Jonathan Tolstedt, licensing associate and patent agent for the NDSU Research Foundation, presented at the World’s Best Technology Showcase March 16-17 in Arlington, Texas. The event highlights the largest collection of vetted and mentored companies and technologies from top universities, labs, research institutions and the private sector. Investors, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists attend the conference to find solid technologies.
Tolstedt presented a portfolio of advanced data mining tools created by a team of NDSU computer scientists led by William Perrizo, Distinguished Professor of Computer Science. Perrizo’s unique approach to data mining involves vertically structuring data, then writing computer programs that will efficiently and accurately mine the data for useful information.
Participating technologies for the World's Best Technology are selected by and presented to venture investors and Fortune 500 licensing scouts representing a variety of industries, each supported by federal research and development grants, private funding or both. World's Best Technology helps launch world-class technologies from leading labs and universities in the marketplace.
Those presenting technologies, including Tolstedt and the NDSU Research Foundation, are selected on the merits of their innovation and specific investment or licensing opportunity. A national panel of seed investors, venture capitalists and corporate licensing executives screens applicants.
The NDSU Research Foundation assists inventors to protect and commercialize intellectual property developed through research activities at the university. By commercializing intellectual property through licensing, the foundation can create resources that are returned to individual inventors and the university to promote continued research. Licensing fees and royalties from NDSU technologies have increased each year from fiscal year 2006-09, from $1.2 million to $1.5 million. The NDSU Research Foundation holds 45 U.S. issued patents with 77 pending patent applications.