Welcome to a very special milestone episode of AUTM on the Air! Today, we mark a significant moment – our 200th episode, and we're kicking off the celebration of AUTM's 50th anniversary.

Over the past five decades, AUTM has been at the forefront of advancing technology transfer and innovation, bringing together professionals from academia, industry, and government to drive economic growth and societal impact. In this episode, we reflect on the remarkable journey of AUTM, from its early beginnings to the influential organization it is today.

Joining us are two distinguished guests who have been integral in shaping AUTM's history: Teri Willey, past President of AUTM in 1996, and Stephen Atkinson, a past President of SUPA, the precursor to AUTM. Their leadership paved the way for many of the organization's transformative initiatives.

It's an honor to have Teri and Stephen here to reflect on AUTM’s journey over the years. Let's dive into the conversation and explore the rich history of this incredible organization. 

In This Episode:

[02:08] Stephen has worked extensively capturing the early days of AUTM.  He shares some background on how SUPA was founded and its initial objectives. 

[03:13] In the 1970s, there were a lot of leaders wondering about the usefulness of supporting basic research. 

[05:18] The Golden Fleece awards were about fleecing the taxpayers for frivolous things. The social sciences were a target for this.

[06:12]  At the time, there was a lot of conversation on what they were getting out of the investment for research. 

[07:00] Millions of dollars were being spent on basic research and there needed to be a way to share with people what they were getting out of the investment.

[09:47] Stephen went to a meeting at O'Hare Airport in 1975. The talks were all over the place about technology. This meeting was one of the most important parts of the beginning of SUPA (Society of University Patent Administrators).

[12:50] When you join SUPA or AUTM, you get an amazing community. 

[16:58] Challenges come with visibility. Teri joined SUPA in 1985.

[17:21] One of Teri's first challenges at Northwestern University was that a lot of faculty weren't interested. She had to explain that research matters and your innovation could be partnered with another company.

[18:08] Resources were also another challenge. Everything was filed on paper.

[21:45] Educational institutions thought they shouldn't be doing business with businesses.

[22:09] Another challenge was approving the attorney fees. 

[23:22] When the name shift from SUPA to AUTM took place it raised the discussion. IP is critical, but it also needs to be managed to capture its value. Management is also being savvy about business development.

[27:37] The name change was done in a very democratic way. 

[31:36] Strategic planning was part of creating the structure of AUTM and member guidelines. Teri wants to see more industry members than academic members to get better faster. 

[37:08] What makes a good tech transfer professional?

[43:34] Teri talks about how the membership audit helped shape the organizations identity. Validation and having the ability to compare work were also valuable. Managing AI, knowing where AUTM should take the lead, and being able to partner are also important.

[47:55] The community is one of the greatest achievements of AUTM.  Any product that has made it to the marketplace and benefited the public is a tremendous accomplishment. 

[53:31] It's important that these ideas reach the public and having a community is critical, because it takes a long time.

Resources: 

Teri Willey

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