The Journey to Impact: Gene Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease
Many of our researchers and faculty at BU are doing work to make real change in the world. As part of our series of discussions with faculty innovators, I speak with Professor Victoria Bolotina at the School of Medicine, who is working to halt the progression of Parkinson’s Disease, the progressive neurodegenerative disease that currently […]
The Journey to Impact: Funding to Consider: SBIR Grants
As part of our ongoing work to inform this community about potential pathways to commercialize ideas and inventions, today I’m writing about SBIR grants. SBIR stands for Small Business Innovation Research. This program is government-sponsored and supports the research and development of inventions and future products across the United States. The reason to consider this […]
The Journey to Impact: Extending Care and Therapy for Stroke Patients
As part of our series of discussions with faculty innovators, I speak with Professor Swathi Kiran, James and Cecilia Tse Ying Professor of Neurorehabilitation, Sargent College. Professor Kiraan has led a successful journey from research to the creation of a company that helps people build back cognitive, speech, and language abilities after having a stroke. […]
The Innovator’s Quarterly: How BU’s NEIDL Increased Industry Support Fourfold
November 2021 | News from BU Industry Engagement and Technology Development Spotlight Microbiologist Robert Davey and his team research the novel coronavirus wearing full biocontainment suits in the highest possible containment setting, the Biosafety Level 4 lab at BU’s National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL). How BU’s NEIDL Increased Industry Support Four-Fold In 2020, NEIDL […]
Journey to Impact: Advice and Entrepreneurship
An entrepreneur friend called me recently to ask for my advice. She started a company two years ago, on her own. It’s growing, fast. She needs cash to meet demand. She found a group of Angel investors, knowledgeable in her field and wanting to invest $XXX,000. They want YY% of the company, but she wants to give away only ZZ% of the company (where Z
The Journey to Impact: SRAs and Commercialization have a Misrepresented Relationship
Rana K. Gupta formerly served as director of faculty entrepreneurship at Boston University. He helped BU researchers bring technology and other research breakthroughs to the marketplace to increase their impact through programs and workshops, one-on-one consulting with faculty, educational resources, and community building among BU innovators. Conventional thought is that once a researcher has engaged […]
The Journey to Impact: Equity Investors and Updates
This fall we launched a new program titled “Invasion of the Equity Investors.” I specifically named the investors “equity investors” to ensure there’s no mistake about the nature of the transaction in the offing. Equity investors (Angels and venture capitalists) purchase shares in your company in return for cash. The ‘”invasion” was chosen to attract attention, or perhaps make you smile. They are one source of funding. There are many, many additional and alternative forms of funding besides equity (click here for a posted presentation on the subject), but that’s a conversation for another day. We had three investors scheduled thus far this semester. One more will listen to pitches on November 4. We’ll be inviting more next semester.
Journey to Impact: New Resources, Events, and Opportunities
Here’s a misunderstood word: commercialization. The University of Pittsburgh offers a straightforward definition: “Commercialization is the process by which a new product or service is introduced into the general market.” That’s it. Too often, commercialization is misunderstood to mean “sales and marketing.” Those tasks are components of commercialization; they are not synonymous with the word. I suppose it’s because commerce is the root of commercialization so people’s minds go right to the transaction side of business (sales and marketing).
The Innovator’s Quarterly: Where Are They Now?
September 2021 | News from BU Industry Engagement and Technology Development BU Innovators of the Year BU’s Innovator of the Year is an award bestowed annually on a faculty member who translates world-class research into inventions and innovations that benefit humankind. But what comes of these distinguished faculty members and their innovations? Here, four former […]
Call for Nominations: Innovator of the Year
We are once again seeking nominations for BU Innovator of the Year. The Innovator of the Year Award, presented annually by BU Technology Development, recognizes an outstanding faculty member who has translated world-class research into an invention or innovation that benefits humankind.We invite faculty, staff, and students to submit nominations by Friday, October 15. Self-nominations are welcome. Eligible faculty […]