Transferring innovative ideas
By Dave Dreeszen Journal business editor | Posted: Sunday, July 15, 2007
Joseph Wright, left, vice president of technology transfer for The Siouxland Initiative, points during a recent presentation to the Economic Development Partners steering committee. From left is Debi Durham, president of The Siouxland Initiative; Lance Hedquist, South Sioux City city administrator, Glenn Ivarsen, steering committee chair; Ken Beekley, executive director, Siouxland Economic Development Corp.; and Marty Dougherty, city of Sioux City economic development director. In his newly-created position, Wright is focusing on transferring innovative research at tri-state universities to the private sector in metro Sioux City. (Staff photo by Tim Hynds)
A cholesterol-lowering food additive, developed by researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is now being tested by BPI Technology, which hopes to incorporate the compound in its lean beef products.
UNL and BPI last year signed a deal aimed at commercializing the homegrown additive, made from beef tallow and soybeans. The partnership is an example of what's known as technology transfer, the licensing of university intellectual property to private firms.
In a unique endeavor, the Siouxland Initiative, or TSI, hopes to bring more such inventions to the metro area to foster business and job growth.
The Initiative recently named Joseph Wright to the newly-created position of vice president of technology transfer. Since coming aboard five weeks ago, Wright has been on a whirlwind tour of the tri-state region, introducing himself to key officials at all the research universities, as well as some two dozen local business and industries.
The licensing of university technology for commercial purposes has grown dramatically in recent years, but the vast majority has occured in and around the campuses, Wright noted.
In his new role, he hopes to bridge the distance between the metro area and universities in such far-flung cities as Ames, Brookings, Lincoln and Iowa City.
"Part of my job, as I see it, is to look for technologies coming out of the universities that would fit well here in this area that we could base new start-up companies on or create new venures with existing companies,'' he said.
Though Sioux City does not have its own university, the metro area's geographical location gives it the unique opportunity to pick and choose among new ideas developed at schools in all three states.
South Sioux City Administrator Lance Hedquist applauded TSI for its new technology transfer focus, believed to be the nation's first program of its kind.
"This is a bold way in which our industries can be better connected to the universities and the unviersities better connected to our industries,'' Hedquist said.
Debi Durham, president of TSI, the economic development arm of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, said the organization was fortunate to find someone with Wright's qualifications to carry out its new technology transfer mission.
"If you look at his credential, it's very impressive we were able to attract such an impressive young man,'' he said. "He's got multiple skills that are going to suit him well.''
Wright, 29, recently completed his law degree at the University of Kansas, where he worked part-time in the Lawrence school's office of technology transfer. For his undergraduate degree at Utah Valley State College, where he graduated with high honors, he studied biology and chemistry.
In addition, Wright also has hands-on entrepreneurial experience. He and his brother have started small businesses in Utah. Growing up, Wright lived in Utah and Idaho, as did his wife, Carolyn. The couple have two children, Elizabeth and Isaac.
Joseph Wright said he originally envisioned becoming a patent attorney for intellectual property. But he eventually found that field provided too few opportunities to interact with people, which he enjoys.
In his new job, he gets to not only converses regularly with university and business officials, but also stay on top of the latest research.
"It's an exciting field. It's dynamic, challenging,'' Wright said. "The sciences coming out of the university are sometimes incredibly complex, but also on the cutting edge. That keeps you on your toes all the time.''
Along with helping to bring new innovations to the metro area, Wright said his focus includes identifying more teams of local entrepreneurs and managers, as well as sources of venure capital to finance high-tech ventures.
Overall, he is responsible for implementing portions of the comprehensive economic development strategy, prepared by the Regional Economic Development Partners Group, a tri-state consortium of development professionals.
A portion of a federal Economic Development Administration grant the tri-state consortium received a few years back is being used to pay Wright's salary and benefits, Durham said. The grant, designed to help reserve massive metro area job losses stemming from downsizing at Gateway and other employers early in this decade, also will help fund studies of industrial park sites and workforce development.
Wright's 30-month contract is timed to expire when the grant funds devoted to the technology transfer initiative run out. At that point, The Initiative Board will have to decide whether to make the position permanent as part of its normal operating budget, Durham said.
"He understands this is a temporary position,'' she said. "We have to prove this works and makes sense as a strategy.''
