[game_edu] Advice on technology transfer in academia

[Casey ODonnell]

The model you're talking about is pretty typical. We've just done this here at UGA (twice actually). I'd encourage you to see if your UNI offers something like UGA's VentureLab, which will help that new company get off the ground. I know you're looking for something "more direct," but the answer really is that there isn't, given that your university is a non-profit and likely owns the IP you've created. So for lots of reasons, the easiest being simply legal, you'll want to follow the rules. Not the easiest route, but now let me convince you its a better idea.

Once you have a company, you can indeed send money back to your research group, but you have to be careful so that it isn't seen as tax evasion (You'll likely have to offer grants and pay overheads and there are rules about how you may not be able to directly then sell what is produced...). A better route is to begin working on NSF/NIH/etc SBIR and STTR type grants. These are small business grants that when partnered with your research group offer a lot of possibility. I've found it a really great way for sustainably bootstrapping small game companies.

(Oddly, I tried to get a GDC talk about all of this accepted, but to no avail... I talked about it at SIEGE in Atlanta this last fall.)

I'd be happy to tell you more about the process of going down this road, which really is the only legal road to travel. I know it isn't ideal for funding your group, but long term I think it is more sustainable and ends up being a means by which to employ and build local talent.

Best.
Casey

On Dec 15, 2010, at 1:59 PM, Bertozzi, Elena G wrote:


> 

> Hello List,

> 

> My lab has completed three games with grant funding and we would like to be able to market them and produce revenue that can return to our university and fund more projects.

> 

> The only model for technology transfer in Wisconsin at the moment is that we create a private company that markets the games and returns some of the revenue to the non-profit funding organization which then gives some back to the university. We would prefer a more direct route - but universities (as non-profits) cannot sell products for profit. Any information about universities that have a different model for doing this would be much appreciated.

> 

> Thanks, Elena



-- 
Casey O'Donnell, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Telecommunications
Grady College, University of Georgia

http://www.caseyodonnell.org