University of Arkanas Partnership for Innovation Innovation Incubator Ron Foster – Director Innovation Incubator Ken Vickers – Director, microEP Grad Program

ASEE - Salt Lake City, Utah June 23, University of Arkansas’ Innovation Incubator (I 2 ) The University of Arkansas’ Innovation Incubator (I 2 ) is a NSF “Partnerships for Innovation” - funded project, designed to stimulate technology commercialization. I 2 is also a National Network for Technology and Entrepreneurship Commercialization (N2TEC) partner, representing of a class of states (universities) that have limited access to venture capital.

ASEE - Salt Lake City, Utah June 23, University of Arkansas’ Innovation Incubator (I 2 ) The Innovation Incubator Provides: Assistance in defining and documenting IP Assistance in initial company formation, including licensing agreements Access to university facilities, equipment and intellectual resources Funding for a graduate student to work at company’s direction for one year Funding for project supplies and materials ($10,000) Mentoring for proposals on SBIR/STTR Alignment with GENESIS Business Incubator

ASEE - Salt Lake City, Utah June 23, University of Arkansas’ Innovation Incubator (I 2 ) – SBIR/STTR Program connections The SBIR/STTR programs act to strongly encourage startup companies by providing early-stage seed funding that is seldom available from other sources. Phase I awards are typically $100K. ONLY Phase I awardees are allowed to compete for the follow-on $500K to $750K awards. Awards come with “no strings attached”, meaning that there are no future liabilities to the company, and intellectual property remains unencumbered.

ASEE - Salt Lake City, Utah June 23, University of Arkansas’ Innovation Incubator (I 2 ) – SBIR/STTR Program connections Awards are highly competitive, with excellent feedback from some agencies (NSF, NIH in particular). Small companies entering the competition make significant, rapid progress towards understanding and enunciating a mission. I 2 REQUIRES that client companies enter at least one proposal.

ASEE - Salt Lake City, Utah June 23, NSF Awards State of Arkansas

ASEE - Salt Lake City, Utah June 23, University of Arkansas’ Innovation Incubator (I 2 ) – NSF SBIR/STTR Awards NSF SBIR P I Awards STTR P I AwardsTotal Pre-1999 Total

ASEE - Salt Lake City, Utah June 23, NIH Awards State of Arkansas

ASEE - Salt Lake City, Utah June 23, University of Arkansas’ Innovation Incubator (I 2 ) – NIH SBIR/STTR Awards NIH SBIR P I Awards STTR P I AwardsTotal Pre-1999 Total

ASEE - Salt Lake City, Utah June 23, University of Arkansas’ Innovation Incubator (I 2 ) – microEP Faculty-Student companies CompanyFacultyStudentFocus SBIR PROP. SBIR AWARDI2I2 VIC APEIOlejiniceczLostetterSiC Circuits~ SysconMalsheO’nealPackaging~ VegrandisFritschMalaria Detect~ 42 BDILiFood Safety~ 42 SFC FluidTungµFluidics~ 1 -- NanoMechMalsheNanocoating~ 42 XanodicsSchaperCapacitor ModucellFosterFuel Cell ~ Nano MFPengOptical LED ~ 103/2 -- Nano FerrSalamoDesigned Mat’l -- --

ASEE - Salt Lake City, Utah June 23, University of Arkansas’ The Commercialization Mosaic I 2 provides a central “meeting hall” for the technology commercialization community. MGMT 5383 Intra/Entrepreneurship of Technology (NCIIA course grant) trains graduate students to commercialize their research (creating Trojan Horses in traditional faculty’s research labs). I 2 projects with external companies highlighted IP barriers to technology commercialization – resulting in the Tech Transfer office changing focus from royalty cash flow to equity positions in local startups.

ASEE - Salt Lake City, Utah June 23, University of Arkansas’ The Commercialization Mosaic The private Virtual Incubation Corporation (VIC) is an aggressive business partner with many faculty, providing business and SBIR expertise to researchers. Business School classes (undergraduate and graduate) are engaging with engineering and science researchers for BP competitions and class projects. Business leaders in Arkansas are aggressively pursuing the creation of Angel networks and VC funds.

ASEE - Salt Lake City, Utah June 23, University of Arkansas’ The Commercialization Mosaic The College of Engineering, under a new dean, is planning to follow the PhD microEP curriculum model to include entrepreneurism in the all PhD Engineering curricula. Phase I SBIR/STTR success stories are now student/faculty water fountain topics, with Phase II stories on the way. The Genesis Technology Business Incubation Center provides a sheltered path forward for I 2 clients.

ASEE - Salt Lake City, Utah June 23, University of Arkansas’ Innovation Incubator (I 2 ) - Summary I 2 appears to be a significant catalyst for technology commercialization. Immersion of the I 2 program within the UA teaching and research missions is critical to success. I 2 methods have generated success in defining companies and attracting early stage seed funds. Commercialization activities are currently dominated by microEP faculty and students.

ASEE - Salt Lake City, Utah June 23, University of Arkansas’ Innovation Incubator (I 2 ) – microEP Faculty-Student companies CompanyFacultyStudentFocus SBIR PROP. SBIR AWARDI2I2 VIC APEIOlejiniceczLostetterSiC Circuits~ SysconMalsheO’nealPackaging~ VegrandisFritschMalaria Det.~ 42 BDILiFood Safety~ 42 SFC FluidTungµFluidics~ 1 -- NanoMechMalsheNanocoating~ 42 XanodicsSchaperCapacitor ModucellFosterFuel Cell ~ Nano MFPengOptical LED ~ 103/2 -- Nano FerrSalamoDesigned Mat’l -- --