Journal business editor Dave Dreeszen can be reached at (712) 293-4211 or davedreeszen@siouxcityjournal.com
Joseph Wright
Position: Vice president of technology transfer for The Siouxland Initiative
Age: 29
Education: Law school degree, University of Kansas; Bachelor of science degree, Utah Valley State College.
Family: Wife, Carolyn. Children, Elizabeth and Isaac.
UNL and BPI last year signed a deal aimed at commercializing the homegrown additive, made from beef tallow and soybeans. The partnership is an example of what's known as technology transfer, the licensing of university intellectual property to private firms.
In a unique endeavor, the Siouxland Initiative, or TSI, hopes to bring more such inventions to the metro area to foster business and job growth.
The Initiative recently named Joseph Wright to the newly-created position of vice president of technology transfer. Since coming aboard five weeks ago, Wright has been on a whirlwind tour of the tri-state region, introducing himself to key officials at all the research universities, as well as some two dozen local business and industries.
The licensing of university technology for commercial purposes has grown dramatically in recent years, but the vast majority has occured in and around the campuses, Wright noted.
In his new role, he hopes to bridge the distance between the metro area and universities in such far-flung cities as Ames, Brookings, Lincoln and Iowa City.
"Part of my job, as I see it, is to look for technologies coming out of the universities that would fit well here in this area that we could base new start-up companies on or create new venures with existing companies,'' he said.
Though Sioux City does not have its own university, the metro area's geographical location gives it the unique opportunity to pick and choose among new ideas developed at schools in all three states.
South Sioux City Administrator Lance Hedquist applauded TSI for its new technology transfer focus, believed to be the nation's first program of its kind.
"This is a bold way in which our industries can be better connected to the universities and the unviersities better connected to our industries,'' Hedquist said.
Debi Durham, president of TSI, the economic development arm of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, said the organization was fortunate to find someone with Wright's qualifications to carry out its new technology transfer mission.
"If you look at his credential, it's very impressive we were able to attract such an impressive young man,'' he said. "He's got multiple skills that are going to suit him well.''
Wright, 29, recently completed his law degree at the University of Kansas, where he worked part-time in the Lawrence school's office of technology transfer. For his undergraduate degree at Utah Valley State College, where he graduated with high honors, he studied biology and chemistry.
In addition, Wright also has hands-on entrepreneurial experience. He and his brother have started small businesses in Utah. Growing up, Wright lived in Utah and Idaho, as did his wife, Carolyn. The couple have two children, Elizabeth and Isaac.
Joseph Wright said he originally envisioned becoming a patent attorney for intellectual property. But he eventually found that field provided too few opportunities to interact with people, which he enjoys.
In his new job, he gets to not only converses regularly with university and business officials, but also stay on top of the latest research.
"It's an exciting field. It's dynamic, challenging,'' Wright said. "The sciences coming out of the university are sometimes incredibly complex, but also on the cutting edge. That keeps you on your toes all the time.''
Along with helping to bring new innovations to the metro area, Wright said his focus includes identifying more teams of local entrepreneurs and managers, as well as sources of venure capital to finance high-tech ventures.
Overall, he is responsible for implementing portions of the comprehensive economic development strategy, prepared by the Regional Economic Development Partners Group, a tri-state consortium of development professionals.
A portion of a federal Economic Development Administration grant the tri-state consortium received a few years back is being used to pay Wright's salary and benefits, Durham said. The grant, designed to help reserve massive metro area job losses stemming from downsizing at Gateway and other employers early in this decade, also will help fund studies of industrial park sites and workforce development.
Wright's 30-month contract is timed to expire when the grant funds devoted to the technology transfer initiative run out. At that point, The Initiative Board will have to decide whether to make the position permanent as part of its normal operating budget, Durham said.
"He understands this is a temporary position,'' she said. "We have to prove this works and makes sense as a strategy.''
Journal business editor Dave Dreeszen can be reached at (712) 293-4211 or davedreeszen@siouxcityjournal.com
Joseph Wright
Position: Vice president of technology transfer for The Siouxland Initiative
Age: 29
Education: Law school degree, University of Kansas; Bachelor of science degree, Utah Valley State College.
Family: Wife, Carolyn. Children, Elizabeth and Isaac.
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