Breaking through with patented technologies.

Lakehead University's technology transfer program has kicked into high gear, and officials say it won't be long before the Thunder Bay university is tagged the home of innovative,, cutting-edge, patented technologies.

Local lawyer Barb Eccles is the technology transfer officer at the university and says after almost five years in the infancy stage, the program is finally gaining momentum.

Technology transfer is a means by which academic research is evaluated, protected and commercialized for the benefit of the academic community, industry and society at large. Technology transfer is intended to complement existing successes in teaching, research and community service.

"Technology transfer takes inventions and breakthroughs in technology, either products or methods, and commercializes them," Eccles says. "Those inventions are sold or rented to companies or used to create new companies. I help get those new products out there so everyone can use them."

Although some institutions have been carrying out technology transfer activities for over 20 years, it remains a relatively new professional activity in Canada. Many academic institutions in Canada have implemented technology programs just in the last 10 to 15 years.

Eccles says the program was brought to Lakehead in 1995 because of the university's commitment to teaching, research and public service.

"Part of the role of the university is local economic development," Eccles says. Service to the community and the transfer of knowledge and technology are central to the mission of Lakehead University."

The technology transfer program supports several of the goals and objectives outlined in the university's 1999-2004 strategic plan, she adds. These goals include fostering an environment that encourages and rewards excellence and innovation and encouraging "the pursuit of knowledge, the application of knowledge to problems, and the transfer of knowledge by (the university's) faculty and students.

Generally, technology transfer consists of five stages. First, research is carried out by researchers - either faculty, students or staff - often pursuant to government research grants, industry sponsored research and collaborative research scenarios involving the participation of multiple institutions and businesses. From there, inventions are disclosed to the technology transfer officer in the innovation management office by the researchers.

Once the technology transfer officer evaluates the disclosed invention for commercial potential, he or she will consider the feasibility of obtaining a patent or other protection for the intellectual property.

Eccles says the inventions are also assessed to see whether or not they should be licensed to a company, or if there is sufficient market demand to start up a new business.

"The invention needs to be appropriate for its own company," Eccles says. "I assess the technology and see if it's appropriate for commercialization. If it is, we discuss if it's appropriate for a start-up company or just licensing. We also take a closer look at the technology and suggest improvements."

Through consultation with the researcher or researchers, a commercialization plan is created by the innovation management office and, if appropriate, a patent or other protection might be sought. The university may also invest funds to further develop the invention prior to commercialization activities to add value to the invention.

The final stage in technology transfer is to formally license the invention to an existing business that wishes to use the technology, or create a start-up company to further develop, market and deliver the product.

As the technology transfer officer and the manager of the innovations management office at the university, Eccles would help facilitate any agreements, including seeking outside counsel and locating a patent agent. She would also support the creation of any resulting start-up companies.

Eccles says although there have yet to be any start-up companies resulting from research at the university, the potential is there.

Specifically, she says the forestry, biology, kinesiology and molecular biology departments at the school have been "particularly active" in their research, but she is unable to disclose details.

One invention, however, has recently been granted a Canadian patent for use by construction companies. The technology improves upon the existing method by which high-performance concrete (for use in skyscrapers) is tested.

Eccles says the patent is a milestone for Lakehead because it proves the university is prepared to move forward with technology transfer activities.

"The researchers could have just as easily written a paper on the technology," Eccles says. "Instead they chose to get the technology out there."

Eccles says technology transfer has an "incredible" economic impact potential in Thunder Bay. Not only is there the potential to create start-up companies that will in turn generate job opportunities, but the university and the researchers will also collect royalty payments on technologies invented in Thunder Bay and used elsewhere.

Eccles believes the potential is there to echo the economic boom in Silicon Valley.

Lakehead's innovation management office, is already flooded with inventions that need to be analyzed and assessed for commercialization potential, she adds.

"It's almost too much for one person to handle," she says. "But that's good."