Tech Transfer eNews Blog

iEdison’s new utilization reporting coming due, and many TTOs are not ready


By Jesse Schwartz
Published: November 29th, 2023

A detailed article on the impending deadline and compliance challenges associated with the new iEdison utilization reporting requirements appears in the November issue of Technology Transfer Tactics. To subscribe and access the complete article, or for further subscription details, click here.

The deadline for responding to the new utilization requirements in iEdison is quickly approaching, and technology transfer offices may well be sweating the details. NIST announced late last year that it was pausing notifications for reporting to upgrade the system. As of October 2023, entities using iEdison must provide utilization reporting for all federally funded research, and annually thereafter, for the preceding October 1 through September 30. Reports are not considered past due until January 1, 2024.

The Interagency Working Group for Bayh-Dole developed a standard set of questions to be asked of all agencies using iEdison. Officers are asked to select from three categories indicating the latest state of development of each funded initiative. Answers are available in a pull-down menu, and each following question is contingent on the question preceding it. The three categories are:

  • Not Licensed or Commercialized
  • Licensed
  • Commercialized

Those receiving federal funds should be ready to answer questions about the status of each grant, the gross amount of income received, the number of licenses or options recorded, names of products developed, and the names of the manufacturer of products as well as where products are manufactured. (For a complete listing of questions, click here.) When several universities share a grant, the lead institution is responsible for completing the information.

Large TTOs may have the systems in place to easily comply, but Nikki Borman, chief executive officer of Borman & Company, feels that it’s going to be difficult for the majority of universities. “As we look at all the new manufacturing mandates for licensing of federally funded technology, it necessitates reporting requirements [including] names of licensees, names of manufacturers, numbers of units sold, gross annual revenue — none of that is being tracked right now, or very few entities are tracking that,” she says.

Borman, a former technology transfer staffer at MIT, points to products like pharmaceuticals, which are often manufactured offshore. “That’s going to be a huge problem to go to licensees in these industries who have offshore manufacturers and have them be able to gather together information that they are probably not keeping to really fill in the Bayh-Dole requirements, and it’s also going to require a lot more manpower to do that,” says Borman.

She emphasizes that most offices are not going to have the staffing to collect the information. “It’s a new world of utilization reporting. It must be updated on an annual basis. It’s going to challenge technology transfer offices to allocate resources. I don’t think they have the bandwidth to do that. They certainly should have a greater focus on compliance, but I don’t think they … have the budget to do that unless you’re at a certain level.”

Borman notes that “universities have very specific and well-maintained budgets, and not only will getting more staff be a challenge, but finding help with the know-how to assist with the new reporting requirement will make it even more difficult. “It’s hard to get people who know this stuff,” she says.

The struggle to comply may also impact relationships with licensees, who may need to be hounded for information, Borman believes. “It’s also going to rub the wrong way in their relationships with industry both foreign and domestic,” she predicts.

Then there is the learning curve that will come from the new iEdison interface. “It’s complex,” says Borman. “It’s not quite actually working as it should be yet. I was the finance and systems person at MIT, but I was also in Big Four consulting, and I saw this kind of thing writ large in a number of other areas, so I see this happening again. It’s not going to be a small kind of change; this is a huge change.”

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UCalgary start-up aims to commercialize non-opioid medication for chronic pain


By Jesse Schwartz
Published: November 29th, 2023

A start-up from the University of Calgary aims to commercialize pain therapies that avoid the harmful side effects of opioids. continue reading »

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Don’t miss tomorrow’s webinar – Generative AI Use in TTOs: Realizing the Potential and Mitigating the Pitfalls


By Jesse Schwartz
Published: November 29th, 2023

Generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT offer enormous potential to tech transfer and other commercialization offices in terms of efficiency, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness. AI can automate preparatory tasks, freeing up staff for more strategic, creative, and high-value activities.

AI tools can also aid in decision-making by:

  • Summarizing results from public sources: patent databases, scientific literature, and news.
  • Helping populate forms and databases, saving considerable time and resources. 
  • Generating content for promotion and marketing.
  • Identifying potential licensees and partners

However, there are risks associated with AI, including potential issues with data privacy and security, biases in AI algorithms, AI “hallucinations,” and others. That’s why knowing how to realize the potential of AI for TTO cost savings and efficiency while mitigating these risks is critical. 

To address the benefits of AI tools as well as the potential risks, we’re partnering in this timely program with Joe Runge, JD, MS, Associate Director of the UNeTech Institute, Mary Albertson, CLP, RTTP, Director of Georgia Tech’s Office of Technology Licensing, and Dvorah Graeser, PhD, founder of RocketSmart.io and KISSPatent. These early adopters will share their experiences with implementing ChatGPT in this enlightening one-hour webinar: Generative AI Use in TTOs: Realizing the Potential and Mitigating the Pitfalls, scheduled for tomorrow, November 30th.

