Columbia, Md., (March 2, 2011) – Since its inception more than a decade ago, The Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) has garnered national recognition for its early-stage investment track record and support of emerging innovations. Today, the organization is gaining international attention for its successful technology transfer programs and business models. Henry Ahn, program manager for technology funding programs and Stephen Auvil, vice president of technology transfer and commercialization, presented information on TEDCO to foreign economic panels from China and technology transfer professionals from Russian universities.
“We are proud of our unique funding programs and are honored to gain international exposure and recognition through these speaking engagements,” said Rob Rosenbaum, president and executive director of TEDCO. “The TEDCO business model is solid and effective and we take great pride in it being emulated across the U.S. and abroad.”
Today, Ahn presented to an international delegation from the Beijing Economic Technological Development Area (BTDA) through the University of Maryland College Park’s Maryland China Initiative. In his lecture, “Investment Decisions of Enterprises,” Ahn discussed investment decisions, elements important to investors, funding opportunities and the TEDCO model of investing in technology. Ahn discussed the strength of TEDCO’s Maryland Technology Transfer Commercialization and Development Fund (MTTCF) which provides up to $75,000 to early stage companies who wish to develop products and innovations in collaboration with the universities and federal laboratories in Maryland.
Auvil traveled to Moscow in February to present at an international seminar on the regional support of university-based innovative companies at the Office of the Moscow World Bank, which covered the cost of this trip. This one-day event featured speakers from Denmark, Belgium, Germany and France and authorities and representatives from university technology transfer offices and other types of research organizations of higher learning involved in commercialization throughout Russia. Through an English Russian interpreter, Auvil presented information on the rationale, legal and financial arrangements for supporting innovative small and medium enterprises based on Maryland’s university campuses as well as other incentives for commercialization of university research and development. He focused on major highlights and accomplishments of TEDCO’s University Technology Development Fund (UTDF), TechStart and MTTCF programs which help universities license and further development early stage innovations that demonstrate mainstream market potential.