavirus pandemic forced our institutions to close campuses, send students home and scramble to finish the Spring 2020 semester virtually. WiSys necessarily cancelled all on-campus innovation events including the popular annual WiSys SPARK Symposium. Despite these challenges, I am confident in our shared future because: ▶ I’ve seen our UW System community respond with grit and resilience. Closing out the fiscal year, our community of faculty, staff, students and alumni submitted more invention disclosures than the previous year, responded quickly and effectively to a COVID-19 innovation challenge contest and adapted quickly to the virtual environment by meaningfully participating in a series of virtual events throughout the summer. ▶ I’ve seen our collaborative model recognized internationally. In May, the partnership between WiSys, UW System and its regional universities was recognized as a “global good practice.” This effective shared resource was described in the paper “Innovation and the Wisconsin Idea: Undergraduate Research, Entrepreneurship, and Technology Transfer” that I co-authored with UW-Parkside Chancellor Dr. Deborah Ford, former UW-River Falls Chancellor Dean Van Galen and Associate Vice President for Economic Development of the UW System David Brukardt. This paper was accepted by the University Industry Innovation Network and presented at the organization’s 2020 international virtual conference. ▶ I’ve seen what we can accomplish together. As a group the UW System regional comprehensives compete exceptionally at the national level. In a June 2020 report on the innovation impact of U.S. universities, issued by the George W. Bush Institute, UW-WiSys was second in the report’s Innovation Impact Productivity Rankings for smaller research universities. All this is proof that during the past two decades we’ve built an incredible apparatus for innovation throughout the entire state. UW innovators have a nationally- and internationallyrecognized pathway to bring their ideas forward and receive the support needed to bring them to life. Despite the disruption caused by a global pandemic, the UW innovation infrastructure remains strong. And I’m confident that we’ve primed our researchers, inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs to lead us to a better future.
1
CONTENTS
SUCCESSES 4 Measuring Success 6 Innovators of the Year
PROGRAMS 9 10 12 14 16
Innovation Challenge: COVID-19 WiSys VentureHome WiSys Quick Pitch Wisconsin Big Idea Tournament Pre-Award Program
SCHOOLS 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38
UW-Eau Claire UW-Green Bay UW-La Crosse UW Oshkosh UW-Parkside UW-Platteville UW-River Falls UW-Stevens Point UW-Stout UW-Superior UW-Whitewater
ABOUT 40 Our Leaders 41 Our Ambassadors 43 Our Team 2
WiSys is a nonprofit organization that works with faculty, staff, students, and alumni of the UW System to facilitate cuttingedge research programs, develop and commercialize discoveries and foster a spirit of innovative and entrepreneurial thinking across the state.
MEASURING SUCCESS (FY 19-20) Invention Disclosures
An invention disclosure is a formal written submission of a new innovation.
61
56
69
64
61
63
23
FY 13-14
Patents Filed
26
FY 14-15
FY 15-16
FY 16-17
FY 17-18
Patents Issued
9
RESEARCH (FY 19-20) Grants Awarded
49 4
Grant Funds
$932,992
FY 18-19
FY 19-20
Agreements, Licenses, Options
15
Idea Generation
Entrepreneurial concepts presented in WiSys events and contests.
