Diversifying New York’s economy through industry-higher ed partnerships to be topic at June 18 conference

The New York State Foundation for Science Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR) and the NYS Science & Technology Law Center are hosting an all-day event at The Lodge at Welch Allyn in Skaneateles on Friday, June 18, to raise awareness about the recommendations of the task force report on diversifying the New York state economy through industry-higher education partnerships. This event begins at 8:30 a.m. and is open to the public.

The task force was composed of New York state university, industry, government and venture representatives, and was chaired by David Skorton, president of Cornell University. The report outlines recommendations for creating an “innovation ecosystem” in New York state to convert its substantial research capacity into sustained economic impact. The report was issued in December 2009.  

William Destler, president of the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), and Robert Palazzo, provost at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), will discuss steps their institutions are taking to forge productive relationships with industry. Examples include flexible intellectual property operating procedures and best practices to promote faculty, student and staff entrepreneurship. Daniel Doktori, director of higher education for the State of New York and executive director of the task force, will provide an overview and remarks about the report. NYSTAR Executive Director Ed Reinfurt will discuss New York’s plans for implementing the report. 

In addition, Julie Shimer, president and CEO of Welch Allyn, will speak from an industry perspective, including speaking on the recommendation that companies proactively communicate their research and technology needs to university researchers. In this way, researchers can respond directly to market forces and companies can establish broad-based relationships with universities, thereby maximizing communication and promoting effective, long-term collaboration. Theresa Mazzullo, CEO of Excell Partners, will discuss recommendations such as increasing awareness of investment opportunities and promoting university interaction with the investor community. 

New York State Assemblyman William Magnarelli, (D-120^th district), will provide lunchtime remarks. A discussion about the creation of an innovation ecosystem in New York state and its implications for university and industry partnerships and fostering economic development will follow.  

There is no cost for the conference. For complete registration information, visit http://labtomarket.syr.edu. 

Those scheduled to attend include: 

• Skorton
• Samuel Aronson, director of Brookhaven National Laboratories
• Sanjoy Banerjee, professor of chemical engineering and director of the City University of New York Energy Institute
• Edward M. Cupoli, professor and head of the NanoEconomics Constellation, College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, University at Albany (SUNY)
• Richard Daines, commissioner of the New York State Department of Health
• John Dyson, chairman of Millbrook Capital Management Inc.
• David D. Elliman, founder, principal and chief investment officer of the Elmrock Group of Companies
• Shirley Ann Jackson, president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Dennis M. Mullen, chairman and CEO designate of Empire State Development
• Reinfurt
• Linda S. Sanford, senior vice president for enterprise on demand transformation and information technology at IBM
• Shimer
• David R. Smith, president of SUNY Upstate Medical University
• Wendell P. Weeks, chairman and CEO of Corning Inc.
• Christopher Todd Wynn, vice president of Abatis Capital

The mission of the NYS Science & Technology Law Center at the Syracuse University College of Law is to assist and provide information to New York’s Centers for Advanced Technology, Strategically Targeted Academic Research Centers, Advanced Research Centers, Centers of Excellence, Generating Employment Through New York Science Centers (collectively, “Research Centers”) and start-up and early-stage technology companies as they develop and market new technologies and seek to compete in the high technology marketplace. To this end, the NYS STLC advises the Research Centers, NYSTAR, academic institutions and other public and private stakeholders on a wide range of technology-related legal issues, including the protection and commercialization of intellectual property, technology transfer practices, patents, copyright and trademark law, and licensing agreements.  

Media contact for this event is Molly Zimmermann, mzimme01@law.syr.edu, 443-8943.