Technology expo first of its kind in Missouri
The Missouri Technology Expo fostered relationships between academia and industry partners.
Published Oct. 8, 2010
MU hosted the Missouri Technology Expo 2010 on Oct. 7 at Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center.
The expo included a conceptualized showcase of ongoing research in the state of Missouri. The technologies presented were broadly categorized in three main research areas: life sciences, biomedical sciences and engineering. According to the expo check-in record, 113 companies and university departments attended the event.
The expo began with the keynote speech by Stephen Padgette, the vice president of Biotechnology of the Monsanto Company.
“It is a great idea to move all of the sciences and research of universities and the regions toward marketing,” Padgette said. “There is a good relationship between technological research and commercialization. The win-win model has to be built up.”
Provost Brian Foster talked about Mizzou Advantage and how it related to the expo at the lunch reception. He said five dynamic initiatives at MU contribute to Mizzou Advantage: sustainable energy, food for the future, health and medicine, media and technologies.
“We are the world-class,” Foster said. “Our position in these five areas enables us to do things nobody else can do. The competitive assets set MU apart from other universities.”
At the Regional Economic Development Inc. Entrepreneurial Know-How panel, four panelists from various business fields talked about how they started entrepreneurships with "initiative, positive, passion and persistency." Suggestions for student entrepreneurs were provided to help them get started and avoid risks.
One of the panelists, junior Jimmy Winkelmann started his clothing business, The South Butt, in his sophomore year of high school at Chaminade College Preparatory in St. Louis. He will launch a new company, Why Climb Mountains, to support low-tech businesses to get into the market.
Bandhana Katoch, marketing and business development analyst at the Office of Intellectual Property Administration, initiated the idea of an expo in October 2008. She said the idea was initialized first as a showcase for MU technology, and it was confirmed as the technology expo for the entire state in November 2009.
“MU has the world-class research going on here,” Katoch said. “We hope to introduce our technologies to people around and then follow up with them to generate commercial partnership in the future. It’s also an educational experience for students and the community.”
Three sponsors that collaborated to support the expo are the MU Office of Research, the Office of Technology Management and Industry Relations and the Small Business and Technology Development Center.
Vice Chancellor for Research Robert Duncan said the expo promoted the commercialization of MU’s intellectual property.
“We were awarded over $570 million in academic grants last year,” Duncan said. “We want to extend the engagement and association with other universities, business and non-profit organizations through the expo to promote the state’s economy.”
SBTDC Counselor James Gann said the expo will bring opportunities to benefit everyone.
“The universities can benefit by moving technologies out of researching to commercialization,” Gann said. “The businesses can benefit by new technologies to operate in a more economical manner and get competitive advantages in a marketplace.”
Gann said student companies are also welcome to share this collaborative event and find business partners.
“What we are trying to do with this expo is to provide a collaborative format to allow people who would want to fund the potential sponsors and researchers to meet each other in a common setting,” Gann said. “Hopefully, the atmosphere will give them the ability to discuss the opportunities to create businesses.”