106
79
46 29 11 FY 15-16
FY 16-17
FY 17-18
FY 18-19
FY 19-20
5
INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR
Photo Courtesy of UW-Eau Claire
Dr. Elizabeth Glogowski UW-Eau Claire
UW-Eau Claire’s associate professor of materials science and engineering mentors a student team in research aimed at decreasing the cost and environmental impact of architectural coatings such as paints, primers and stains. Glogowski was recognized as a prestigious Regent Scholar in 2020 and has worked with WiSys for intellectual property protections on a number of research inventions. 6
UW-WHITEWATER INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR CAMPUS SNAPSHOT:
+ GRANTS: $2,000
+ INVENTION DISCLOSURES: 2
+ PATENTS FILED 3
Photo Courtesy of UW-Parkside
Dr. Francis “Frannie” Mann Juk Bhattacharyya named UW-Parkside Regent Scholar
UW-Parkside’s assistant professor of chemistry has submitted several inventions In the UW System recognized Professor of Geography, Geology, to March, WiSys in the past few years, leading to four provisional patent filingsand andEnvigrant ronmental Science Prajukti funding (Juk) Bhattacharyya as a awarded 2020 Regent ScholarIgnite for funding. During theDr. 2020-2021 cycle, Mann was a valuable distinction in research, innovation, entrepreneurship. The honor highlights BhatGrant, which encourages UW System faculty and staff to apply their expertise and tacharyya’s to develop an early warning system for landslides. Earlier in the scholarshipwork to support economic development in Wisconsin. year, WiSys helped jumpstart the project with a WiSys Spark Grant. XX
FOR MORE ABOUT THE REGENT SCHOLAR PROGRAM, VISIT wisconsin.edu/grants-awards/ 7
INNOVATORS OF THE YEAR
Photo Courtesy of UW Oshkosh
Macall, Tarter & Schmidt UW Oshkosh
Students Jessica Tarter, Parker Schmidt and Macall Hill were chosen as a WiSys Entrepreneur Team at UW Oshkosh, charged with commercializing a WiSys technology. The team became sought after presenters, including at the Wisconsin Big Idea Tournament, the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium and the UW System Board of Regents with their startup business Hive Central. 8
FOR MORE ABOUT THE INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD, VISIT wisys.org
INNOVATION CHALLENGE
WiSys gathers ideas to respond to pandemic In April, WiSys challenged UW System faculty, staff, students and alumni to develop fast, functional solutions that address the impact of COVID-19 and social distancing in local communities. And UW System innovators responded. WiSys selected 14 concepts submitted to the WiSys Innovation Challenge: COVID-19 and offered $100 to the innovators to create a proof of concept or to implement the idea. FOR MORE ABOUT THE INNOVATION CHALLENGE, VISIT wisys.org/challenge
9
WISYS VENTUREHOME
WiSys launches startup initiative to boost local entrepreneurs • The program aims to facilitate scalable startups in UW System campus communities by connecting entrepreneurs to a statewide network of resources. • UW-Eau Claire and CoLab partnered with WiSys to launch the first WiSys VentureHome in Eau Claire in February. • The hubs will be a spot for Wisconsin’s entrepreneurial “alumni” to “venture home” and contribute to their local communities. • WiSys VentureHome’s are “Everything your startup needs under one roof.” 10
FOR MORE ABOUT VENTUREHOME, VISIT venturehome.org
From left to right: WiSys President Arjun Sanga, CoLab’s Community Manager Elaine Coughlin and UW-Eau Claire Chancellor James C. Schmidt unviel the sign for WiSys VentureHome-Eau Claire at the February launch party.
WISYS QUICK PITCH
Psych major wins statewide research communication contest • UW-Whitewater’s Purcell Pearson won the 2020 WiSys Quick Pitch State Final. • Pearson’s presentation was titled “Racial Bias in News Media and its Effects on Black Male Self-Image.” • The research-focused, elevator-style pitch competition focuses on the importance of communicating research to the public. • More than 100 students receive training and “pitch” their research annually. 12
FOR MORE ABOUT THE WISYS QUICK PITCH PROGRAM, VISIT wisys.org/quickpitch
WiSys board member Jennifer congratulates Purcell Pearson the WiSys Quick Pitch @ UW-W campus event was a qualifier f later in the year. Gottwald serv the Whitewater event.
r Gottwald, left, n, right, on winning Whitewater. The for the state final ved as a judge at
WIS. BIG IDEA TOURNAMENT
Water crisisfighting business wins ‘Big Idea’ contest • The UW-River Falls team of Lamah Bility and Anaa Jibicho took first place in the Wisconsin Big Idea Tournament, a business model contest presented by WiSys. • Through their business Didómi, the duo want to combat the water crisis in developing countries by selling fashionable, reusable water bottles. • The tournament brings together teams of university students from across the state to pitch innovative business ideas. 14
FOR MORE ABOUT THE WISCONSIN BIG IDEA TOURNAMENT, VISIT wisys.org/bigidea
PRE-AWARD PROGRAM
WiSys grows research admin capacity and grantseeking activities • Provided 19 on-site workshops with 230 attendees and direct grant submission support for 18 faculty/staff. • Supported faculty/staff in applying for $4.4 million in grant funding. • Produced 10-part grantseeking webinar series with more than 600 registrants from schools throughout the UW System. • Program staff had more than 900 engagements with campus contacts. 16
Deborah Lundin, WiSys pre-award manager, sponsored programs, leads an on-campus grant writing workshop.
