GT Victor Rogers is a writer in Georgia Tech's Office of Communications and Public Affairs. Technology transfer, once regarded by academia with misgivings, is bringing university research to the commercial realm. In 1996, Georgia Tech ranked No. 33 in technology-transfer income out of 131 institutions surveyed by the Association of University Technology Managers. This is the most supportive environment for commercialization and entrepreneurial activity that I've ever seen. Until recently, some at Tech thought commercialization would detract from the Institute's primary focus on education and research.
Research is still an important mission.
However, making students aware of opportunities surrounding entrepreneurship and giving them opportunities to develop new products is part of the education process. What we needed was a mechanism to encourage faculty members to look at commercialization opportunities. Commercialization of Photoluminescent Phosphor Technologies, by Dr. H.M. Menkara of the Advanced Materials Technology Division in the Electro-Optics, Environment and Materials Laboratory of the Georgia Tech Research Institute. Licensing involves an agreement with an existing corporation, an easier deal for both university and researcher, with some return assured. With a start-up company, the risks and rewards are greater.