July 10, 2018
KSU-IC staff present at University-Industry Interaction Conference
Kent Glasscock, president of the Kansas State University Institute for Commercialization, or KSU-IC, and Rebecca Robinson, the institute's director of economic development, traveled to London, England, June 19-21 to present "America's Crisis in Technology Transfer" at the 2018 University-Industry Interaction Conference with colleagues from University of California, Davis, and Clemson University.
Glasscock and Robinson addressed the changing demands of the innovation economy for public universities in the U.S. There is increasingly a recognition that universities should accelerate their transition to a technology transfer model that reflects broader engagement in economic development and connects to the learning, discovery, societal impact and work-force preparation missions of universities. The panel showcased the ways that K-State, UC Davis, and Clemson are leading the way in resolving the disconnect between traditional technology transfer and the American public's desire for research universities to have a more direct role in economic and private sector/corporate engagement.
"Our session aligned well with others at the conference, as the changing dynamics of higher education are global in nature and will require creative solutions," Robinson said.
Robinson moderated a "Next Practice Pitches" panel that explored innovative approaches to driving research commercialization and academic entrepreneurship. She also toured IDEALondon, a post-accelerator center in the heart of London's Tech City, to learn about how universities and other organizations can support entrepreneurs during an often-forgotten time frame in company development: post-acceleration. Glasscock participated in an Innovation District workshop focused on developing the basic framework of innovation districts and understanding starting assets, the process of determining a geography, and the leadership needed to advance this strategy with alacrity and focus.
Chad Jackson, director of the Center for the Advancement of Entrepreneurship, also attended and spoke at the conference.
Find more information about KSU-IC's strategic partner pathway, the commercialization process, and more on the Industry Collaboration section of the K-State Research website.