Merger enhances university-business relationships
Mississippi State's Entrepreneurship Center and Office of Technology Commercialization now are merged in a move designed to enhance the university's relationships with business and industry.
The new Office of Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer continues efforts to boost efficiency and the land-grant institution's efforts to capture, protect, manage, and accelerate the commercialization of university-owned and student-generated intellectual property. The property stems from new ideas, inventions, software, and creative works generated by research and other scholarly activities.
"The new structure increases synergy between our tech transfer and entrepreneurship programs and will facilitate the transition of intellectual property from faculty, staff and students to the marketplace," said David Shaw, vice president for research and economic development.
Gerald Nelson has been named OETT director. A Mississippi State alumnus, he has a wide range of management and business development experience, including leadership of the university's Thad Cochran Endowment for Entrepreneurship and the Jack Hatcher Entrepreneurship Program.
"I believe that we have the team in place to grow MSU's capacity and the state's economy through increasing licensing agreements and building other profitable relationships with both existing industries and university startup companies," Shaw said.
For additional details about MSU research and economic development, visit www.research.msstate.edu.
Jim Laird | University Relations
