Idaho State University has new initiatives to foster technical transfer, provide data to Idaho business

Idaho State University has announced new commitments to increase economic development and to partner with business and other government agencies. The University has created new technology transfer services and the College of Business has unveiled Bengal Solutions, which can provide a variety of services, including market research, to Idaho businesses.

"We have new initiatives in place for technological and commercial transfer of patents, business startups and intellectual property," said Pamela Crowell, ISU Vice President for Research and Economic Development. "We’re going to work closely with faculty to provide the tools and resources they need to get their ideas to the marketplace."

ISU technology transfer operations include partnering with industry, government entities and other education institutions to increase economic and intellectual cooperation. This partnership will help develop new products and services. The office will help with licensing of University-developed technologies to existing companies, and with forming start-up companies based upon the work of students and faculty as new businesses, contributing to the economic development of the region.

ISU engineering Professor Richard Jacobsen has been selected to lead ISU technology transfer operations. Jacobsen also serves as the associate director for the Center for Advanced Energy Studies in Idaho Falls, and was the dean of the ISU College of Engineering from 2006-10. He is also the former dean and associate dean of the University of Idaho College of Engineering. He was also been on the Board of Directors for the Idaho Research Foundation, was the director for the UI Center for Applied Thermodynamic Studies and was the chief scientist at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (now INL).

"There is a tremendous amount of potential for technical transfer from Idaho State University's medical and pharmacy programs and there are opportunities for engineers and scientists in many other programs and disciplines, from biological sciences to computer science, to get their ideas into the market place"” Jacobsen said. 

"The relationship," continued Jacobsen, "between research and technology transfer is real. It is a matter of helping people know what their options are and recognizing, crediting and protecting the entrepreneurial efforts of our faculty and students."

To help with technology transfer and other areas, the University has hired Darlene Gerry in ISU’s Office of General Counsel. Gerry, ISU associate general counsel, has an extensive background intellectual property creation and licensing transactions. She spent 13 years working as an in-house counsel for IBM and is a former Senior Vice President and General Counsel of AMI Semiconductor.

The creation of Bengal Solutions complements Idaho State University’s new efforts to bolster the economic success of the region. Bengal Solutions provides additional business services to ISU researchers interested in commercializing technologies and intellectual property, utilizing the talent of MBA students and faculty in the ISU College of Business.  It also completes market, technology and competitor assessments for regional businesses.

"We see Bengal Solutions as a very important direction for what ISU is doing and what we’re doing for our students in the College of Business and for regional businesses," said Kregg Aytes, associate dean of the College of Business. "It is important for our students to work in a real-world situation and it is important the College of Business shows we are relevant to the business community."

Bengal Solutions ensures the quality of its products through faculty, mentors and client feedback.

Bengal Solutions partners with the Eastern Idaho Entrepreneurial Center, commonly referred to as the E-Center. The E-Center is a nonprofit organization founded in 2006, and collaborates with both ISU and Brigham Young University – Idaho in economic development efforts. The center connects students and faculty with regional business and provides short-term, low-cost professional consulting services.

For more information on the ISU Office of Technology Transfer, contact Jacobsen at (208) 282-4191 or jacorich@isu.edu.

For more information on Bengal Solutions, contact Sam Peterson at (208) 282-2966 or petesam@isuledu, or contact Aytes at (208) 282-3357 or aytekreg@isu.edu.

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