The LSU Office of Innovation and Technology Commercialization will showcase the breakthrough technologies, inventions and potential commercial applications of LSU researchers to the regional business community at a first-of-its kind event next month.
The Inventorship Showcase will feature the discoveries and innovations of faculty, staff and students who have been awarded patents or were named to the National Academy of Inventors Fellows during the 2014 fiscal year. The event will be held May 19.
“The Inventorship Showcase is an opportunity for local economic and commercialization partners to connect with the university research community,” says LSU Vice president for research and technology transfer Andrew Maas. “We have so many exciting breakthroughs going on here everyday and people don’t even realize it. This is a way to help get the word out and help connect these researchers to the market.”
Technology transfer, or the lack thereof, has long been a problem at LSU. Researchers at the university lag behind their counterparts in other states in terms of bringing their inventions and technologies to market. Though improvements have been made in recent years, Maas—who is just completing his first year at LSU—says one of his goals has been to be even more aggressive about linking researchers with the area’s business community.
“When I tell people of what our researchers are doing they’ll often say they had no idea that kind of work is being done here,” he says. “The purpose of this showcase is to recognize and honor LSU innovators and link the local and regional economic development partners of LSU to the incredible ideas that are being fostered at the state’s flagship institution.”
The Baton Rouge Area Chamber is sponsoring the event, as well as several local law firms and businesses. For more information on the event or to register click here.
