In his first full day in office, Oregon Attorney General John Kroger, joined by university and business leaders, announced today a new plan to help speed the transfer of technology from Oregon university labs to the private sector that use them to create new jobs in the state.
“We don’t have a single job to waste. We can save the jobs we have and create new ones by creating a world class technology transfer process,” said John Kroger, who swore in as Oregon’s 16th Attorney General on Monday morning. “Our plan is simple: get government to move at the speed of business and let universities innovate and business flourish. The team we’ve assembled here can make that happen.”
Technology transfer is the process in which commercially viable research and innovation developed within the public university system is licensed and made ready for commercial use. Some critics in Oregon have said the process is too slow for businesses to capitalize on opportunities, so Mr. Kroger highlighted today the Department of Justice’s plan to streamline the process to stimulate the state’s economy.
“In the middle of tough economic times, the most important policy the attorney general can adopt is to speed up the development of new Oregon companies. We are changing that process today,” said Oregon Business Association President, Ryan Deckert.
Technology transfer is a self-sustaining cycle that benefits both business and the research university in tandem. According to the OSU Technology Transfer, Research Office, OSU inventions earned nearly $2.6 million for the University in fiscal year 2008. A more streamlined Technology Transfer process will help taxpayers see a greater return on their investment in the public university system. That, in turn, will mean more money and jobs for people in Oregon.
“It is heartening that our new Attorney General understands that OHSU, PSU, OSU and UO are Oregon’s economic engines for the 21st century. And that he is immediately acting to help them and the businesses they are creating,” said Jim Francesconi, Vice President of the Oregon State Board of Education.
The Department of Justice has already begun working with university officials and business leaders to evaluate Oregon’s program top to bottom, research best practices, identify concerns, and finalize a plan that works best for local business, state government and the Oregon University System.
Technology transfer is one of Attorney General Kroger’s top priorities. Kroger today announced a March deadline for the process, to make sure that any needed legislation can be drafted before the end of the 2009 legislative session. In addition to the speakers mentioned above, Mr. Kroger was joined in his announcement by Oregon University System Chancellor George Pernsteiner, Department of Justice staff and business leaders from Oregon Business Association, Tripwire, Intel, and many others.
For more information about the Oregon Department of Justice and all its initiatives, visit: www.doj.state.or.us
Contact:
Tony Green, (503) 378-6002 tony.green@doj.state.or.us