University leaders outline ideas to boost state economy

There was little doubt the UW System’s three-day think tank on the New Economy would produce new ideas on kick-starting Wisconsin commerce.

But it also highlighted the ways universities are already making things happen.

That point came across during a keynote address by chair of Cisco Systems Inc. John P. Morgridge, who spoke on the last day of the Wisconsin Economic Summit in Milwaukee. The UW–Madison alumnus talked about economic development in the Internet age, and how Cisco came to be an industry leader in Internet networks.

As for the Wisconsin economy, Morgridge suggested the crowd of 500-plus look to the UW–Madison model for spinoff companies. Morgridge noted that at last count, nearly 180 Wisconsin companies could claim some kind of direct tie to UW–Madison research or expertise.

“Wisconsin has a great asset in the investment you are making in biotechnology at UW–Madison,” he said. “But you have to invest in all other aspects (of business development) to get the full value for your money.”

Morgridge urged government leaders to give universities the flexibility to actively create spinoff companies. He said it’s a first step toward developing “pillar companies” that are leaders in their field and can stimulate creation of like-minded businesses.

Bryan Renk, director of patents and licensing for the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, pointed out that WARF now has helped 18 companies get their start since 1995 by taking equity interest during their early stages.

Agreements with another 12 new companies are in process and are likely to emerge in 2001, he said.

“The summit also created an opportunity to promote new ways of strengthening the link between higher education and the economy. At UW–Madison, developments worth watching include:

The InfoStar Institute: Raj Veeramani, an engineering and business professor and director of the Consortium for Global Electronic Commerce, proposed a campus-wide program of education, research and outreach. Included would be a graduate-level e-commerce certificate program that would be open to students from all disciplines. It would also tie together a multi-disciplinary research program with an outreach component to help state companies quickly apply new advances. The consortium has 35 member companies from across Wisconsin that are actively engaged in improving e-commerce.

Revamping technology transfer: Robert Pricer, co-director of Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship, detailed in a summit white paper a comprehensive new approach in the works to enhance technology transfer.

This initiative would take the Weinert model campus-wide, providing incentives to researchers to create potential commercial applications of their work. It would establish a formal process for transferring technology, including an in-depth screening of research for commercially viable prospects; provide expertise for creating a commercialization plan; and create a formal method of bringing the technology to market.

Expanding the Research Park model: Mark Bugher, director of University Research Park, launched initiatives at the summit that would advance new territory for the research park model. It’s a model worth replicating: The west side park’s nearly 90 tenants employ 2,500.

Bugher proposed building a technology business incubator in Waukesha County that would be jointly operated by UW–Madison and UW-Milwaukee. He also proposed an Agricultural Research Park that would be dedicated exclusively to agricultural research and development. UW-Platteville would also take the lead on an agricultural policy research center.