Engineering researchers focus on developing practical solutions to technical problems, but face significant impediments in translating even the best ideas into financially viable commercial products. To overcome some of those obstacles, the College of Engineering has established the Engineering Technology Transfer Center.

The center, announced recently by Dean Bruce R. White, assists college faculty in establishing start-up companies in an on-campus incubator for high-impact, innovative ideas that are well past the early research and discovery stage. Typically, government grants support that early stage, while fewer funds are available for the vital developmental period that precedes demonstrating proof of concept or financial viability to investors.

“This center will bridge that gap, allowing creative, entrepreneurial researchers to more successfully translate their discoveries into commercial products that can improve the quality of life,” White said.

The center has already signed its first tenant: PutahGreen Systems Inc. Founded by computer science professor Biswanath Mukherjee, PutahGreen Systems focuses on software technology that reduces Internet-scale network router energy consumption by as much as 75 percent.

Mukherjee’s start-up has been assigned a portion of the 8,000-square-foot space that has been made available to tenure-track engineering professors to develop their fledgling companies. The tenants will have up to 18 months to reach investment viability, paying month-to-month rent.

The center is now working with a number of other prospective tenants.

By developing their start-ups on campus within the college, professors can stay close to their research and teaching mission, develop their ideas in a familiar, secure environment and also engage students in valuable learning experiences in transitional technology research.

The center will actively encourage partnerships and collaborations with other groups on campus, like the UC Davis Center for Entrepreneurship administered by the Graduate School of Management.

“The existence of an incubator center is critical to advancing our engineering program; it will serve to attract and retain world class faculty and help us maintain the high level of creativity that yields breakthrough ideas,” White said. “And it will invigorate our relationship with industry, allowing us to advance technical solutions to important societal problems and contribute very directly to the California economy.”

Funding for the incubator is provided by private donations. “The ETTC Fund will pool private unrestricted gifts to support our faculty/researchers during a critical stage of idea development,” said Greg Gibbs, director of Corporate Relations for the College of Engineering, who administers the ETTC Fund.

“ETTC is a conduit to campus and UC systemwide resources, government agencies, and the venture capital community,” Gibbs said. “The first step we’ll take with the faculty researcher is arranging a meeting with UC Davis InnovationAccess in the Office of Research. We want to ensure that the intellectual property is clearly defined and that we have a clear path for raising money.”

Jim Olson, who graduated from UC Davis in 1972 and has become a seasoned entrepreneur, has been working with White and Gibbs in establishing the center. As technical specialist, Olson teams up with faculty members to provide real-world advice and counsel, in addition to being a confidante, coach and mentor.

"I think this center is long overdue and certainly welcomed by the faculty,” Olson said. “Having worked with faculty researchers, I anticipate ETTC making the journey from discovery to commercialization much smoother and more successful."

Ultimately, the center will have its own support staff, a cadre of tech specialists and an advisory board composed of faculty and business leaders. It will be positioned eventually to expand its services to all campus faculty and researchers.

More information about the Engineering Technology Transfer Center is available from Dean White’s office, (530) 752-0554.

Jo Shroyer is director of communications and marketing for the College of Engineering.