Contact: Maridith Geuder
A new office at Mississippi State University is increasing its efforts to move technologies developed on campus into the public sector.
The Technology Transfer Office is a part of the university's vast academic research program.
Office director Robert L. Palmer describes the program as "a way to pull technologies out of the lab and put them into the marketplace." When a faculty member develops a technology that has potential public benefit, "it's our responsibility as a land-grant institution to get it into the commercial sector," he said.
The priority is placing Mississippi technology with Mississippi firms, he added.
Palmer, who also is the university's patent and copyright officer, works with faculty members whose research may be eligible for protection under U.S. or foreign patent or copyright laws. Funds generated from patent royalties are used in part to further research capabilities.
An ultrasonic detector for imperfections in wood, a repellent for pine beetles and a water repellent for wood are among products the university already has patented.
Palmer said increasing small business startups is another mission of the office. "We do this by making university-developed technologies available to companies. Currently, we have two agreements in place with local companies for both patented inventions and copyrighted software." Negotiations with other companies also are in progress.
Additionally, the university soon will announce the launching of a non-profit corporation to provide a direct link between its research and new businesses.
Palmer said most technologies developed at the university are in the early stages. "Because we aren't in the business of product development, we sometimes can't go beyond that initial stage," he explained. "It will be up to the commercial companies to whom we license patents to invest the time and money required for product development."
For more information about the Office of Technology Transfer, contact Palmer at (601) 325-7404.