UW-EAU CLAIRE
Photo Courtesy of UW-Eau Claire
UW System recognizes Dr. Glogowski’s research In March, the UW System recognized UW-Eau Claire Associate Professor of Materials Science & Engineering Dr. Elizabeth Glogowski as a 2020 Regent Scholar for distinction in research, innovation and entrepreneurship. The honor highlights Glogowski’s research to improve architectural coatings. Glogowski and WiSys have collaborated on protecting the intellectual property of complementary research. 18
FOR MORE ABOUT THE REGENT SCHOLAR PROGRAM, VISIT wisconsin.edu/grants-awards/
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Invention Disclosures
An invention disclosure is a formal written submission of a new innovation.
10
5
0
FY 15-16
FY 16-17
Patents Filed
1
FY 17-18
FY 18-19
Patents Issued
0
FY 19-20
5-YEAR AVG
Agreements, Licenses, Options
1
RESEARCH Grants Awarded
9
Grant Funds
$186,446
Grants Funds 3-Year Average
$155,979
19
UW-GREEN BAY Photo Courtesy of UW-Green Bay
Nine ideas presented at ‘Innovation in Aging’ The annual WiSys Innovation in Aging event at UW-Green Bay challenges students to create innovative solutions to combat hardships and improve quality of life for aging populations. Overall, nine student teams, which received mentoring from UW-Green Bay faculty and community members in the weeks leading up to the event, competed in this year’s event. The winning idea was a smart hearing aid. 20
FOR MORE ABOUT WISYS INNOVATION IN AGING, VISIT wisys.org/aging
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Invention Disclosures
An invention disclosure is a formal written submission of a new innovation.
10
5
0
FY 15-16
FY 16-17
Patents Filed
4
FY 17-18
Patents Issued
2
FY 18-19
FY 19-20
5-YEAR AVG
Agreements, Licenses, Options
2
RESEARCH Grants Awarded
2
Grant Funds
$3,395
Grants Funds 3-Year Average
$111,341
21
UW-LA CROSSE
Grant supports chemistry student’s lab experience With help from a WiSys grant, UW-La Crosse chemistry major Justin Ratkovec spent the summer working in Chemistry Professor Rob McGaff’s lab exploring ways of making chemical reactions more environmentally friendly—without waste or toxic byproducts. As a WiSys Ambassador, Ratkovec was able to apply for and receive a WiSys Ambassador Grant to fund his work with McGaff. 22
FOR MORE ABOUT THE WISYS AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, VISIT wisys.org/ambassadors
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Invention Disclosures
An invention disclosure is a formal written submission of a new innovation.
10
5
0
FY 15-16
FY 16-17
Patents Filed
3
FY 17-18
FY 18-19
Patents Issued
1*
FY 19-20
5-YEAR AVG
Agreements, Licenses, Options
1
RESEARCH Grants Awarded
4
Grant Funds
$63,000
* Denotes one patent shared with another universitiy inventor.
Grants Funds 3-Year Average
$82,002
23
UW OSHKOSH
Research to protect potato, cucumber crops UW System awarded Biology Professor Dr. Sabrina Mueller-Spitz with an Ignite Grant for research focused on protecting vegetable crops using bioactive enzymes targeting bacterial communication during harvest and storage. The project aims to demonstrate whether certain native enzymes protect the crops. Better crop protection could increase crop value by 5 percent—a gain of $17.6 million annually. 24
FOR MORE ABOUT IGNITE GRANTS, VISIT wisys.org/grants
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Invention Disclosures
An invention disclosure is a formal written submission of a new innovation.
10
5
0
FY 15-16
FY 16-17
Patents Filed
1
FY 17-18
FY 18-19
Patents Issued
0
FY 19-20
5-YEAR AVG
Agreements, Licenses, Options
0
RESEARCH Grants Awarded
4
Grant Funds
$34,588
Grants Funds 3-Year Average
$43,788
25
UW-PARKSIDE
Board visit underscores strong bond with Parkside In October, the WiSys Board of Trustees, along with WiSys staff, visited UWParkside to learn about many innovative ventures taking place on campus under the leadership of UW-Parkside Chancellor Deborah Ford, including the UWParkside App Factory, a creative, professional, interdisciplinary group on campus that develops mobile apps for community clients. 26
FOR MORE ABOUT THE UW-PARKSIDE APP FACTORY, VISIT appfactoryuwp.com
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Invention Disclosures
An invention disclosure is a formal written submission of a new innovation.
