8-28-98

OHIO STATE TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIPS TASK FORCE ESTABLISHED

COLUMBUS -- A University Technology Partnerships Task Force, charged to enhance Ohio State University research programs that benefit the Ohio economy and the university, was announced today by President William E. Kirwan.

The task force includes some of the university's most distinguished research faculty, and representatives of government and industry. David Allen, director of Ohio State's Office for Technology Licensing, will coordinate it.

Kirwan said the group will build upon the report of the Mayor's Task Force on Technology and the Future of the City, and will work with the Columbus Technology Leadership Council and other community organizations.

"The task force will benchmark the best applied research and technology programs in American higher education, and help steer Ohio State's applied research in directions that can strengthen both the region and the university," Kirwan said. "The key word," he emphasized, "is partnership."

Ted Celeste, chair of The Ohio State University Board of Trustees, will serve on the task force steering committee. He also is a member of the Science and Technology Campus Corp. board.

"Seeing that all the pieces come together will be fundamental as Ohio State helps build a critical mass of high technology research and industrial application in Ohio," Celeste said.

"Ohio State already has one of the top 25 sponsored research programs among America's universities," Celeste noted. "This new emphasis on industrial partnerships complements an equally strong Ohio State emphasis of basic research. Basic research is the building block of all new knowledge. Ohio State is developing the strengths and the strategies to become a national research leader as well as in partnerships for putting research to use."

Allen said Battelle Institute's Technology Partnership Practice and the State Science and Technology Institute have been contracted to assist with the benchmarking and assessment of best practices. The task force is expected to provide interim recommendations by Nov. 1. According to Allen, the process includes early consultation and reviewing recommendations with campus and business community groups.

Contact: David Allen, Office for Technology Licensing, (614) 688-5744 or allen.522@osu.edu