The WVU Office of Technology Transfer and the WVU Business Incubator are working together to help West Virginia University’s researchers create commercial opportunities from their research. While all research does not lead to commercial products, we want to make sure that we take advantage of the commercial potential for all research programs. To accomplish this goal, we want to work with all researchers on campus to discuss the commercial possibilities for the products they are developing.
The commercialization process does not mean that someone on campus must start a company, but the possibility exists for those who have the ability and desire to move in this direction. The Business Incubator is set up to help new businesses get started in the best way possible. With the help of web designers, accountants, and other business services, the Business Incubator will help new businesses navigate the challenges of how to deal with business issues. In addition, the West Virginia Small Business Development Center is located in the Business Incubator to help teach business professionals how to complete business plans, provide financing, and provide assistance to guide them through corporate filings with the State government.
The Business Incubator currently has fifteen tenants. Five of which have offices in the incubator and ten virtual tenants that take advantage of the Incubator’s services. Several of these companies are commercializing intellectual property that was developed through research at WVU.
We encourage anyone who wants to protect intellectual property, start a new business, or learn more about how their research can lead to a commercial product, to contact the Office of Technology Transfer to schedule a meeting to discuss what they need to be doing to assure success in one of these areas.
Written by Bruce Sparks, Director of the Office of Technology Transfer
Posted by Matt Livengood on September 21, 2007 at 11:56 am in the following categories: Technology Transfer, WVUBI
