Forging University-Private Forging University-Private Sector PartnershipsSector Partnerships

T.H.Lee WilliamsT.H.Lee WilliamsVice-President for ResearchVice-President for Research

Dean, Graduate CollegeDean, Graduate CollegeRegents Professor of GeographyRegents Professor of Geography

University of OklahomaUniversity of Oklahoma

North Dakota EPSCoR State Conference North Dakota EPSCoR State Conference 10/26/0210/26/02

Forging University-Private Forging University-Private Sector Sector ResearchResearch Partnerships Partnerships

T.H.Lee WilliamsT.H.Lee WilliamsVice-President for ResearchVice-President for Research

Dean, Graduate CollegeDean, Graduate CollegeRegents Professor of GeographyRegents Professor of Geography

University of OklahomaUniversity of Oklahoma

North Dakota EPSCoR State Conference North Dakota EPSCoR State Conference 10/26/0210/26/02

The View Across the DivideThe View Across the Divide

ExtremistExtremistThe / View Across the The / View Across the DivideDivide

ExtremistExtremistThe / View Across the The / View Across the DivideDivide The Industry view of AcademiaThe Industry view of Academia

– While lab-coated Pointy-Eared Egg-While lab-coated Pointy-Eared Egg-heads in Ivory Towers out of touch heads in Ivory Towers out of touch with Realitywith Reality

ExtremeExtremeThe / View Across the The / View Across the DivideDivide The Industry view of AcademicThe Industry view of Academic

– Egg-heads in Ivory Towers out of Egg-heads in Ivory Towers out of touch with Realitytouch with Reality

The Academy view of IndustryThe Academy view of Industry– Used-Car Salesmen out to fleece us Used-Car Salesmen out to fleece us

Sullying the pursuit of knowledgeSullying the pursuit of knowledge

DisclaimerDisclaimer

My opinions and observationsMy opinions and observations Not burdened by facts or dataNot burdened by facts or data Caricature? Caricature?

– Pause and thinkPause and think– Walk a mile in their shoesWalk a mile in their shoes

Why Bother?Why Bother?

We Need Each OtherWe Need Each Other Payoff for University?Payoff for University?

– Enhanced ResearchEnhanced Research– Enhanced TeachingEnhanced Teaching– Enhanced ServiceEnhanced Service

Payoff for Industry?Payoff for Industry?– Access to Research results for future Access to Research results for future

productsproducts– Marketplace CompetitivenessMarketplace Competitiveness

A Personal JourneyA Personal Journey

Undergraduate Summer Jobs Undergraduate Summer Jobs Switching DisciplinesSwitching Disciplines Novice Assistant Prof in KansasNovice Assistant Prof in Kansas

– The Crops of Garden CityThe Crops of Garden City– Crossing DisciplinesCrossing Disciplines

Savvier Assoc. Prof at OUSavvier Assoc. Prof at OU– Venturing into IndustryVenturing into Industry

The EPSCoR ExperienceThe EPSCoR Experience– Building BridgesBuilding Bridges

New VenturesNew Ventures

The Lessons?The Lessons?

MulticulturalismMulticulturalism– DisciplinesDisciplines– CampusesCampuses– InstitutionsInstitutions

We’re looking at the same ElephantWe’re looking at the same Elephant– In order to work together, we each need to In order to work together, we each need to

be able to see the Elephant from the be able to see the Elephant from the other’s perspective other’s perspective

We need a Confederacy, not We need a Confederacy, not ColonialismColonialism

Huh?Huh?

Core Mission of Core Mission of AcademiaAcademia Creation and Dissemination of Creation and Dissemination of

KnowledgeKnowledge

Core Mission of Core Mission of IndustryIndustry Make and Sell Competitive Make and Sell Competitive

ProductsProducts

Who Do They Answer Who Do They Answer to?to?

