NYS Seal

ASSEMBLY TASK FORCE ON UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY COOPERATION
LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ASSEMBLY SUBCOMMITTEE ON MANUFACTURING

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
ORAL TESTIMONY BY INVITATION ONLY


SUBJECT:

The Role of New York State in Commercializing Research & Development Innovations

PURPOSE:

Identify and articulate a strategy for assisting the commercialization of innovations resulting from State-sponsored R&D conducted at research institutions throughout New York.

Legislative Office Building, 2nd Floor
Roosevelt Hearing Room C
Albany, NY

Monday
February 27, 2006
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.


In recent years, New York State has invested well over one billion dollars in university-based R&D at institutions throughout New York. The State's economic development return on this investment is realized primarily when products and/or innovations resulting from the R&D are commercialized within the State, resulting in jobs for New Yorkers. Yet, the State has not had a strategy that would catalyze the transformation of ideas into commercially successful companies in New York State.

The distance between the development of concepts and their commercialization is vast, and most new ideas do not make it as far as the marketplace. Neither State nor private entities provide adequate resources for the translation of this applied research into prototypes and then into marketable products. At the stages between discovery and profitable production, debt financing is usually not appropriate and little in the way of organized venture capital is available. Furthermore, management and other types of business assistance are not readily available to entrepreneurs seeking to turn ideas into growth companies. It is this gap in capital and technical assistance that needs to be addressed to realize the market potential of investments in R&D.

This hearing seeks input on the development of a successful State commercialization strategy, including realistic goals, workable mechanisms, and sources of funding. We are especially interested in suggestions for ways in which the State can mobilize private markets and resources to fill gaps in financing and technical assistance.

Please see below for a list of subjects to which witnesses may direct their testimony. Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony should complete and return the reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Due to time constraints, oral testimony is limited to invitation only. Oral testimony will be limited to ten minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Task Force will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. Requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Task Force staff as early as possible. In the absence of a request, witnesses will be scheduled in the order in which replies are received.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Task Force would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements. In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Task Force's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.


Members of Assembly

William B. Magnarelli, Chair
Assembly Task Force on
University-Industry Cooperation

Adele Cohen, Chairwoman
Legislative Commission on
Science and Technology

Joseph D. Morelle, Chair
Assembly Subcommittee
on Manufacturing


SELECTED ISSUES TO WHICH WITNESSES MAY DIRECT THEIR TESTIMONY:

  1. What is New York's strategy for commercializing products and processes resulting from State-supported R&D within the State?

  2. What steps is the State taking to ensure that investment capital appropriate to each stage of new business development is readily available to firms commercializing new technologies? Is adequate financing available to established companies seeking to adopt new technologies?

  3. How are new companies spun off from R&D conducted in New York State assisted in acquiring the management/financial expertise necessary for success in the marketplace?

  4. How is technical assistance being directed to established businesses seeking to employ new technologies?

  5. What provisions are being made to ensure that affordable, state-of-the-art commercial facilities are available throughout the State to start-up high-technology companies?

  6. What changes in State workforce development policy are necessary to make location in the State attractive to high-technology companies?

  7. What regulatory changes might be required to foster growth within specific technology industries?

  8. What is the State doing to foster a better entrepreneurial climate in each of its regions?



PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on February 27, 2006, are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail or fax it to:

Maureen Schoolman
NYS Assembly
Program Development
Empire State Plaza
Agency Bldg. 4; 12th Fl.
Albany, New York 12248
Phone: (518) 455-4884
Fax: (518) 455-4175


box I plan to attend the public hearing on The Role of the State in Commercializing Research & Development Innovations to be conducted by the Assembly Task Force on University-Industry Cooperation.

box I plan to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to 10 minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement.

box

I will address my remarks to the following subjects:





box I do not plan to attend the above hearing.

box I would like to be added to the Committee mailing list for notices and reports.

box I would like to be removed from the Committee mailing list.

box

I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required:






NAME:

ORGANIZATION:

ADDRESS:

TELEPHONE:

*** Click here for printable form ***


New York State Assembly
[ Welcome Page ] [ Committee Updates ]