Schedule-at-a-Glance*

June 26-29
Omni Frisco Hotel
Frisco, TX
*Tentative schedule, program subject to change

	Sunday, June 26
3 – 5 p.m.	Registration

 

	Day 1 - Monday, June 27
7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.	Registration
7:30 – 8:30 a.m.	Breakfast
8:30 – 10 a.m.	Plenary Session I: Innovation Districts: The Power of Playing Nice The rise of Innovation Districts across the U.S. reflects an emerging trend in the advancement of initiatives that enable innovation-rich ecosystems. Districts may differ from city to city, but most all create synergistic ecosystems that are led by universities, companies, entrepreneurs, and advocates. This session features discussions and offers insights on the value of Innovation Districts and how they develop collaborative and sustainable economies that fuel innovation, foster creativity, increase competitiveness, and improve a region’s quality of life. Panelists will also address how Innovation Districts are used to attract existing companies to relocate, adding stable jobs around fast-paced, emerging companies. Moderator: Hayden Blackburn - Executive Director, TechFW Panelists: Trey Bowles - Managing Director, TechStars Physical Health Fort Worth Accelerator Jasmin Brand - Director of Innovation, Frisco Economic Development Corporation Gabby Everett - Site Director, BioLabs at Pegasus Park
10 – 10:30 a.m.	Networking Break
10:30 a.m. – Noon	Plenary Session II – Craving Change: The Crossroad of Business and Education in Community Social innovation has presented a unique opportunity of partnership across many traditional spaces. Now more than ever, connection to resources, shared learnings and collective impact is at the forefront of many siloed sectors. Here, we present a case study of how Toyota is engaging with The University of North Texas at Dallas in addressing food insecurity in the southern Dallas region. Moderator: Chuck Valauskas, Valauskas Corder LLC (Chicago) Panelists: Alicia Brossette, University of North Texas at Dallas Hunter Marion, University of North Texas at Dallas Kelly Varga, University of North Texas at Dallas
Noon – 1:30 p.m.	Lunch
1:30 – 3 p.m.	Trade Secrets: Formation, Protection, and Commercialization. Trade secrets - the most common intellectual property – are formed constantly throughout every creative endeavor. All other intellectual properties (with one exception) owe their existence to a trade secret. This session will discuss what is a trade secret – and the Uniform Trade Secrets Act and the versions of it adopted by all but two states – and what are some simple, and enforceable methods of protecting and commercializing trade secrets, particularly when there is no time or an opportunity to enter into a written agreement. Specific topics – such as trade secret clauses in “electronic” contracts and non-disparagement clauses that sometime accompany trade secret clauses – will be discussed also. Speaker: Chuck Valauskas, Valauskas Corder LLC (Chicago)
3 – 3:30 p.m.	Networking Break
3:30 – 5:00 p.m.	Plenary III: Newest News Now! This session is all about current tech transfer topics, delivered in a quick-hit style. Presentations will cover five areas selected from the universe of current domestic and international business, legal, and technical topics. Presenters will respond to attendees’ questions and comments during a Q&A. We anticipate that the conversations started here will continue to flow into the Opening Reception that follows. Topics and Panelists: Wired for Picture, Elizabeth Anderson, Arkitek Scientific Licensing & Collaborative Agreements in Europe Now, Mariella Massaro, Berggren Oy The New European Unitary Patent: An Overview, Micheal Nielsen, Berggren Oy Getting FDA Authorization from a University Without a Medical School, Michael Rondelli, University of North Texas Unlocking Value with Innovative NFT Strategies, Kurt Hallead, Legacy League Moderator: Chuck Valauskas, Valauskas Corder LLC (Chicago)
5:30 – 7 p.m.	Opening Reception

 

