U of S Creates New Industry Liaison Office

Posted August 15, 2003


NOTE: The ILUS name and acronym were changed after this release was issued.
As of 2004, the office is known as the Industry Liaison Office, or ILO.
For more information, visit the website at www.usask.ca/research/ilo/.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 15, 2003 2003-08-09-OTHER

U of S Creates New Industry Liaison Office

The University of Saskatchewan announced today that it will expand efforts
to provide technology transfer services to faculty and industry, with a
focus on matching industry needs with researcher innovation and expertise.

A new Industry Liaison of the University of Saskatchewan (ILUS) office will
be set up this fall within the Research Office to assist faculty in
procuring industrial grants and contracts, and to commercialize U of
S-developed technologies, said U of S Vice-President of Research Steven
Franklin.

ILUS will also work proactively with the business community to raise
awareness of research investment and partnership opportunities at the U of
S.

ILUS will replace UST Inc., currently the university's technology transfer
arm. The four-member staff of UST Inc. will move to the Research Office to
join ILUS.

"This reorganization reflects the growing importance of bringing together
university inventors and business partners to capitalize on technology
transfer opportunities that can help ensure Canada's economic health in a
knowledge-based economy," said Franklin.

"With an expanded focus on industrial liaison and continued strong
commercialization efforts, we are confident we can build on the successes
achieved by UST Inc. and better meet the increasing demands for services to
commercialize new research ideas and discoveries."

ILUS will encourage invention and innovation by faculty, promote research
collaboration and technology transfer opportunities to industrial partners,
and help create spin-off companies that will manufacture and market U of
S-created products.

A national search is underway with the help of an executive search firm to
select a managing director for ILUS who will report to the Vice-President
Research. It's expected that a managing director will be identified by early
fall. Plans are also underway to identify additional staffing needs.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Bryan Harvey
Co-ordinator of Agricultural Research
Office of the Vice-President Research
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5795

Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research