10
5
0
FY 15-16
FY 16-17
Patents Filed
3
FY 17-18
FY 18-19
Patents Issued
0
FY 19-20
5-YEAR AVG
Agreements, Licenses, Options
1
RESEARCH Grants Awarded
3
Grant Funds
$42,339
Grants Funds 3-Year Average
$76,903
27
UW-PLATTEVILLE Photo Courtesy of UW-Platteville
Innovation Mixer connects like-minded Pioneers For the third straight year, UW-Platteville innovators came together to network at a WiSys Innovation Mixer. The event features an absurd innovation challenge and a keynote from a leader in business innovation. It is an opportunity to connect innovation-minded faculty, students and staff to each other and share information about upcoming innovation events and innovation resources. 28
FOR MORE ABOUT WISYS EVENTS, VISIT wisys.org
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Invention Disclosures
An invention disclosure is a formal written submission of a new innovation.
20
15
10
5
0
FY 15-16
FY 16-17
Patents Filed
7
FY 17-18
FY 18-19
Patents Issued
3
FY 19-20
5-YEAR AVG
Agreements, Licenses, Options
5
RESEARCH Grants Awarded
9
Grant Funds
$164,234
Grants Funds 3-Year Average
$256,569
29
UW-RIVER FALLS
Photo Courtesy of UW-River Falls
WiSys celebrates champion of innovation WiSys celebrated the many contributions of Dean Van Galen in the summer of 2020 as he departed to serve as the new president of Missouri Southern State University. The 18th Chancellor of UW-River Falls was a tireless champion of WiSys and innovation on his campus. Van Galen served on the WiSys Board of Trustees and was selected as chair of the WiSys Advisory Board in November 2013. 30
FOR MORE ABOUT THE WISYS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, VISIT wisys.org/about-us/who-we-are
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Invention Disclosures
An invention disclosure is a formal written submission of a new innovation.
10
5
0
FY 15-16
FY 16-17
Patents Filed
1
FY 17-18
FY 18-19
Patents Issued
2*
FY 19-20
5-YEAR AVG
Agreements, Licenses, Options
0
RESEARCH Grants Awarded
6
Grant Funds
$115,857
* Denotes one patent shared with another universitiy inventor.
Grants Funds 3-Year Average
$79,395
31
UW-STEVENS POINT
Photo Courtesy of UW-Stevens Point
Virtual reality study aims to reduce hockey injuries This year, a UW-Stevens Point research project focused on improving hockey players’ cognitive skills using virtual reality technology. Researchers hope it helps improve performance and reduce on-ice injuries. About 35 members of the men’s and women’s hockey teams participated in the study, which is a project of the school’s new graduate program in athletic training. 32
TO KEEP TRACK OF INNOVATIVE UW SYSTEM RESEARCH, FOLLOW US ON TWITTER (@wisystto)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Invention Disclosures
An invention disclosure is a formal written submission of a new innovation.
10
5
0
FY 15-16
FY 16-17
Patents Filed
2
FY 17-18
Patents Issued
0
FY 18-19
FY 19-20
5-YEAR AVG
Agreements, Licenses, Options
1
RESEARCH Grants Awarded
0
Grant Funds
$0
Grants Funds 3-Year Average
$13,924
33
UW-STOUT
Photo Courtesy of UW-Stout
Lecturer developing gene editing education kit UW System awarded Biology Lecturer Tiffany Hoage an Ignite Grant to develop a prototype for a hands-on education kit about gene editing that could be used at academic institutions across the country. Biomedical research facilities use gene editing to create animal models of human disease to investigate disease mechanisms and to find potential medicines for human disease. 34
FOR MORE ABOUT IGNITE GRANTS, VISIT wisys.org/grants
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Invention Disclosures
An invention disclosure is a formal written submission of a new innovation.
10
5
0
FY 15-16
FY 16-17
Patents Filed
3
FY 17-18
FY 18-19
Patents Issued
0
FY 19-20
5-YEAR AVG
Agreements, Licenses, Options
2
RESEARCH Grants Awarded
4
Grant Funds
$66,222
Grants Funds 3-Year Average
$57,312
35
UW-SUPERIOR
Photo Courtesy of UW-Superior
Yellowjackets swarm to research ‘pitch’ contest The WiSys Quick Pitch @ UW-Superior was one of the most competitive of WiSys’ campus-level research communication contests this year. Senior psychology major Rachael Tuve won the contest in February by explaining her research into the effects of financial stress on college students. Sixteen students participated in this year’s event, one of the biggest during the 2019-2020 season. 36
FOR MORE ABOUT WISYS QUICK PITCH, VISIT wisys.org/quickpitch
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Invention Disclosures
An invention disclosure is a formal written submission of a new innovation.
