Today’s guest, holder of a PhD in biochemistry, found his way into the technology transfer field through an unusual method; cold writing to technology transfer offices. After working at Northwestern University for 17 years, Mike Moore decided he wanted to expand his scope of experience and he moved to the far lesser-known University of Augusta, where he is currently the Director of the Office of Innovation Commercialization.
In this episode, Mike shares information about Augusta that many of you will be pleasantly surprised to hear, as was he, including the fact that it has the only public medical school in Georgia, one of the largest medical schools in the country, and is the home of a life sciences business development incubator.
Mike’s team is small but mighty, and he is determined to overcome the challenges that come as a result of the size of the institution and turn Augusta into a university that people think of as a leader of innovation. He shares the factors that he believes are vital to success, as well as the hopes he has for the future of his own office, and all technology transfer offices out there!
In This Episode:
- [00:53] A rundown of Mike’s educational and professional background.
- [01:50] What drew Mike to the field of technology transfer.
- [02:34] The unusual approach that landed Mike his first technology transfer job at Northwestern University.
- [04:04] Why Mike chose to leave his position at Northwestern and take up a post at Augusta University.
- [04:50] Mike shares some of the history of Augusta University, and the role of the Office of Innovation Commercialization which he is the director of.
- [06:06] The incubator space at Augusta, and how it was funded.
- [07:30] How Mike’s office is structured.
- [08:36] Value that Mike sees in working collaboratively.
- [09:18] Invention disclosures, patent applications, and licenses coming out of Augusta in a typical year.
- [10:43] What Mike sees as the key to the success of innovations.
- [12:08] The challenge of corporate partners that Mike is looking forward to taking on at Augusta.
- [13:21] Some of the things that Mike would have liked to have done better.
- [14:45] Technology Transfer success stories out of Augusta University.
- [15:35] Some of the greatest difficulties that Mike is currently facing.
- [16:46] How Mike’s office works towards improving levels of traditionally underrepresented groups in the technology transfer field.
- [17:24] Global and local organizations that Mike’s office is involved with, and the value that Mike sees in these connections.
- [21:25] Mike’s view on credentialing.
- [20:36] Hopes that Mike has for the future of Augusta’s Office of Innovation Commercialization.
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