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Leon County Research and Development Authority Awards Three Grants for Technology Commercialization
TALLAHASSEE - An internet-based virtual office with "human-like" interaction, an automated prescription dispenser and a superconducting magnet were chosen for this year's Innovation Park Technology Commercialization Grant Program. The entrepreneurs behind the technology each received $15,000 from the Leon County Research and Development Authority (LCRDA) to expand their research-based products and services into the commercial arena.
"I'm amazed by the technology being developed right here in Leon County that has the potential to achieve commercial success and make a significant impact on our economy," said LCRDA Chairman Tom Barron. "The winning products and services show the most promise for growth in the marketplace and our support through this grant program is in line with our mission to help researchers and entrepreneurs take their work to the next level."
The three $15,000 grant recipients are Tanaga Boozer, president of Intellectual Property Solutions, Inc., Scott Marshall, principal engineer for Tai-Yang Research Company and Dr. Lonnie Draper, president of Innovations, LLC [Avocare].
Ms. Boozer, who works as an Intellectual Property Consultant for Florida A&M University, created a Virtual Technology Transfer Office (VTTO) with support from the National Science Foundation Partnership for Innovation Grant. The VTTO is a Web site that links small businesses with service providers that offer assistance with patents, contracts, business plans, marketing and prototype development.
"This system revolutionizes the traditional incubator approach. The VTTO reduces the cost, time and effort for procuring certain specialized services by creating a virtual meeting place for user and service providers to request and perform certain services," Ms. Boozer wrote in her grant application. To enhance the on-line experience, the last phase of the VTTO will add a voice-enhanced feature designed with faces and figures that interact with users. Her company, Intellectual Property Solutions, Inc., plans to launch VTTO in the next twelve months.
Tai-Yang Research Company (TYRC) is a technology firm working under a cooperative research agreement with the Florida State University Center for Advanced Power Systems at Innovation Park. According to Mr. Marshall, TYRC is using the $15,000 grant award to expand its high-temperature superconducting magnet and current leads manufacturing technologies. "The grant will leverage funding from two NASA Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts to deliver four novel magnet systems for a revolutionary electric space propulsion system," he said.
Dr. Draper is a repeat grant recipient, having won an award last year from the Authority for his ATM-style dispenser of prescription medications. His company is developing a production model for the dispenser and this year's $15,000 award will be used to fund the system's robotic mechanism.
Innovation Park Executive Director Linda Nicholsen coordinated the grant program and participated on the selection committee. LCRDA member Ray Eaton, Chris Workman of the Florida A&M University Small Business Development Center, Dr. Betty Presnell of the Jim Moran Institute and Mary Wolkomir, formerly with the Economic Development Council also served on the selection committee to determine the grant award recipients.
The winning proposals were chosen based on specific criteria established by the Authority to determine if the technology-related product or service has commercial potential and the ability to create jobs in Leon County.
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