Two ways to look at itTwo ways to look at it1.1. Prestige/StatusPrestige/Status2.2. FundingFunding

University?University? Industry?Industry? Peer ReviewPeer Review MarketplaceMarketplace State, PublicState, Public ShareholdersShareholders

Views of the ElephantViews of the Elephant

Golden EggGolden Egg– Knowledge is the Primary Product Knowledge is the Primary Product

VSVS– The Sellable Product is the Goal, knowledge is just the The Sellable Product is the Goal, knowledge is just the

staring pointstaring point

– The 95% ruleThe 95% rule

Show ‘n TellShow ‘n Tell– Free and Open Dissemination of the Results of Research Free and Open Dissemination of the Results of Research

VSVS– Protection of Proprietary information for competitive Protection of Proprietary information for competitive

advantageadvantage

Views of the ElephantViews of the Elephant

UniversityUniversity IndustryIndustry GrantGrant Curiosity-Driven Curiosity-Driven Open timeframeOpen timeframe Fuzzy deliverablesFuzzy deliverables Open DisseminationOpen Dissemination Peer ReviewPeer Review Knowledge is the GoalKnowledge is the Goal Refereed Publication Refereed Publication

is the Assessment is the Assessment MetricMetric

ContractContract Directed ResearchDirected Research Schedule, Schedule,

milestonesmilestones Hard DeliverablesHard Deliverables ProprietaryProprietary Market PlaceMarket Place Product is the GoalProduct is the Goal Product Sales is the Product Sales is the

Assessment MetricAssessment Metric

Collaboration – Driving Collaboration – Driving Forces for ChangeForces for Change UniversityUniversity

– Role in Technology-based Economic Role in Technology-based Economic DevelopmentDevelopment

Knowledge, WorkforceKnowledge, Workforce

– Integration of Research, Teaching, ServiceIntegration of Research, Teaching, Service IndustryIndustry

– Increasing pace of technology innovationIncreasing pace of technology innovation– Increasing reliance on technology as driverIncreasing reliance on technology as driver– Focus on short-term balance sheet Focus on short-term balance sheet

Less basic and applied researchLess basic and applied research

‘‘New’ Wrinkle - IPNew’ Wrinkle - IP

Intellectual PropertyIntellectual Property– The knowledge derived from research, The knowledge derived from research,

particularly sponsored researchparticularly sponsored research Who Owns it?Who Owns it?

– Ye Olde DaysYe Olde Days– Bayh-DoleBayh-Dole– (Oklahoma 1999 SQ 680,681)(Oklahoma 1999 SQ 680,681)

Incentive for University to Incentive for University to commercialize IPcommercialize IP– RevenueRevenue– Conflict with core value of disseminationConflict with core value of dissemination

‘‘Newer’ WrinkleNewer’ Wrinkle

Industry-Sponsored ResearchIndustry-Sponsored Research We Paid for It, so We Own ItWe Paid for It, so We Own It Hah!Hah!

Resolution?Resolution?– University owns IPUniversity owns IP– Industry gets (non)exclusive royalty-free Industry gets (non)exclusive royalty-free

licence in specified domain, option of first licence in specified domain, option of first refusal outside domainrefusal outside domain

Colonialism VS FederalismColonialism VS Federalism

Intrinsically we are all ColonialistsIntrinsically we are all Colonialists Export our ideas, valuesExport our ideas, values

– Make Them see the world the way we do, Make Them see the world the way we do, i.e. the RIGHT WAYi.e. the RIGHT WAY

VS ConfederationVS Confederation– Collaboration of Independent entities who Collaboration of Independent entities who

retain their individual values yet work retain their individual values yet work together for common goaltogether for common goal

– ““Creative Friction”Creative Friction”

Colonialism VS FederalismColonialism VS FederalismUniversities <> IndustryUniversities <> Industry

ColonialColonial– Try to make them work for us to further OUR Try to make them work for us to further OUR

agenda agenda ConfederationConfederation

– How can we work together to each reach our How can we work together to each reach our independent goals – new knowledge, new productsindependent goals – new knowledge, new products

Ask not what University/Industry can do for Ask not what University/Industry can do for youyou

Ask what you can do for University/IndustryAsk what you can do for University/Industry– Seek to help them solve their problems and fulfill Seek to help them solve their problems and fulfill

their mission, and at the same time further yourstheir mission, and at the same time further yours

Effective PartnershipsEffective Partnerships

Learn, Value, and Respect the Learn, Value, and Respect the mission, goals, and norms of your mission, goals, and norms of your partnerpartner– He/she will do the same for youHe/she will do the same for you

Seek to further the goals of your Seek to further the goals of your partner, without compromising partner, without compromising your valuesyour values– He/she will do the same for youHe/she will do the same for you

