Mult ultiple iple Pat athw hway ays for or Univer Univ ersit - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

New Mexico State University

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Peter Lammers New Mexico State University

Required Reading: Trends in the Innovation Ecosystem 2013, National Academies Press

New Mexico State University

• To VCs the pinnacle of Innovation Ecosystem

is the Silicon Valley computer software/ hardware industry

u That success translates into a disproportionate influence on the tech-transfer offices in universities u Set expectations about investment risk, start- up costs, management, strategic partners, on and

• n….

Business and Management themes to keep in mind..

• 1. Innovation is catalyzed by the movement and

interaction of individuals from different sectors; it is a contact sport…

• 2. Tolerance of failure is important as are

mechanisms for managing timely down-selection; don’t be afraid to fail…

• 3. Start with a market need and make small bets

quickly in areas you understand; act, learn, build, repeat…

• 4. It takes a team; don’t become a bottleneck

New Mexico State University

New Mexico State University

“The Innovators Dilemma”, C. Christensen Sustaining versus Disruptive technologies

• Large corporations work with sustaining technologies, know

their market, respond and manipulate customers via expert marketing, and have capabilities and mechanisms in place for incremental process improvements

• Disruptive Technologies may

Examples – lack refinement – have performance problems – appeal to a limited audience – not have a proven application

• Yet very large scale disruptive technology requires strategic

partners Old New

Telegraph Telephone Cathode Ray Tube LCD Film Digital photograph Personal Computer Smart Phone Fingerprints DNA

New Mexico State University

“The Innovators Dilemma”, The Corrollary Sustaining versus Disruptive technologies

• University-Industry partnerships may be driven by

incremental improvements in existing technology YET

• “Incremental Improvement” is a kiss-of-death comment in a

grant review panel at a national funding agency

• Traditional governmental funding sources are indispensible

to innovation

Multiple Pathways in University- Industry Innovation?

New Mexico State University

Multiple Pathways for University- Industry Innovation

• SEMATECH: Semi-conductor manufacturing

technologies

• Pre-competitive Research and Development

Establishing Precompetitive Collaborations to Stimulate Genomics-Driven Product Development: Workshop Summary - National Academies Press

• Start Ups (The best way to prepare for the

future is to invent it…)

New Mexico State University

Start Up Example: Genetic Testing Laboratories (2001-present)

One-time, non-renewable grant from ARO for a Biotechnlogy Information Facility, had to be self-sustaining – www.gtldna.com – Based on simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in DNA like: (AGC)n or (TGAC)n or (CCGAT)n – Measure the value of n for 13 SSR different loci in the human genome to definitively identify the source of any DNA sample – Do it at <$50/sample – AND NEVER MAKE A MISTAKE

New Mexico State University

Start Up Example: Genetic Testing Laboratories (2001-present)

– The DNA technology was trivially easy – The quality control problem was enormous – The solution turned out to be who we hired:

• MS Analytical Chemistry (qualifications)
• Army Ranger (not afraid of risk)
• Ran a nerve gas incineration plant on Johnston Island

for Raytheon (experience)

• Knew ISO and Wrote a Quality Policy that earn a

commendation from AABB on our first accreditation visit (work ethic)

New Mexico State University

Start Up Example: Genetic Testing Laboratories (2001-present)

– We used commercial platforms for DNA testing – Created our own quality control policy and automation that provided a competitive edge – survival! – GTL is now the “factory” for “dealerships” around the world for:

• relationship testing
• Forensics
• Clinical DNA testing: first product was cytochrome P450 of alleles

that determine statin metabolism critical for proper dosage

– Disruptive technology coupled with sustaining business principles

New Mexico State University

Start Up Example: Genetic Testing Laboratories (2001-present)

– Joint University/Founders plus Investors 2004-2013 – Acquired by Bell Health 2013 – Did not serve the original intention of supporting the Biotechnology Information Facility – Did not bring NMSU a huge windfall – Did provide many jobs (>50), learning experiences, a long-term client at the Arrowhead Innovation Center, good-will in the law enforcement community,

What Next: Chemical Imbalances Drive Ecosystem Imbalances

New Mexico State University

New Mexico State University

Disruptive Opportunities at the Energy-Environment- Water Nexus

Energy positive wastewater treatment with extremophile algae providing photosynthetic energy boost Closed-bag Photobioreactors to prevent evaporative water losses, more treated water for repurposed uses Nitrogen and Phosphate recycling from hydrothermal liquefaction to produce bio-crude oil

Disruptive Opportunities at the Energy-Environment- Water Nexus

NMSU – Lead Institution Argonne, Los Alamos and Pacific Northwest National Labs Washington State, Michigan State Universities Algenol Biofuels, Pan Pacific Technologies, UOP-Honeywell Realization of Algae Potential: REAP 2013-2015 Goal: Achieve >2,500 gallons biocrude

• il per acre per year within 30 months

Desert Temp Profiles in Algenol-Type Photobioreactors

New Mexico EPSCoR RII4 14

0.E+00 3.E+09 6.E+09 9.E+09 1.E+10 2.E+10 2.E+10 10 20 30 40 50 0.E+00 3.E+09 6.E+09 9.E+09 1.E+10 2.E+10 2.E+10 10 20 30 40 50

(M.I. agar)

CFU’s/100 mL CFU’s/100 mL Time (hours)

Bacterial survivability test at different pH and temperature conditions:

• E. coli 13-B6 (wastewater isolate highly resistant to multiple

antibiotics) 40 C 48 C

New Mexico State University

Very Large Scale, Disruptive Environmental Engineering is the Future

• Environmental engineering at the energy, water and

environment nexus is critical and immanent

• Successful technologies will be disruptive to

agribusiness, chemical and fuel companies

• Yet the industry hardly exists
• Investment likely to come first from leveraging future

energy savings (Johnson Controls)

• Wastewater treatment with nutrient recycling is a

key enabling technology

Authors and Collaborators:

• Wayne Van Voorhies, Nick Csakan, Adrian Unc, Mark Seger, N.

Nirmalakhandan, Thinesh Selvaratnam, Shuguang Deng, Harvind Reddy (NMSU)

• Tanner Schaub, Omar Holguin, Barry Dungan (NMSU)

Funding:

• DoE – EERE: NAABB, REAP, RAFT
• Air Force Research Laboratory
• National Science Foundation (NM-EPSCoR RII4)
• Office of the Vice President for Research – NMSU

PBR Donations

• Algenol Biofuels
• Sapphire Biofuels