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| Volume 11, Number 5 | October 17, 2003 |
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Ont. technology transfer expert to lead U of S Industry Liaison officeA veteran knowledge transfer expert with experience in both industry and universities will lead the new Industry Liaison of the University of Saskatchewan (ILUS) office. U of S Vice-President of Research Steven Franklin announced Oct. 6 that Doug Gill, currently Director of Industry Liaison at the University of Western Ontario, will take over as ILUS Managing Director Jan. 1, 2004.
"Doug Gill brings to this position a wealth of experience and proven leadership skills that will enhance our efforts to commercialize new research ideas and discoveries," Franklin said. The U of S aims to triple its revenue from commercialized university-developed technology to $3 million by 2010. Gill "has worked extensively with inventors, venture capitalists and others in the creation and nurturing of spinoff companies and has negotiated a host of agreements that match scientific expertise with industry needs," Franklin added. The new ILUS operation will be set up in the Research Office to encourage invention and innovation by faculty, to help them obtain industrial contracts, to promote research collaboration and technology transfer opportunities with industry partners, and to help form spinoff companies to create and market products from U of S inventions. ILUS will replace UST Inc., currently the university's technology transfer arm, incorporating its four-member staff. Since 1991, Gill has been involved in technology transfer at major Canadian universities - UBC, the University of Alberta, and Western. He has developed extensive experience in evaluating the patentability and commercial potential of a wide variety of inventions from university faculty, staff and students, as well as in negotiating collaborations with industry. Prior to 1991, he was involved in research and development, as well as strategic technology planning, for a major Canadian petroleum company. He holds an honours B.Sc. in chemistry from McMaster University. Gill is a past Vice-President of the Association of University Technology Managers and continues to be involved in the delivery of its Canadian basic licensing course. He has served in a leadership role in a number of organizations including the London Chamber of Commerce, the London Venture Group, London Small Business Centre, and Biotech London. Gill says the U of S is poised to make "major strides" in innovation through the commercialization of technology and greater collaboration with industrial partners. "I look forward to leading this effort and working with an administration that puts research and technology transfer high on its priority list," he said."Innovation through the use of new technologies creates competitive advantage and ultimately results in the creation of jobs, economic activity and the improvement of society in such areas as health care and the environment." He said such activities can't happen without faculty support. "One of my first priorities will be to develop close relationships with faculty involved in a wide variety of research," he said. "Another will be to develop close ties with various levels of government, Innovation Place, industry and the investment community." Last fall, the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada committed to at least double the amount of research collectively performed at Canadian universities and to triple commercialization in partnership with government. The commitment was in response to the federal government's innovation strategy which aims to help Canada rank in the top five countries in the world in terms of R&D performance by 2010.
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