New internet land grab
Who will be first to register .portland under the
new ICANN rules? Portland, Oregon? Portland, Maine? Michigan? Missouri? I could go on, for 13 more cities. ICANN traditional dispute procedures set up for trademark owners will not apply. . who owns the trademark to Portland?
New Mayor (elect), have you told our attorneys to act?
Corporate R&D
Ernst & Young
released, in April 2008, a study on the use of the corporate R&D tax credit. They state that the credits are used primarily for these purposes: wages for company employees; supplies for research; work performed by outside organizations. Universities apparently would fall into this third category.
Analysis of tax returns seems a more fruitful endeavor than hoping for response to surveys. Much of the data in the E&Y report is from the National Science Foundation, which has a poor response rate. Corporations tend to not want to talk about their R&D expenditure -- this spending is generally to achieve some corporate advantage.
Oregon is 19th (surprisingly high) with over 1,000 firms using the credit; and 16th in terms of share of R&D. Further analysis seems warranted.
A bigger expectation gap than we once thought
Carl Weissman's
article this week on the funding gap contains this passage, at the end:
If you are an academic and you cannot get someone to back your idea, do three things: take a hard look at your technology (or even ask someone else to do so); take a hard look at your expectations; and, take a hard look in the mirror. Honest assessment in these three efforts will tell you why.
If you are a VC crying crocodile tears over all of the impediments between your partnership and early-stage biotechnology investment, quit it. You make us all look like complete asses. Pull up your britches, wipe your nose, and admit it—“I am no longer a VC. I am now a private equity investor with an exceedingly small fund.” (Feelings of inadequacy to follow…time to buy a Ferrari.)
Yep. IMHO venturable ideas find venture. The rest need help, inside the university, to validate the technology, and create a market. Those that rely on the wonderful marketing reports from large analysis shops are fine, but most university technology does not yet have a market. We're doing fundamental research. We're thinking beyond tomorrow's problems, and that is a good thing. Who else is doing that? Corporate America has cut back on their own R&D. . .and then complains when universities aren't helping them create their next product.
We have an expectation gap in more than new venture funding. And read Scott Shane's new book, referenced in last week's posts.
The Velvetirium
Check out
The Velveterium in Portland, OR. JP Patches, Mr. T, even religious paintings, all in velvet, in one place! Too bad they don't show the rest they have at home. (hmm) At home they have Mona Lisa in velvet. Portland is the Florence of the 21st century, they suggested on national TV this morning. How will we use this newfound fame to turn into resources, intellectual property, fame & fortune?
The truth about entrepreneurs
Scott Shane's new book The Illusion of Entrepreneurship is a list of "facts" about entrepreneurship. It's unfortunate (for me) that it is broadly focused on the activity, instead of high - tech entrepreneurship. HTE seems to be different from "run of the mill" entrepreneurship. But some of the facts may be interesting for policy makers & others. When I'm done with the book I'll post a more complete thought.
GM practicing (close to) open innovation
The Atlantic Monthly article on
The Volt is a fascinating story on a new mode of innovation for GM, and I suspect for carmakers as a whole. Sure, the story is a part of GM's push to get folks to buy a $45,000+ car, but the process they are using. . and the linking of a new radical product with their established name is certainly interesting.