	Day 2 - Tuesday, June 28
7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.	Registration
7:30 – 8:30 a.m.	Breakfast
8:30 – 9:30 a.m.	Workshops B1: Competition or Collaboration? Understanding the Opposing Viewpoints of the Players in a University License Negotiation Have you been lucky enough to observe a university license negotiation without being on one side of the deal? Do you wonder what it would be like to be the proverbial fly on the wall during a negotiation, able to buzz in and have the benefit of “perfect information”? Or do you just want a chance to watch someone else negotiate while you sip your coffee, not really worried about the outcome and how it will impact your metrics? If any of these questions spark your curiosity, come and watch as university licensing experts and external/startup licensing experts are given a set of facts and asked to role play their way to a license agreement. The session participants will be provided with each negotiating party’s marching orders, giving you a unique perspective as you watch the negotiations unfold. Moderator: Anne DiSante, MSU Technologies and Sean Solberg, Fredrikson & Byron PA Panelists: Scott Elmer, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Stephen Gardner, Quarles & Brady Jennifer Gottwald, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) Kerri Smith, Rice Alliance B2: Foreign Influence in a Rapidly Changing World The landscape of a rapidly changing political world continues to have significant effects on research at academic institutions. The nationality of researchers and sponsors, as well as significant considerations on how research can be licensed for commercial use. Our panel will discuss recent issues in how government regulations and orders are affecting this landscape, their thoughts on what the future holds for academic institutions on this issue, and a discussion of how institutions are best managing these issues going forward. Moderator: Jeff Peterson, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP Panelists: Mike Dankler, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP Tam Dao, FBI Trey Atchley, The University of Texas System
9:30 – 9:45 a.m.	Networking Break
9:45 – 10:45 a.m.	Workshops C1: Trademark Strategies – Good, Better, Best! Trademarks simplify our lives. They permit us to sort through the myriad of choices of goods and services and allow us quickly to find what is best for our tastes and wallets. We will show you how you can easily develop such an important tool for your Office. Consumers will be able to identify your University’s technological wonders and you can generate added licensable value. To demonstrate the process, we will do a forensic analysis of a recently developed University technology and show the range of intellectual properties including trademarks that were available at little or no cost for protection and licensing.     Speakers: Chuck Valauskas, Valauskas Corder LLC (Chicago) Anne DiSante, MSU Technologies C2: Research and Commercialization of Controlled Substances Interest in the therapeutic use of cannabis and psilocybin continue to grow, regulatory restrictions still provide challenges for academic research, funding, and licensing. Our panel will discuss the current state on therapeutic research of controlled substances, the current state of federal funding for such controlled substances, and the outlook on the federal and state regulatory landscape for the uses of such substances. Moderator: Jeff Peterson, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP Panelists: Lance Anderson, Dickinson Wright Russell Jessup, Texas A&M University
10:45 – 11:00 a.m.	Networking Break
11:00 – 11:15 a.m.	AUTM Chair Address Speaker: Ian McClure, University of Kentucky
11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.	Plenary IV: Horror Stories from University Startups Faculty start-ups, venture capitalists, difficult attorneys and other things that go bump in the night! We’ve all had or heard tales of tech transfer horror stories over the years and have learned from such experiences as we move forward. On this panel, some battle-hardened tech transfer professionals will share some of their horror stories and lessons learned with the attendees. We invite the attendees to bring their own stories (names changed to protect the innocent) and lessons learned. A prize will be provided for the attendee that brings the scariest of licensing case studies! Moderator: Jeff Peterson, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP Panelists: Anne DiSante, MSU Technologies Edwin Flores, Chalker Flores LLP Regina McNabb, University of Oklahoma Cameron Smith, Texas Tech University
12:30 – 1:45 p.m.	Lunch
1:45 – 3:15 p.m.	Workshops D1: Getting University Faculty to ENGAGE IN Technology Commercialization A panel that discusses experiences addressing the challenge of getting university faculty to engage in the technology commercialization process, from disclosure to new venture launch. Topics addressed will include obstacles to faculty participation; innovative policies and programs that have experienced some success, such as I-Corp; and suggestions for novel approaches. We are looking for an interactive session so bring your stories to share! Moderator: Megan Aanstoos, Kentucky Commercialization Ventures Panelists: Kerri Smith, Rice Alliance Ann Viksnins, Viksnins Harris Padys Malen LLP Ashok Choudhury, Vanderbilt University Kytai Nguyen, The University of Texas at Arlington D2: War and the UPC: Seismic Shifts Across the Pond As if Covid and its aftermath weren’t enough, the IP landscape outside the US is undergoing seismic shifts.  US sanctions threatened to make it impossible for US rights holders to maintain Russian IP, Russia is retaliating against IP rights holders from “unfriendly” nations, and Europe is finally implementing the Unified Patent Court (UPC).  Big changes—and decisions—are coming.  How will your licensees be evaluating whether to maintain/pursue IP in Russia, and what can you do if they decide to abandon Russia altogether?  How should you evaluate whether to opt out of the UPC, and what if your license doesn’t clearly define who makes that decision? Moderator: Eagle Robinson, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP Panelists: Mark Mathison, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP Sean Solberg, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
3:15 – 3:45 p.m.	Networking Break
3:45 – 5:15 p.m.	Plenary V: AUTM Central Region Trivia Contest If you think you have what it takes, or just want to meet some new people, join us for what promises to be a fun hour or two. Who knows, you may even learn something. Charles Valauskas and his merry band of graders return with a few more tricks to keep the crowd entertained at the perennial favorite returning for its 15th year. Moderator: Chuck Valauskas, Valauskas Corder LLC (Chicago)
6:30 – 9 p.m.	Off Site Reception

 

	Day 3 - Wednesday, June 29
7:30 – 10 a.m.	Registration
7:30 – 8:30 a.m.	Breakfast
8:30 – 10 a.m.	Workshops E1: Life Hacks for Technology Transfer These days, technology transfer offices are under-staffed and over-extended and adding team members is challenging for a number of reasons. This session will provide tips and tricks and tools to help maximize the office's productivity and efficiency without breaking the budget. Moderator: Teri Schultz, University of Texas at Arlington Panelist: Shawn Hawkins, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Brad Phelan, UT Southwestern Office of Technology Commercialization E2: Green and Clean: Emerging Technologies to Save the Planet We are currently living in a period of rapid change, where developments in environmental, climate change and green energy technology are revolutionizing the way we live. Technologies which shirt to a more sustainable, low-carbon solution aim to conserve, monitor or reduce the consumption of resources. This panel comprised of government, legal, and industry leaders will discuss new technologies that are shaping the future of the environment. Moderator: David McClure, Texas Tech University Speakers: Daniel Chalker, Chalker Flores LLC Jonathan Grammer, US Carbon Capture Molly Kocialski, Rocky Mountain Regional USPTO Chris Townsend, Wellspring
10 – 10:30 a.m.	Networking Break
10:30 a.m. – Noon	Plenary Session VI - The Howard Bremer Memorial Plenary - The TTO is Dead? Long Live the TTO!: Reflecting on the Past, Present, and Future of our Profession Named in honor of long-time WARF patent counsel and a founding father of the Bayh-Dole Act, this session serves as the culmination of the meeting and is intended to inspire and offer food for thought for attendees to take home. The title is a riff on a recent (and intentionally provocative) AUTM Annual session entitled “The Death of the University TTO in the United States.” We’ll continue the lively conversation from that panel with experienced Central Region leaders who will reflect on where tech transfer came from, how far we’ve come in recent years, and where we go from here. Moderator: Kevin Walters, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) Panelists: Anne DiSante, MSU Technologies Ian McClure, UK Innovate Paul Nichols, Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UT-Dallas
Noon	Meeting Adjourns