University of MinnesotaEntrepreneurial Leave Program

March 2012

Office for Technology Commercialization 2

Entrepreneurial Leave Program

Facilitate temporarily leave for faculty inventors who want to help an external organization commercialize a UMN IP-based product or service.

UMN Benefit:Create institutional value by …….• increasing potential for successful translation and commercialization

of research• increased faculty knowledge and experience for teaching• improved commercial research focus• increased UMN public engagement

Office for Technology Commercialization 3

Entrepreneurial Leave Program

Why is this important?

• President Kaler is committed to a culture of entrepreneurialism and innovation• Faculty inventors are a key ingredient in successful

commercialization of UMN research• Increasing pressure to demonstration ROI and drive

economic development from research• There is a need to increase public engagement and industry

relationships

Office for Technology Commercialization 4

BenchmarksExternalUniversity of Louisville Active programOhio State University Active programNational Cancer Institute-Frederick Active programNorthwestern University-McCormick Active programMichigan Tech Active programStanford University No programUniversity of Utah No programColumbia University No programUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison No program

InternalChuck Muscoplat, Senior VP; System Academic Admin CompletedMos Kaveh, Associate Dean; College of Science and Engineering CompletedAbel Ponce de Leon, Associate Dean; Food, Agr, Nat Rsrc Sci Admin CompletedTucker LeBien, Associate VP for Research; AHC Completed

Office for Technology Commercialization 5

Proposal• Work within the same structure as we have today by keeping the program rules

mostly the same• Sabbatical Leave, Single Semester Leave and Entrepreneurial Leave

• Available when working with UMN licensed IP or when substantially demonstrating institutional benefit (business faculty)

• No salary support but no limit the amount of outside compensation available to the faulty

• Operation details are TBD; coverage to offset healthcare benefits costs• Limited to one year, requires 100% leave• Eligibility every four years• Requires monthly “check-ins” with supervisor and OTC representative

Keep it simple, work within the current frameworkTake a first step and get it out quickly