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TITLE: Commercializing University Research - Theats and Opportunities: The Oxford University Model
SPEAKER: Baruch S. Blumberg, Raymond Dwek, Tim Cook, Tom Hockaday, Mark S. Frankel
EVENT DATE: 05/24/2007
RUNNING TIME: 132 minutes
DESCRIPTION:
There is much debate about the growth of commercialization of academic research results. Does it threaten a university's principal mission? The topic was discussed in a lecture and panel discussion titled "Commercializing University Research -- Threats and Opportunities: The Oxford University Model" in a program sponsored by the John W. Kluge Center; Science, Technology & Business Division; and the American Philosophical Society with support from the University of Oxford (UK). The program was organized by Raymond Dwek, professor and head of the Glycobiology Department at Oxford.
Tim Cook and Tom Hockaday, both of Isis Innovation Ltd., the technology transfer company of the University of Oxford, believe that Oxford has successfully addressed academic research commercialization issues. They hope to provide guidance and clear principles showing how commercialization need not threaten a university's principal academic mission.
According to Dwek, who in 1988 founded the first university spin-off company in which Oxford had a shareholding, the history of Oxford's commercialization starts with the "revolutionary technology" of printing--the university published its first book in 1478. During the American Revolution, sales of Bibles to America declined. With a depressed Bible market, Oxford University's Delegates of the Press created 42 shares in their Bible privilege for commercial printers in London. About 100 years later, in the 1880s, the shares were once again brought under the university's control. But it was only about 20 years ago that the Oxford began to start commercializing the results of its scientific research.
Cook and Hockaday used the Oxford University model to illustrate how the volume of academic consultancy, licensing and successful spin-off companies has markedly increased as a result of policy development and a focused allocation of resources. A panel discussed this topic and entertained questions from the audience.
Among those scheduled to participate in addition to Cook, Hockaday and Dwek were Baruch S. Blumberg and Mark S. Frankel.
Speaker Biography: Baruch S. Blumberg is the president of the American Philosophical Society.
Speaker Biography: Raymond Dwek is the chair of technology and society at the John W. Kluge Center.
Speaker Biography: Tim Cook is the executive deputy chairman of Isis Innovation Ltd., the technology transfer company of the University of Oxford.
Speaker Biography: Tom Hockaday is the managing director of Isis Innovation Ltd., the technology transfer company of the University of Oxford.
Speaker Biography: Mark S. Frankel is the director of the Scientific Freedom, Responsibility and Law Program at the American Association for the Advancement of Science.