Every day a host of great ideas swirl around college campuses.
While many become research papers, inventions or other innovative creations, there’s a major push now to also find some to become products, startups and companies that can help the economy and create jobs.
Oregon State recently launched its own initiative, the OSU Advantage, which includes a Venture Accelerator to help find OSU research and technologies that are possible candidates for commercialization.
That process of finding ways to partner universities and industry is the focus of the upcoming Oregon CEO Summit, May 7 at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront.
Giving the keynote will be SIGA Chief Scientific Officer Dennis Hruby, who brings an impressive breadth of experience to the discussion.
Hruby received his Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Colorado Medical Center and holds an undergraduate degree in Microbiology from Oregon State University.
A specialist in poxviruses, virology and anti-infective research, Hruby spent more than 25 years as a faculty member and other positions with Oregon State University. He’s worked with SIGA since 1996 in a variety of roles including senior scientific advisor, Vice President of Research and now as CSO.
SIGA works to create products for the prevention and treatment of serious infectious diseases, including those that may be used as biological weapons.
With its corporate headquarters in New York, SIGA decided to keep its research and development labs in Corvallis in part because of the access to the facilities, technology and expertise at Oregon State.
That has helped SIGA develop innovative solutions and grow profits, which benefits the company, the university and Oregon’s economy.
Hruby will discuss the genesis of one recent project, and how the partnership between SIGA and Oregon State helped the company produce an effective treatment for a deadly disease.
The Summit will also feature a panel discussion with Oregon leaders in technology and education on the importance of industry partnerships with universities. Panelists include:
- Ryan Kirkpatrick, chief executive officer, Shwood, Ltd.
- Mark Lieberman, chief startup officer and co-director, Office of Commercialization and Development and Oregon State Venture Accelerator
- John Turner, co-director, Oregon State Venture Accelerator
- Tim Weber, vice president and general manager, Printing Technology Development Operation, Hewlett Packard
Mary Coucher, vice president of IP engineering, operations and geography licensing for IBM Corporation, will serve as the moderator for the discussion.
For more information and to register, go to http://business.oregonstate.edu/CEOSummit