A free online web conference is being offered this semester for students and faculty wanting to know if their ideas have commercial viability.

The Office of Research Administration at Sacramento State said the 11-part webinar, called “The Essentials of Commercialization for Researchers”, will allow attendees to make informed decisions on planning their commercialization efforts and gaining knowledge on how to market their products and inventions.

David Onstenk, mechanical engineering graduate student, explained that once a person has registered for a webinar, he or she could attend the conference using any computer connected to the Internet. Some also met in groups organized by the Research Administration office.

David Earwicker, assistant vice president of the Research Administration and Contract Administration (RACA), said this webinar series provides support for the faculty and students to strengthen and expand their marketing skills.

“It could be a formula a student created in a lab, or a new math process,” Earwicker said. “The reason we are offering these classes is the culture of research is changing on campus.”

The webinar provides tools, such as employment agreements and consulting advice to aid in commercialization research with traditional to more entrepreneurial methods. According to the department, commercializing newly developed technologies is, at times, a complex and confusing process.

Jill Trainer, dean of natural sciences and mathematics, said the online webinar course is helpful for professors who have works or inventions they want available for the public to buy and use.

“Being able to commercialize the work is beneficial to society,” she said.

Trainer gave the example of a professor finding a way to improve the liquid crystal technology on a computer screen. The research paper explaining the improvements can be posted for the public to read, but until the work is patented, and the new and improved screen is developed, it will not benefit society.

Trainer said many professors have patented inventions and works completed at Sac State.

Onstenk and Dan Noren, mechanical engineering professor, are working on some breakthrough high-efficiency energy conversion technologies. Onstenk said Noren, a specialist in clean energy, is leading the simulation, testing and publishing efforts.

The webinar has suggestions and tools, such as explaining employment agreements, to help students like Onstenk better plan their efforts.

“We are working to establish the Efficient Power Systems Innovation Lab on campus in Santa Clara Hall in the coming months. The concept is to develop an academic incubator for efficient power systems entrepreneurs and students interested in clean energy,” Onstenk said.

Noren said the incubator is where the project is being built, whether in a lab, a garage or on a computer. After the incubator is set up, the originator, or student and the professor start searching for potential student assistants for help with the project.

“It is very easy to get students who want to help us,” Noren said. “Seniors in the engineering department are required to complete a senior project, and are always looking for new projects to work on.”

Onstenk, with Noren’s assistance, is working on making an energy efficient engine for large trucks, with the goal of doubling gas mileage. Onstenk said this year he would be going through the entire business development cycle from website and social network development to business planning and marketing.

“This project allows for plenty of opportunity for students to get some hands-on experience in a clean tech start-up,” Onstenk said.

Another example of a project mentioned by RACA is the dynamic relationship Sac State has with the UC Davis Cancer Center, working on students with hepatitis C.

“We look for ways to nurture and support these type of projects,” Earwicker said.

Ferguson said 2,000 people are currently registered for this program around the world.

The webinar program, “The Essentials of Commercialization for Researchers”, is held from 10 a.m. to noon, and will run every Wednesday through March 25.

Go to http://www.csus.edu/research/registration/webinars.htm for more information.

Sally King can be reached at [email protected]