This program will discuss in detail how each office has used AI-enabled programs and ChatGPT while addressing key challenges you may face when implementing these tools within your office.

For complete details or to register, click here.

Also coming soon:

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Baylor U wins licensing dispute against Hemotek


By Jesse Schwartz
Published: November 29th, 2023

Baylor University has won a licensing dispute against health tech company Hemotek. continue reading »

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IP and Royalty Audits for Tech Transfer Offices


By Jesse Schwartz
Published: November 29th, 2023

IP audits and royalty audits are essential to properly manage your university’s IP portfolio, and to ensure you’re not only pursuing assets with high potential but also addressing existing licensee activity. Making sure your IP is moving forward — and your licensees are meeting their obligations — is a critical function of any well-run TTO.

Regular and systematic review processes and procedures are absolute musts. Without them, you could be losing out on significant revenue opportunities, overlooking litigation risks, missing critical deadlines and filing requirements, and letting significant royalty dollars slip away.  

That’s why our Distance Learning Division has curated this collection of distance learning programs. IP and Royalty Audits for Tech Transfer Offices features three strategy-filled sessions that provide a detailed roadmap for assessing your IP portfolio for risks and opportunities, and assessing licensee compliance with development and payment obligations.

For complete program and faculty details, or to order, click here.  

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Independent review offers recommendations to improve university start-up ecosystem in UK


By Jesse Schwartz
Published: November 29th, 2023

An independent review of university start-ups commissioned by the UK government has put forward a set of recommendations to accelerate the country’s university start-up ecosystem. continue reading »

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Emory students and researchers develop mobile phone diagnostic for COVID-19


By Jesse Schwartz
Published: November 29th, 2023

A team of students and researchers at Emory University has developed a technology that could enable the detection of COVID-19 via mobile phone. continue reading »

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U of Basel drug delivery start-up acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim for over $500M


By Jesse Schwartz
Published: November 29th, 2023

A University of Basel start-up is being acquired by German pharma company Boehringer Ingelheim for its novel drug delivery technology.

Founded in 2015 by University of Basel researcher Simon Ittig, T3 Pharmaceuticals has developed a method to use live bacteria as a vessel for delivering therapeutic proteins to cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment. The start-up’s main product, T3-Y058-739, is currently being tested in a Phase I clinical trial.

Boehringer Ingelheim will spend up to 450 million Swiss francs (over $513M US) on the acquisition.

“It’s a motivating example for young researchers at the University of Basel,” Torsten Schwede, vice president for research at the university, says of the acquisition. “Simon Ittig has proven that you can be successful with a university start-up if you consistently pursue an idea.”

Source: University of Basel

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Download the 2023-24 Directory of Life Science VCs


By Jesse Schwartz
Published: November 29th, 2023

The 2023-24 Directory of Life Science VCs is now available for immediate download. This time-saving source of contact information on life science VC firms can be incorporated immediately into your outreach and fundraising activities.

With 60 new entries and 380 firms in total, all directory listings include the firm website, contact information, and a brief summary of the firm’s investment profile.

It comes to you immediately in both printable digital format and as an Excel spreadsheet that can be used to create mailing lists, your own contact database, merge letters, and e-mails. You can click on links to find out more details about each firm and use the quick descriptions to narrow your VC contacts to those that match your start-up or project.

For complete details, click here.

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Uniseed doubles its research partners to support more university spinouts


By Jesse Schwartz
Published: November 29th, 2023

Uniseed, a venture fund backed by Australian universities, has doubled its research partners from five to 10 in its efforts to support more start-ups formed around university technologies. continue reading »

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USC start-up offers platform to help other university start-ups hire students


By Jesse Schwartz
Published: November 29th, 2023

A start-up from the University of Southern California (USC) has developed a platform for other entrepreneurs to help them find talented employees, providing students with job opportunities in the process. continue reading »

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Student Innovation: Tapping Into the Gold Mine of On-Campus Talent


By Jesse Schwartz
Published: November 29th, 2023

Universities around the world are introducing the principles of entrepreneurship and innovation to their student bodies by providing a focal point for research, education, outreach, mentorship, legal support, access to funding, and project-based learning. These programs can help universities recruit fresh talent and emerging leaders to explore complex business challenges.

Our  Distance Learning Division has combined two outstanding programs that focus solely on student-focused innovation and business development, and how your university can create an ecosystem of experiential learning to foster start up creation.

Student Innovation: Tapping Into the Gold Mine of On-Campus Talent is a valuable two-session collection featuring two fascinating case studies of student innovation strategies in action. Program One focuses on the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign’s iVenture Accelerators, which Program Two spotlights the USC Stevens Center for Innovation. These practical, how-to programs will provide proven ideas and strategies for building out the student innovation ecosystem, and ultimately getting more start-ups launched and more students engaged with your office.

For complete details, click here.

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