In this newsletter we proudly present the new Chairman of the Advisory Board: Richard Bendis.

With his expertise on innovation strategy The Technopolicy Network intends to strengthen
its position as the global leading network on Science Based Regional Development and Science Based Incubation. In his article he will give you several insights in the opportunities that lie ahead of us.

This is the time to pay tribute to the achievements of our founding Chairman, Prof. Roger Stough. With his advice and support Prof. Stough made The Technopolicy Network to what it now is. In his article he looks back on the growth of The Technopolicy Network over the past decade.

On January 24th, 2013 BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) recognized Jerry Parrott, formerly with Human Genome Sciences, for his contributions as a BHI Founding Board member. He served on the board from 2011 to 2013 and will continue to remain active on BHI's Commercial Relevance Advisory Board (CRAB). We thank Jerry for his service and look forward to a long lasting relationship.

BioHealth Innovation Inc., a nonprofit that seeks to commercialize technology in the biotech and healthcare fields, could open an accelerator for health information technology startups this year.

Co-located in Rockville and in Baltimore, BioHealth wants the accelerator to serve entrepreneurs and small businesses in central Maryland. Upon board approval, the organization plans to identify a location by the first quarter of this year and have it operational by the fourth quarter.  

“We are evaluating it. We believe there is a need for one. We know there is interest,” BioHealth President and CEO Richard Bendis says. 

MIMETAS is a Dutch microfluidics company focusing on high-throughput organ-on-a-chip systems for predictive toxicology testing, efficacy screening and personalized therapy.

BHI will support MIMETAS by assisting in establishing a MIMETAS US-based subsidiary, aiding in the application for US- and Maryland-based grants (e.g. SBIR, TEDCO), and identifying potential collaborators and partnerships.

This partnership is important in further expanding Maryland's connections internationally and expanding Maryland's biohealth sector.

On December 19th, 2012, BioHealth Innovation, Inc. hosted an appreciation event for the 30+ commercialization consultants that are working closely with BHI's Entrepreneur-in-Residence Todd Chappell at the NIH Office of Technology Transfer to identify novel research and technologies. With the help of these consultants, Todd has been able to identify a multitude of interesting endeavors which BHI will now help push to the next stage of commercialization. We hope that the coming year will bring even more opportunities for post-docs to work closely with BHI in shaping the future of Maryland's biotechnology industry!

Income from invention royalties at the University of Minnesota and University of Iowa has plummeted faster the past two years than at all but a handful of U.S. research institutions, an analysis of royalties data shows.

Of universities that earned more than $2 million in royalties in 2009, the University of Minnesota saw the biggest drop in revenue over the next two years, Association of University Technology Managers data show.

Minnesota lost $75 million in licensing revenue from 2009 to 2011. An expiring anti-AIDS drug patent dropped its income last year to $10 million. Iowa's royalties plummeted from $43 million in 2009 to $6 million last year, also because of a single expired drug patent.

Dust off your business plan and sharpen up your elevator pitch. The deadline for the InvestMaryland Challenge is just a month away.

The Department of Business and Economic Development had received 95 entries for the business competition as of noon Wednesday.

The Challenge will award three $100,000 prizes to the top companies in life sciences, information technology and an open, general category.

On November 19, 2012, members of a Korean delegation from Chungbuk Technopark visited BioHealth Innovation (BHI). Central to the visit was an introduction to Chungbuk Technopark, a non-profit government funded economic development effort which strives to stimulate growth among Korean technology companies. Ethan Byler, Director, Innovation Programs at BHI followed the delegation’s presentation with an overview of BHI.

Photo: L to R: L to R: Il Minn, PhD, Faculty, Johns Hopkins University; Amanda Wilson, Operations Manager, BioHealth Innovation, Inc.; Hyeong-nyeon Kim, Bio Industry Team, Bio Valley Promotion Group; Yong Kook Shin, PhD, Director, Chungbuk Technopark Bio Center; Ethan Byler, Director, Innovation Programs, BioHealth Innovation, Inc; and Youn-Ho Shin, PhD, Industry Planning Team, Chungbuk Technopark Policy Planning Agency

BioHealth Innovation, Inc. and Rich Bendis were recently featured in the “Why Rockville” ad campaign which runs in The Gazette of Politics and Business. This campaign is sponsored by Capital Bank and serves to introduce the businesses and business owners that are located in Rockville.

Slowly but surely, Maryland is changing its image from a state primarily focused on research to one where scientists can put their ideas into actual commercial products, executives and public officials said during a first-time conference on technology transfer in Rockville.

“There has been a transformation,” said Richard Bendis, president and CEO of BioHealth Innovation, a private-public partnership focusing on helping commercialize life sciences innovations in Central Maryland.