USI Being Honored for Discovery Process

Press Release

(Evansville, IN) - The University of Southern Indiana Center for Applied Research will be presented with the Federal Laboratories Consortium Partnership Award for the development of a process to help Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division capture innovations by its scientists and engineers in order to identify potential intellectual property.

The Innovation Discovery Process designed by Dr. Susan J. Ellspermann, director of CAR, and Gene Recker, manager of education and entrepreneurship for USI at Innovation Pointe, is a model for federal research laboratories across the country. The award will be presented during the FLC Midwest Regional Conference today in Bloomington.

In 2008, Ellspermann and Recker facilitated two Innovation Mining events at Crane at which inventors discussed their projects and a panel of experts identified potential disclosures – documented concepts which can be used toward applying for a patent - to be pursued. Thirty-five potential disclosures and 89 commercialization ideas were identified. Four Department of Defense labs have requested to observe the next Innovation Mining event.

CAR was nominated for the award by John Dement, NSWC Crane's technology engagement officer. "We have felt for some time that we were capturing a fraction of the intellectual property developed in our many successful projects," he said. "Through the Innovation Discovery Process events, inventors have suggested that having the panel brainstorm disclosures on their work has been eye-opening to them and very positive. Most said they now understand intellectual property better, will be more likely to file a disclosure in the future, and will encourage their colleagues to do the same."

Dement also cited CAR’s help in partnering NSWC Crane with the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville (GAGE); initiating a Physics STEM Camp bringing together USI faculty and area high school teachers with Crane's Technology Engagement office; and designing and coaching an Electronic Warfare Technology Summit at Crane.

“NSWC Crane is a key source of technological innovation and economic development in southern Indiana," Ellspermann said. "USI is pleased to support Crane in identifying patentable innovations which will then become available to companies and entrepreneurs in our region resulting in new products and industries and increased employment and economic growth.”

Source: University of Southern Indiana