November 15th, 2006
Tom Rainey
President of the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies
Opened in June 2005 in Farrell Hall on UVM's Trinity Campus, this high technology incubator has proven successful at leveraging UVM technology, facilities, and equipment as well as linking client companies to key faculty, staff, and student interns. VCET has relationships with a number of software companies.
Clients also enjoy the benefits of being connected to an extensive network of private sector mentors and advisors and private investment capital resources. VCET offers a modern 4,000-square-foot facility with eight offices for client companies, four labs, administrative offices, and conference rooms.
When VCET opened, UVM President Daniel Mark Fogel called it a "watershed moment" for the University. UVM's EPSCoR Program, Office of Sponsored Research and Technology Transfer Office complement VCET's efforts by both generating new research opportunities and helping protect, market, and negotiate the sale of commercially viable intellectual property generated by faculty researchers.
The payoff could potentially be significant for the researchers, entrepreneurs, UVM and Vermont. VCET ensures that research with commercial potential does not go unused or leave the state to be developed elsewhere. With UVM's sponsored projects funding consistently around $120 million annually, and with over 80 invention disclosures the time is ripe to protect and market these ideas.
Thomas Rainey is the President of VCET and has been involved in its planning and implementation since June, 2002. He was also one of the founders of the Vermont Business Incubator Network.
Judith Van Houten
Vermont EPSCoR
The Vermont Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) contributes to building an infrastructure which will improve the research competitiveness of Vermont scientists and engineers as well as bring NSF resources to the service of the broader community.