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The Better World Project Shows How Academic Research and Technology Transfer Change Millions of Lives

Posted on: Friday, 3 March 2006, 09:00 CST

ORLANDO, Fla., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- New medicines, electronics, educational tools and other inventions based on academic research have improved the lives of millions. The Better World Project, launched Friday by the Association of University Technology Managers, describes more than 100 breakthroughs that probably wouldn't exist today if not for technology transfer.

"This project will pique the interest of anyone who's ever wondered 'Where did that come from?'" AUTM president John Fraser says. Readers can learn the stories behind the Google(TM) search engine, Honeycrisp apple, V-chip, cochlear implant, Habitrol(R) nicotine patch and more than 100 other products used in health care, environmental protection, agriculture, safety and 16 other fields.

"The Better World Project shows how technology transfer -- the process of licensing and commercializing academic research -- improves people's lives, contributes to the economy and supports tomorrow's discoveries," says Fraser, who also is director of the Office of IP Development and Commercialization in Florida State University's Office of Research.

Key elements of the project are The Better World Report, in-depth articles about 25 innovations that have changed the world; Reports From the Field, 100 short stories tracking products from research to realization; and the Better World Project Online at http://www.betterworldproject.net/ , where browsers can download PDF files of printed reports and read stories published in The Better World Report and Reports From the Field.

"The printed and online resources comprising The Better World Project share a remarkable collection of human interest stories that convey the importance of academic research and technology transfer in terms we all can appreciate," Fraser says. "Another goal of the project is to show communities worldwide that technology transfer is important not only to our health and well-being, but also to the growing knowledge-based economy."

"AUTM is committed to providing these resources to explain in human terms how academic research and technology transfer have helped to make the world a better place," says W. Mark Crowell, AUTM's immediate past president and associate vice chancellor for economic development and technology transfer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

"As The Better World Project vividly illustrates, academic research and technology transfer improves quality of life, adds billions of dollars to the economy and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs," Crowell says. "That's why it's essential for civic leaders and communities to continue supporting academic research -- the heart of technology transfer."

Download PDF files of The Better World Project and Reports From the Field, and access The Better World Project Online at http://www.betterworldproject.net/ .

About AUTM

The Association of University Technology Managers is a nonprofit professional association. AUTM's more than 3,500 members are intellectual property managers and business executives from universities, research institutions, teaching hospitals, government agencies and IP companies. The association's mission is to advance the field of technology transfer, and enhance the ability to bring academic and nonprofit research to people around the world. Read more at http://www.autm.net/ .

Media contact: Megan Davidson 312-233-1276 megan.davidson@edelman.com

Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM)

CONTACT: Megan Davidson for AUTM, +1-312-233-1276,megan.davidson@edelman.com

Web site: http://www.autm.net/http://www.betterworldproject.net/

Source: PRNewswire

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