Tech Transfer

In a study conducted by Ocean Tomo at the request of Business Week, Houston ranked as the 10th most inventive city based on the value of patents issued since 1976. It's no surprise that Houston has a well-developed infrastructure for transferring to the private sector technology developed at area research institutions.

SELECTED HOUSTON AREA TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS
Program	Contact	Mission
Baylor Licensing Group http://www.bcm.edu/blg	713-798-6821	Promotes the commercialization of faculty inventions through the licensing of technology and the formation of new companies.
The Gulf Coast Regional Center of Innovation and Commercialization http://www.gulfcoastrcic.org/	713-658-1750	Provide assistance to research grant applicants in preparing their applications and during the application process. Oversees regional Emerging Technology Fund awardees needs.
Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) http://www.harc.edu	281-367-1348	A nonprofit, university-linked R&D firm focusing on energy, the environment, sustainable development, biotechnology and emerging technologies.
HARC Center for Fuel Cell Research and Applications (CFCRA) http://www.harc.edu/CleanEnergy/CenterforFuelCell ResearchApplications/tabid/307/Default.aspx#	281-364-6009	Working to advance hydrogen and fuel cell technologies from lab to market.
Houston Inventors Association http://www.inventors.org/	713-686-7676	Inventors share experience in technical areas and first-hand knowledge of the difficulties in getting from raw idea to marketable product.
The Southwest Public Safety Technology Center (SWTC) http://www.tlc2.uh.edu/swtc/	281-241-6000	Offers technology assistance related to public safety and homeland security in keeping with the move toward an integrated homeland security infrastructure.
BioHouston www.biohouston.org	713-874-9300	BioHouston's mission is to establish Houston as a leading region in life science discovery and commercialization and to promote the creation of economic wealth.
Houston Area Technology Advancement Center, University of Houston http://www.hatac.org	713-743-1282	Promotes technology development, cross-transfer of technology between local industries and pursues new high-tech career areas.
Houston Technology Center http://www.houstontech.org	713-658-1750	Support from the community enables the Houston Technology Center to provide resources to help entrepreneurs succeed and create future jobs in energy, life sciences, technology, nanotechnology and aerospace-related industries.
MIT Enterprise Forum of Texas http://alumweb.mit.edu/groups/eftexas/	713-839-1757	Fosters successful growth of innovative technology oriented enterprises in the South Texas area by providing access to MIT resources and through services and programs that inform educate and support these business endeavors.
Rice University Office of Technology Transfer http://ott.rice.edu	713-348-6188	Transfers Rice technology into new and improved products. Builds business partnerships.
Office of Research Technology Management, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston http://www.uth.tmc.edu/otm/	713-500-3369	Provides invention, licensing and patenting information to staff and students and facilitates the transfer of technology to the private sector.
Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship http://www.alliance.rice.edu/	713-348-3443	Supports entrepreneurs and early-stage technology ventures through education, collaboration and research.
Center for Technology Development, University of Texas Medical Branch http://research.utmb.edu/ctd/	409-772-7953	Encourages scientific research and assists with commercialization, business development and collaboration.
Texas A&M University System Technology Commercialization Center http://otc.tamu.edu	979-847-8682	Helps researchers of the Texas A&M University System move their inventions from the laboratory to commercial application.
The National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) http://www.nsbri.org/	713-798-7412	Draws readily upon competitively-selected resources in universities and industry to address specific problems and provide a targeted, product-oriented research and development program.
University of Houston Office of Intellectual Property Management http://www.research.uh.edu/IPM/index.html	713-743-2255	Fosters research and scholarship through the effective transfer of university-wide technology to industry.
University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Office of Technology Commercialization http:/www.mdanderson.org/ Departments/techcommerc	713-745-9604	Accelerates the entrance of new drugs, diagnostics, devices and therapies into the commercial marketplace.
Universities Space Research Association http:www.usra.edu	281-244-2000	Manages space operations programs for USRA to encourage engineering and development staffs of high technology companies to use expertise of university faculty, researchers and students.
University of Houston Center for Industrial Partnerships http://www.uh.edu/cip/	713-743-9922	Facilitates research across campuses with off-campus researchers and industry, staff and students, as well as investors and entrepreneurial companies to solve technological challenges for Houston’s business and industrial communities.
Rice University Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology http://cben.rice.edu/	713-348-5741	Offers an integrated set of programs that address the scientific, technological, environmental, human resource, commercialization, and societal barriers that hinder the transition from nanoscience to nanotechnology.
Texas Technology Transfer Association www.texaslifescience.com/industry/busdev/busdev_tech.htm	979-847-8682	Facilitates commercialization of new technologies with the help of Texas university officials, business leaders, attorneys and others.
Texchange Houston http://www.texchange.org/	972-354-0202	Connecting entrepreneurs in energy, biotech, nanotech, life sciences, software and more to facilitate discussion surrounding various business challenges and innovations.
Source: Greater Houston Partnership database, 2008