10
5
0
FY 15-16
FY 16-17
Patents Filed
0
FY 17-18
Patents Issued
0
FY 18-19
FY 19-20
5-YEAR AVG
Agreements, Licenses, Options
1
RESEARCH Grants Awarded
1
Grant Funds
$2,500
Grants Funds 3-Year Average
$7,645
37
UW-WHITEWATER
Photo Courtesy of UW-Whitewater
Dr. Bhattacharyya named Regent Scholar In March, UW System recognized Professor of Geography, Geology, and Environmental Science Dr. Prajukti (Juk) Bhattacharyya as a 2020 Regent Scholar for distinction in research, innovation and entrepreneurship. The honor highlights Bhattacharyya’s work to develop an early warning system for landslides. Earlier in the year, WiSys helped jump start the project with a WiSys Spark Grant. 38
FOR MORE ABOUT THE REGENT SCHOLAR PROGRAM, VISIT wisconsin.edu/grants-awards/
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Invention Disclosures
An invention disclosure is a formal written submission of a new innovation.
10
5
0
FY 15-16
FY 16-17
Patents Filed
0
FY 17-18
Patents Issued
2
FY 18-19
FY 19-20
5-YEAR AVG
Agreements, Licenses, Options
0
RESEARCH Grants Awarded
2
Grant Funds
$54,000
Grants Funds 3-Year Average
$21,167
39
OUR LEADERS
Board & Officers David J. Ward Chair
Leon J. Ostrowski Vice Chair
Erik Iverson Treasurer
Lorrie (Keating) Heinemann Secretary
Arjun Sanga President
David Brukardt
Jennifer Gottwald
Toni Sikes
Tomas Stafford
Dean Van Galen
Board Committees Advisory Dean Van Galen (Chair), Arjun Sanga, Lawrence (Joe) Allred, David Brukardt, Deborah Ford, Molly Gribb, Mark Hogan, Tracey Klein, Andrew Leavitt, Gary Miller, Karen Schmitt, Tom Still Finance, Audit & Administration Lorrie (Keating) Heinemann (Chair), David Brukardt, Erik Iverson, Leon J. Ostrowski, Arjun Sanga (ex officio), Tomas Stafford Investment David J. Ward (Chair), Arjun Sanga (ex officio), Erik Iverson, Lorrie (Keating) Heinemann, Toni Sikes 40
FOR MORE THE WISYS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, VISIT wisys.org/about-us/who-we-are
OUR AMBASSADORS
Hailey Berg UW-Eau Claire
Sierra Kleist UW-Eau Claire
Hunter Koltunski UW-Eau Claire
Akanksha Gurtu UW-Green Bay
Corey Lee UW-Green Bay
Rylie Gramann UW-La Crosse
Justin Ratkovec UW-La Crosse
Jacqueline Sporie UW-La Crosse
Maitzeng Chang UW Oshkosh
Brenna Prieto UW Oshkosh
Brandon Behringer UW-Parkside
Colton Lysaker UW-Platteville
Kaitlyn Timmins UW-Platteville
Sophie Ackerman UW-River Falls
Jayson Pfister UW-Stevens Point
Bridget Robinson UW-Stevens Point
Mallory Brask UW-Stout
Angelica Champan-Sykes UW-Whitewater
Taylor Frodel UW-Whitewater
FOR MORE ABOUT THE WISYS AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, VISIT wisys.org/ambassadors
41
OUR STAFF
Arjun Sanga President
Brian Walsh
Regional Associate
Alicia Schiff
Executive Assistant & Program Coordinator
42
Jennifer Souter Director of Patents & Licensing
Deborah Lundin
Pre-Award Manager, Sponsored Programs
Sara Kunkel
Administrative Assistant
Adhira Sunkara Manager of Innovative Ventures
Jeremy Miner
Ray French
Tony Hanson
Mike Cenci
Craig Sauer
Regional Associate
Regional Research Administrator
Intellectual Property & Contracts Associate
Regional & Licensing Associate
Marketing & Communications Associate
Hamilton Smith
Graphic Design & Communications Intern
FOR MORE ABOUT WISYS STAFF, VISIT wisys.org/about-us
®
Eureka isn’t a moment. Its a process. Ž