Rice University Technology Transfer

1
Rice University Technology Transfer

• Presentation to CPRIT Economic Development and
  Commercialization Subcommittee
• February 11, 2009
• Luba A. Pacala

2
Office of Technology Transfer

• Rices Office of Tech Transfer established in 98
  with focus (driven by Rick Smalley) on patents
  and creating start-ups
• Primarily early stage technologies licensed to
  start-ups
• More than 50 active license deals (27 since 2005)
  and 19 active start-ups (10 since 2005)
• Licensing income still small due to licensing of
  early stage technologies
• Milken Institute Rankings (2006)
• 1 in patent filings per research
• 9 in start-up companies per research
• 9 in invention disclosures per research

3
Invention Disclosures
Invention Disclosures per 1M in Research
FY 2008 preliminary AUTM statistics
4
IP Impact
Rice Patent Portfolio ranked 1 in Industry
Impact by The Patent Board
5
Patent Scorecard
Patent Board Ranks Rices IP Portfolio as 5 in
Overall Strength
The University Patent Scorecard includes all US
utility patents held by each university. 122
universities are included in the ranking.
6
Nanotech Commercialization
Rice Ranks 1 in Nano Commercialization Rice has
1 Intellectual Property Portfolio in
Nanotechnology
an ambitious nanotech initiative, a
collaborative business school, and an
administration that supports tech transfer
7
Driving Principles in Technology
Commercialization

• We commercialize innovation when
  commercialization is the best way for that
  innovation to have an impact on the world.
• Our mantra is get deals done
• Deals has a broad meaning for us. We diversify
  our deal portfolio to enhance sponsored research,
  produce start-ups, and to have other types of
  licensing arrangements in order to ensure fiscal
  balance.
• Rice faculty have a large say in how Rice manages
  intellectual property that they develop
• The success of our technology commercialization
  efforts in creating wealth in jobs in Houston is
  a key way for Rice to meet its strategic goal of
  engaging with the Houston community

8
Texas ETF Awards

• 4.475 Million awarded to 4 Rice Start-ups by ETF
• NanoSpectra Biosciences, Inc.
• Cancer therapies using gold nanoshells
• Nanocomposites, Inc.
• Nanotube composite materials for upstream oil
  and gas drilling
• itRobotics, Inc.
• Robotic inspection of small diameter pipes
• Carbon Nanotechnologies, Inc. (now Unidym)
• Manufacture of carbon nanotubes and transparent
  conductive films

9
NanoSpectra Biosciences

• Founded in 2002 in Houston, TX
• Based on technology licensed from Rice and
  research collaborations with M.D. Anderson, UT
  Southwestern, UTHSC- San Antonio, and Baylor
• Focus on commercialization of nanoparticle-based
  therapy for the selective and precise thermal
  destruction of solid tumors (AuroLaseTM Therapy)
• Pre-clinical trials studies in 2003-2007 showed
  gt90 ablation of solid tumors in mice with no
  observed toxicity and minimal effect on health
• First IDE sanctioned human clinical trial for
  refractory head and neck cancers initiated in
  July 08
• 352,000 NCI SBIR Grant awarded in September 08
  to investigate feasibility of extracorporeal
  ablation of circulating cancer cells

10
The Rice Alliance

• OTT works closely with The Rice Alliance for
  Technology and Entrepreneurship, a collaborative
  effort between engineering, natural sciences, and
  management schools at Rice
• Rice Alliance supports entrepreneurship and
  early-stage technology ventures in Houston and
  Texas through education, collaboration, and
  research
• Venture Forums (Nanotech, Life Science,
  Energy/Clean Tech, and Information Tech)
• Business Entrepreneurship Courses
• Business Plan Competition
• Since inception in 99, the Rice Alliance has
  assisted in the launch of over 225 technology
  companies that have raised gt500 million in
  funding

11
Recognition

• RICE ALLIANCE
• for
• Technology and Entrepreneurship
• Recognized by Greater Houston Partnership in
  2009 as Houstons Greatest Economic Development
  Ally
• Named Outstanding Specialty Entrepreneurship
  Program by the U.S. Association for Small
  Business and Entrepreneurship (2009)

12
Collaborations

• Extensive interdisciplinary research both
  internally and externally, with other academic
  institutions and industry
• Advanced Energy Consortium
• UT Austin and 7 Industry Members
• Lockheed Martin Advanced Nanotechnology Center of
  Excellence at Rice University (LANCER)
• CONTACT (Consortium for Nanomaterials for
  Aerospace, Commerce, and Technology)
• U.S. AFRL, UT Austin, Arlington, Dallas, Pan
  American, and Brownsville, and UH

13
MD Anderson

• Inter-institutional agreements to govern
  marketing and licensing of jointly-owned
  intellectual property
• Master IIA in place with M.D. Anderson for joint
  intellectual property in field of cancer
  therapeutics where UTMDA leads in
  commercialization efforts
• Master IIA under development for joint
  intellectual property when Rice leads in
  commercialization efforts

14
IP Standards for CPRIT

• and finally,
• Rice endorses the Intellectual Property
  Standards and Terms recommended to CPRIT.
• Rice Universitya small research university made
  large by collaboration