UST President & CEO Appointed

Posted April 09, 1998


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 9, 1998
98-04-05-OTHER

New President and CEO of UST Inc. Appointed

Turning more lab-developed technologies into marketable products is a
key goal of Dr. Branko Peterman, newly appointed president and CEO of
University of Saskatchewan Technologies (UST) Inc.

I want to encourage more U of S researchers to commercialize their
findings and to create spin-off companies, said Dr. Peterman, who took
over the position April 1. He succeeds Dr. Simon Wood who moved to
British Columbia last July.

UST Inc. was incorporated in 1991 as the U of S?s technology transfer
arm. the wholly owned U of S company evaluates the research results of
researchers, assesses patentability, and determines potential companies
or individuals who may wish to license the technology or form a company
exploiting the technology.

The U of S has a long history of technology transfer and creating spin-off
companies starting with SED Systems Inc. Dr. Peterman thinks there is
potential for greater commercialization, particularly in areas such as
biotechnology and engineering.

I'd like to influence scientists not just to publish but also to find
commercial applications for their research with the view of finding
solutions for industrial problems, he said.

In five years? time, I would like to see a cluster of 20 to 30 new spin-off
companies around the U of S that will help create new employment in the
province.

Dr. Peterman reports to a 10-member board of directors made up of five
university representatives and five people from the business community.

Author or co-author of more than 20 scientific articles and reports, he
brings a wealth of experience to the job. His most recent position was
manager of intellectual property for the federal department Natural
Resources Canada where he oversaw all aspects of transferring
technology from federal research laboratories to industry.

From 1986 to 1989, he was commercial development officer at Carleton
University. Prior to that, he worked for six years as a scientist for
Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.

Dr. Michael Corcoran, U of S vice-president of research, says Dr.
Peterman has a clear vision for how UST should function and is already
at work on a strategic plan for the company.

He's a dynamic person?since his arrival we have seen a welcome burst
of energy emanating from UST, he said.

I am sure the university research community and our local partners in
research will find him to be a valuable addition to the university?s
activities in technology transfer.

Dr. Peterman has a master's of business administration (MBA) degree
from the University of Ottawa and a PhD in biology with a major in
biophysics from McMaster University in Hamilton, ON. He earned his
master?s in physics from the U of S Regina campus in 1972. (The
University of Regina was established in 1974.)

He oversees a four-member staff in Kirk Hall in the centre of campus.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Branko Peterman
Phone: (306) 966-8723
Fax: (306) 966-7806