James Severson, current president of the Cornell Research Foundation, has been selected to become vice provost for intellectual property and technology transfer at the 黑料吃瓜网, effective Jan. 1.
鈥淏y virtue of his breadth of experience at both the institutional and national level, Jim is exceptionally well qualified to lead the 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 ambitious technology transfer effort,鈥� says 黑料吃瓜网 Interim President Lee Huntsman. 鈥淗is comprehensive vision for the management of intellectual property will benefit all parts of the University and all aspects of our academic mission.鈥�
The 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Office of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer includes a unit that develops, markets, protects and licenses inventions arising from the 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 $800 million a year research activities. The office also manages a portfolio of software, databases, digital media and other information assets.
As vice provost, Severson will be building the 鈥渟econd generation鈥� technology transfer models, which will include instructional programs in intellectual property management and enterprise, and effective industry-university collaborative programs.
In addition to his role in leading the University鈥檚 technology transfer activities, Severson will act as a liaison with private industry and government officials locally, nationally and internationally, on matters pertaining to technology development and the role of the 黑料吃瓜网 in the knowledge economy.
鈥淭here is tremendous potential for expanded technology transfer activities, given the University鈥檚 impressive track record in sponsored research and the entrepreneurial community that surrounds the University,鈥� Severson said. 鈥淚 see great opportunities for working with local companies and encouraging startups.鈥�
Severson was responsible for technology transfer from Cornell鈥檚 Ithaca campus and the Weill Medical College of Cornell in New York City. Prior to joining Cornell, he was director of health technologies in the Office of Patents & Technology Marketing at the University of Minnesota.
He is past president of the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), a national organization of university technology transfer professionals. He is currently a member of the board of directors of the Council on Governmental Relations, a Washington, D.C.-based association of more than 140 research universities that focuses on issues of federally sponsored research programs at universities.
Severson received a B.S. in zoology and a doctorate in physiology from Iowa State University.