December 4, 2023

Texas A&M Innovation: Commercialization Funding Mechanisms

The seminar explored the various funding opportunities to advance research innovations toward commercialization.

Discussion topics included learning about securing internal funding through programs like National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps (NSF iCorps), Advancing Discovery to Market (ADM) and the Translational Investment Fund (TIF), non-dilutive funding sources, such as SBIR/STTR grants and competitions such as the Texas A&M New Ventures Competition (TNVC), and for-profit dilutive funding and private investments, which is essential for entrepreneurial commercialization.

Event presenters were Saurabh Biswas, Executive Director for Technology Transition at Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, Pete ONeill, Chief Innovation Officer for Texas A&M Innovation, and Matt Kebodeaux, Board Member for Aggie Angel Network. The moderator was Chris Scotti, Director for Texas A&M Innovation.

October 16, 2023

Texas A&M Innovation: Protecting Intellectual Property

The seminar reviewed the standard patent process and discusses recent topics impacting IP protection, including how artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT can constitute an unexpected public disclosure, as well as how IP relates to sponsored research.

The event featured the following presenters: Mark Kelley, J.D., LL.M., Intellectual Property Attorney, Texas A&M Innovation, who presented slides on behalf of Dr. Lekha Gopalakrishnan, member of Winstead PC’s Intellectual Property Practice Group, Dr. Travis Young, associate director, Sponsored Research Services, Texas A&M University, and Ms. Janie Hurley, senior licensing director, Texas A&M Innovation.

PLAYLIST: Technology Transfer 101 – 3:15; Who Should Be Named as an Inventor? – 7:45; AI in IP – 16:30 IP: Sponsored Research – 18:55; Problematic Language/Situations in Research Agreements – 25:06; Why Protect IP? – 35:30; When Do I Disclose? – 51:25; Question & Answer – 54:45.