We might not have been able to meet in person at AUTM 2020 in San Diego, but there’s no reason we can’t still have a session to discuss an important and evolving trend for university technology transfer offices (TTOs): Tenure and Promotion Trends: Current Initiatives to Take Commercialization into Account Tues., April 21, 2020 • 2:00pm EDT

Although the AUTM 2020 annual meeting was cancelled, we can still share best practices, information, and thoughts. Join us in a webinar version of the panel we had planned for: Government Use of Federally Funded IP: It’s Not as Simple as You Think Wed., March 11, 2020 • 1:00–3:00pm EDT

The notion of incorporating innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E) into promotion and tenure (P&T) decisions is by no means new. But making the concept a reality has been a struggle for many universities. Now, a diverse coalition of universities will be gathering for a September 16-18, 2020 P&T summit, thanks to funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the leadership of Professor Rich Carter from Oregon State University. Below is my conversation with Rich as we were preparing for a P&T session at AUTM 2020.

Members of the Fuentek team will be joining hundreds of other technology transfer professionals from across the United States and around the world in San Diego, California, for the AUTM 2020 national meeting. Today’s post gives you a preview of two sessions we’re involved in as well as this year’s giveaways at Booth #504.

AUTM 2020 is coming up March 8-11, and university professionals will gather in San Diego to learn about the latest developments in technology transfer and network with industry, investors, and other research institutions. Here is my advice for bringing back the greatest value when you return to your technology transfer office (TTO).

In October I was honored to moderate a session at AUTM’s Eastern Region Meeting in Raleigh, NC, delving into the wide range of initiatives that universities are undertaking to consider tech transfer activities in tenure and promotion reviews. Our panelists support the inclusion of commercialization activities in faculty advancement decisions and offered specific examples from their own experience for the field to consider moving forward.

As research universities are placing an increased emphasis on economic development, we agree that it’s entirely appropriate—even essential—that faculty advancement decisions include activities in tech transfer, innovation, and entrepreneurship, just as they include published research papers in these decisions. We are excited to delve into this topic at a session we’re moderating this fall at AUTM’s Eastern Region Meeting in Raleigh, NC.

What do Stanford, Univ. Alabama, Arizona State, and Univ. Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have in common? They’re all in non-metropolitan areas. And that’s the focus of the conference I presented at this week. Hosted by UIDP and the University of Arkansas, this university-industry engagement workshop brought together a diverse collection of higher education institutions from outside major metropolitan areas. These universities face common as well as unique challenges.

The next few days will see technology transfer professionals from across the United States and around the world travel to Austin, Texas, for the AUTM 2019 national meeting. Fuentek will be there, and today’s post gives you a sneak preview of the two sessions we’ll be leading. I’m also including links to more information if you want to do a little extra reading in advance. If you’ll be at the AUTM meeting, we hope you will join us at these sessions or swing by Booth #206.

The 2019 AUTM® meeting is coming up Feb. 10-13, and we are looking forward to it! The AUTM meeting provides TTOs with lots of opportunities to network with industry, investors, and research institutions. You can also learn about the latest developments in tech transfer and even advance your career. Having participated in the AUTM meeting for several years, I offer up these tips to help you get the most out of your time in Austin.