Inventors and entrepreneurs honored at UB reception

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The University at Buffalo held its annual Inventors and Entrepreneurs Reception on March 3, honoring UB researchers and partner companies developing technologies for improving fields from health care to alternative energy.

The event, held at the UB Clinical and Translational Research Center in downtown Buffalo, recognized innovators including:

• UB researchers who developed 10 UB technologies licensed to companies in 2013. These discoveries include a trio of inventions geared toward using nanoparticles to improve solar energy conversion. A complete list is available in the reception program. Companies that licensed the technologies include KeraFAST Inc., Trimbos-Institut, TracerLanes LLC, Volnamics LLC, You First Services Inc. and OPtoElectronics Nanodevices LLC.
  
• UB researchers named on 11 patents granted in 2013. These inventors developed technologies ranging from a method and apparatus for measuring changes in cell volume, to nanoparticles for enhancement of tumor imaging. A complete list is available in the reception program.

  
• The School of Social Work’s popular “inSocialWork” podcast series, which received approval for a registered trademark.

  
• Three companies that graduated from the UB Technology Incubator in 2013: Academic Software Plus (now Liaison International), KYNTEC Corporation and Tactus Technologies.

  
• ATTO Technology, recipient of this year’s UB Entrepreneurial Champion Award. ATTO Technology, an early graduate of the UB Technology Incubator, celebrated its 25th anniversary last fall. The company provides storage and network connectivity and infrastructure solutions for data-intensive computing environments with products sold by industry leaders such as Apple, Dell and IBM. The firm was founded by Buffalo natives Timothy Klein and David Snell, and its products are manufactured in Western New York and sold in more than 60 countries worldwide.

“Our annual Inventors and Entrepreneurs Reception recognizes discoveries that seed new businesses in Western New York. The innovations of UB researchers and their corporate partners have the potential not only to improve life in our region, but far beyond,” said UB Vice Provost Robert J. Genco, who oversees the UB Office of Science, Technology Transfer and Economic Outreach (STOR).

"Licensing agreements for UB technologies have brought nearly $10 million to the university and our inventors over the past decade," Genco said. "UB has played a vital role in starting 83 companies based upon faculty, staff and student research and entrepreneurial activities. These companies include Nanobiotix, Kinex Pharmaceuticals, Medical Conservation Devices, Campus Labs, Simulated Surgical Systems, ONY and PeptiDream."

The Inventors and Entrepreneurs Reception is organized by STOR, which helps UB researchers commercialize their inventions. The office also runs the UB Technology Incubator, which marked its 25th anniversary last fall, and the new UB Biosciences Incubator in the Clinical and Translational Research Center in downtown Buffalo.

Speakers at the March 3 reception included UB President Satish K. Tripathi; UB Provost Charles F. Zukoski; UB Vice President for Research and Economic Development Alexander N. Cartwright; and Genco. Awards were presented by Genco, STOR Director Jeffrey A. Dunbar and STOR Business Formation and Commercialization Manager Martin Casstevens.