Mutual Enlightened Self-InterestMutual Enlightened Self-Interest

Views of the ElephantViews of the Elephant

UniversityUniversity IndustryIndustry GrantGrant Curiosity-Driven Curiosity-Driven Open timeframeOpen timeframe Fuzzy deliverablesFuzzy deliverables Open DisseminationOpen Dissemination Peer ReviewPeer Review Knowledge is the GoalKnowledge is the Goal Refereed Publication Refereed Publication

is the Assessment is the Assessment MetricMetric

IP ownershipIP ownership

ContractContract Directed ResearchDirected Research Schedule, milestonesSchedule, milestones Hard DeliverablesHard Deliverables ProprietaryProprietary Market PlaceMarket Place Product is the GoalProduct is the Goal Product Sales is the Product Sales is the

Assessment MetricAssessment Metric IP exclusive licencingIP exclusive licencing

OK, How Does it WorkOK, How Does it Work

It isn’t MagicIt isn’t Magic Case StudiesCase Studies

– CASICASI– Williams CompaniesWilliams Companies– NWRTNWRT– G+G+

OK, How Does it WorkOK, How Does it Work

It isn’t MagicIt isn’t Magic Case StudiesCase Studies

– CASICASI OU/OSU/TU and Tinker Air Logistics CenterOU/OSU/TU and Tinker Air Logistics Center Tinker 2,000 engineers with problemsTinker 2,000 engineers with problems Universities 600 faculty with capabilitiesUniversities 600 faculty with capabilities Engaged FacilitatorEngaged Facilitator CASI subcontractor to DoD PrimesCASI subcontractor to DoD Primes

– Time and effort budgeting, deliverables, etc.Time and effort budgeting, deliverables, etc.

– Williams CompaniesWilliams Companies– NWRTNWRT– G+G+

OK, How Does it WorkOK, How Does it Work

It isn’t MagicIt isn’t Magic Case StudiesCase Studies

– CASICASI– Williams CompaniesWilliams Companies

Energy Marketing and TradingEnergy Marketing and Trading Weather FuturesWeather Futures Basic Research – CommercializationBasic Research – Commercialization Open dissemination of research resultsOpen dissemination of research results Proprietary protection of application in domainProprietary protection of application in domain

– NWRTNWRT– G+G+

OK, How Does it WorkOK, How Does it Work

It isn’t MagicIt isn’t Magic Case StudiesCase Studies

– CASICASI– Williams CompaniesWilliams Companies– NWRTNWRT

NOAA/FAA/Navy/Lockheed-Martin/OUNOAA/FAA/Navy/Lockheed-Martin/OU Phased Array Weather RadarPhased Array Weather Radar Classified/Sensitive technologyClassified/Sensitive technology

– G+G+

OK, How Does it WorkOK, How Does it Work

It isn’t MagicIt isn’t Magic Case StudiesCase Studies

– CASICASI– Williams CompaniesWilliams Companies– NWRTNWRT– G+G+

OU Research CampusOU Research Campus Colocation of academic and industry researchColocation of academic and industry research Silo-bustersSilo-busters

ExtremeExtremeThe / View Across the The / View Across the DivideDivide The Industry view of AcademicThe Industry view of Academic

– Egg-heads in Ivory Towers out of Egg-heads in Ivory Towers out of touch with Realitytouch with Reality

The Academy view of IndustryThe Academy view of Industry– Used-Car Salesmen out to fleece us Used-Car Salesmen out to fleece us

Sullying the pursuit of knowledgeSullying the pursuit of knowledge

ProductiveProductiveThe / View of Our The / View of Our PartnershipPartnership The Industry view of AcademicThe Industry view of Academic

– Egg-heads in Ivory Towers out of touch Egg-heads in Ivory Towers out of touch with Realitywith Reality

The Academy view of IndustryThe Academy view of Industry– Used-Car Salesmen out to fleece us Used-Car Salesmen out to fleece us

Sullying the pursuit of knowledgeSullying the pursuit of knowledge We celebrate our differences and We celebrate our differences and

use them to accomplish things use them to accomplish things together we could not do alonetogether we could not do alone

Utopia?Utopia?

Get Real!Get Real! It’s tough, but worth it.It’s tough, but worth it.

The EPSCoR Community is

The Entrepreneur

The Cheerleader

for research in the EPSCoR states

EPSCoR