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Executive Summary
The major objective of the University of Central Florida’s (UCF) Technology Transfer Office is getting technology out from the University and into the commercial sector to help facilitate economic development. As part of this effort, UCF collaborates with industry and new startups in order to commercialize the intellectual property developed by UCF inventors. By establishing an easy-to-work process and system, UCF delivers valuable technology to partners who create community development opportunities, new jobs and further funding for the University’s research.

With research awards for fiscal year 2005 surpassing the $100 million dollar mark for the first time in UCF history, the Tech Transfer office has been increasingly successful in meeting its objective. The record-setting growth in research awards (a 25 percent increase over last year) means a good deal of technology will pass from the tech office to commercial organizations and eventually enter the market.

In order for the University to be successful in their tech transfer objectives, they must continuously conduct prior art searches, as well as identify prospective licensing candidates in a timely fashion. Because these activities are vital to UCF, Joe Giampapa, Associate Director, UCF Tech Transfer Office, turns to Nerac to help uncover and assess existing prior art found in technical and business literature as well as obtain references to high quality out-licensing opportunities.

Major Challenge
Although time consuming, patentability and invalidity research (along with all its sub-components) is a vital step in the tech transfer process. Researching patentability and identifying licensing prospects becomes further complicated when a wide variety of different technologies are involved. For Giampapa and the rest of his team it is not uncommon to have to simultaneously research prior art and licensing opportunities across a wide array of physical and life science technologies.

To meet the research demands of the UCF Tech Transfer Office, Giampapa turns to Nerac Analyst Denise Ryan. Prior to joining the UCF, Giampapa worked closely with Ryan for nearly ten years concerning patentability and IP issues at a number of other organizations. “The first couple of positions I held earlier in my career included many rush jobs requiring in-depth research and analysis of new strategic opportunities from an independent, third-party perspective. Denise was always there to help, and she still is.”

Today, Denise Ryan’s trusted research and analyses allow Giampapa, along with the rest of the UCF Tech Transfer Office, to operate more efficiently and vigorously in the commercialization of new technology. High-quality research results, delivered expediently and at a competitive price, is what has kept Giampapa with Nerac for over a decade.

“Nerac’s intellectual property solutions provide a practical understanding of the IP landscape, helping us make informed go-no go decisions based on comparative assessments,” explains Giampapa. “Moreover, they’re vital to helping us research viable commercialization strategies and rollout initiatives.”

The Nerac Factor

Trusted Intellectual Property Research:
Nerac Analyst Denise Ryan has continuously provided Joe Giampapa valuable prior-art analysis and licensing prospect information for more than a decade, allowing him to make critical patent investment.

Informed Commercialization Decisions and Go-forward Plans:
The research and direction provided by Nerac Analyst Denise Ryan are vital in providing UCF Tech Transfer the confidence they need to continue moving forward with the development of specific licensing opportunities that positively impact the central Florida business community and generate funding for University research.

Impressive Savings in Time and Resources:
Because Nerac is providing ongoing, critical prior-art research and licensing identification, UCF Tech Transfer doesn’t need to perform the research themselves, allowing them to do what they do best: facilitate the transfer of technology from UCF to the commercial sector.