Only at Bowling Green: Ohio economic development program selects BGSU to commercialize research innovations

Ohio Third Frontier chose the University among its most recent round of TVSF funding, recognizing research expertise at BGSU

In recognition of Bowling Green State University’s faculty expertise and entrepreneurial development capabilities, a selective Ohio economic development program selected BGSU for early-stage funding to commercialize research that could bring difference-making technologies to Ohio-based businesses.

Ohio Third Frontier, a state economic development commission that prioritizes innovation, awarded BGSU $100,000 of funding through its Technology Validation and Start-up Fund (TVSF).

With the support of the Entrepreneurs’ Center based in Dayton, BGSU was the only university that the commission selected among its recent round of funding, which will bolster the University’s Technology Validation and Pre-Commercialization Program.

The Paul J. Hooker Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership continues to collaborate with Research Technology Transfer in the University’s Division of Research to support BGSU-born innovations as they march toward going to market. 

“We have brilliant researchers here who are developing technologies that can make a major impact in the world if they’re commercialized,” said David Uhlenhake, director of the Paul J. Hooker Center. “The Tech Validation Startup Fund offers an injection of funds to help support several of these projects to prepare them for that next stage of commercialization.”

BGSU anticipates funding one project per year with an emphasis on advanced materials, advanced manufacturing and sensors. Proposals will go in front of a six-member committee, which is scheduled to choose recipients for funding during the fall semester.

Assistant Vice President for Research Mark W. Fox said the grant leverages faculty and student research, an existing strength at BGSU, by creating a new pathway that addresses the missing link between a promising new discovery and the marketplace.

BGSU has a long history of faculty research creating early-stage startups, and funding from the TVSF will play a key role in mitigating risk before these technologies become licensed.

“Through the new Technology Validation and Pre-Commercialization Program, we can fund proof-of-concept studies and other validation activities to help determine whether a technology has real commercial potential,” Fox said. “That work will be informed by potential customers and downstream partners, so we are building the evidence the market actually needs.

“Ultimately, this helps move BGSU research and creative activity toward products, processes and other commercial applications.”

Uhlenhake said the process of moving a startup from its early stages to market typically has three hallmarks: feasible technology, a customer validation process in which the technology proves to be a solution and commercial viability.

Through the TVSF process of bringing technology to market, researchers gain a full portrait of how to commercialize an idea successfully.

“The Tech Validation Startup Fund really allows us to check all three of those boxes,” he said. “The great part is that this really fills a gap at most research institutions with a process that helps researchers formulate how their technology could go to market.”

During the process of selecting BGSU for funding, reviewers noted the existing research ecosystem at the University, which already has a history of identifying technologies and an infrastructure for supporting expert faculty in their fields.

Fox said the TVSF can help BGSU build upon what it already does well.

“We already have research strengths, existing entrepreneurship programs, a technology transfer function and a pipeline of licensable technologies, particularly in areas like advanced materials, advanced manufacturing and sensors,” Fox said. “I think the selection process recognized that BGSU had the right foundation in place.”

While the project is in its early stages, Uhlenhake said multiple entities at BGSU are working together for winning solutions that benefit both the University community and the state of Ohio.

“What’s cool about a program like this is that it asks the whole University to work together to move these technologies forward,” Uhlenhake said. “We’re working together with every college at the University to solicit and then develop research opportunities, so the whole University community is engaged from the beginning.”