Helping locally-developed technology move profitably from the research lab to commercial markets is a high priority for Dr. James Simpson, the new director of a UAH business research center. He fills the vacancy left by the retirement of the center's first director, Dr. William Souder. In developing plans for the center, Simpson says he quickly noticed the opportunities which will be created by the opening later this year of the National Space Science and Technology Center, which will combine research capacities from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, UAH and other research universities across the state.
Many large universities have technology transfer units.
They conduct studies to determine which technologies have commercial potential, deal with issues relating to intellectual property protection, handle negotiations and manage licensing. We want to provide more outreach to the community. One thing I want to do is develop a greater awareness of marketing issues among high tech industries, so those industries can more efficiently and profitably develop commercial products. Simpson teaches one of the few courses in the U.S. that focuses on marketing in a high-technology environment. He received his Ph.D. in marketing and applied statistics from The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.