Resources

Presentation Materials

Download a TRANSFORM overview presentation (must be logged into Boise State account to access).

Mentor Institution

For the duration of the TRANSFORM project, a team from University of Utah’s Technology Licensing Office will be engaged as Boise State’s mentor institution.

Administration:

Bruce Hunter, Chief Innovation Officer
Shaleen Watkins, Senior Director/Chief of Staff

Commercialization:

Jonathon Tyler, Physical Sciences, Director of Commercialization

Innovation:

Kyrsten Woolstenhulme, Director of Innovation Management

Contracts:

Eric S. Paulsen, Director of Contracts
License & Government Compliance
Deborah Arnold, License & Government Compliance

Mentor Scope of Work on the NSF Grant to Enhance Translational Research and Technology Transfer (TRTT)

Suggested Action Items for Implementation in 2025-26

Raise awareness and build trust through outreach and education: increase awareness of the benefits of commercialization through participation in faculty meetings, information sessions for first year faculty, workshops, and content designed to demystify the process. Develop content focused on process transparency, defining roles, and practical guidance (e.g., “How to Work with Industry” or “How to Create a Startup”).
- TLO Actions:
  - Provide examples of educational resources, such as faculty commercialization guide, frequently asked question articles, departmental presentations, and videos/scripts.
  - Organize discussions and training related to a “Walk the Halls” initiative to help OTT engage with faculty, PhD students, and postdocs in their own environments.
  - Discuss and provide tactics of following up on Federal Sponsored Research
Streamline the commercialization process: simplify submission of invention disclosures, implement a formal process for opportunity evaluation, and deploy development resources to reduce barriers to commercialization.
- TLO Actions:
  - Provide training and related templates, workflows, and SOPs for invention disclosure submission, intake, and assessment, including Utah’s Invention Disclosure Form, Innovation Matrix, Inventor Executive Summary, technology statuses, various email templates, and example reports.
  - Guidance on RFP for assessment and ensuring adherence to outlined requirements.
  - Deliver specific feedback for up to ten technologies through analysis and faculty discussion, while BSU evaluation process is under development.
  - Offer guidance related to Utah’s Ascender Grant gap funding program, including the criteria and review process, templates, and decision documents.
Address contracting challenges: improve the timeline and process for agreement execution, particularly confidentiality and transfer agreements.
- TLO Actions:
  - Provide templates, workflows, SOPs, and related training to optimize negotiation of confidentiality and transfer agreements for increased operational efficiency and transparency.
  - Share example waiver form to allow Chair/Department to assume risk with details around use.
Establish mentorship programs for inventor engagement: facilitate mentorship opportunities to encourage faculty to engage in entrepreneurial activities.
- TLO Actions:
  - Enable meeting with Utah faculty innovation ambassadors as necessary to support BSU innovators.
  - Provide access to Utah innovation and commercialization-focused events, such as Startup Launchpad, for BSU faculty, post docs, and graduate students.
Explore creation of a Boise State University Research Foundation: investigate creation of a research foundation that facilitates commercialization of university research, fosters industry partnerships, and drives economic impact in the local and state economy.
- TLO Actions:
  - Provide context based on the University of Utah Research Foundation, including relevant state statutes, operational structure, governance models, relationship with General Counsel, and other considerations for future success.
  - Facilitate discussion related to considerations for holding equity and review criteria for stock transfer agreements and operating documents.

Suggested Action Items for Implementation in 2026-27

Develop industry outreach process: increase industry engagement, licensing, and sponsored research through proactive marketing of BSU’s patent portfolio, industry focused events, and utilization of department and college industry advisory boards to align research with industry needs.
- TLO Actions
  - Provide templates, workflows, SOPs, and related training related to technology marketing and sponsored research efforts.
  - Offer guidance around events focused on bringing faculty, industry, and entrepreneurs together (e.g., Tech Tuesday).
Boost BSUs role in the entrepreneurial ecosystem: strengthen BSUs integration with local partners and develop structured programs for startup support, such as mentorship and founder training.
- TLO Action:
  - Provide information on creating and leveraging entrepreneurial network from alumni and the local community to advise startups and research commercialization.
  - Offer guidance and examples of entrepreneurship training for faculty, PhD students, and post docs to develop strong startup leadership (e.g., Startup Launchpad).
  - Facilitate discussion on partnership with community partners for programming and events, using BioUtah’s Entrepreneur & Investor Summit as a model.
  - Deliver examples of programmatic support for startup formation and development, including due diligence, pitch creation, etc.
Foster faculty relationships and raise awareness of innovation: establish an innovationambassador program and enhance leadership transparency.
- TLO Actions:
  - Provide documentation around structure, training, and responsibilities for innovation ambassador program.
  - Offer examples of department/college metric reports to ensure university leadership is informed about commercialization efforts.
Enhance commercialization through clear licensing processes: create transparent and standardized licensing terms for faculty-led startups.
- TLO Actions:
  - Provide information related to startup licensing terms and guidelines for faculty involved startups, including non-negotiable terms.

Suggested Action Items for Implementation in Year Three

Increase transparency around commercialization: implement feedback loops throughout the process, focusing on OTT operations (marketing and patent prosecution) and inventor development efforts (advancement and funding verification).
- TLO Actions:
  - Provide training, template emails, and workflows for follow up and funding re-verification processes.
  - Deliver guidance on patent prosecution decision-making criteria, including jurisdiction determinations to both reduce cost and maintain licensing potential.
Support ideation and faculty grant applications: reduce the barrier for commercialization research by facilitating market analysis and identifying unmet needs to support faculty grant applications.
- TLO Actions:
  - Provide program information, workflows, training, and template reports for commercialization-focused grant assistance.
  - Deliver template Letter of Support for faculty grant applications with commercialization components.
Develop licensee compliance process: create a process for monitoring licensee compliance with commercialization related agreements.
- TLO Actions:
  - Guidance regarding elements that should be required in license related to reporting requirements and commercialization success.
  - Provide training related to tracking and enforcing license compliance, including templates for licensee welcome letters, obligation reminders, and breach and termination letters.

Resources

Presentation Materials

Mentor Institution

Mentor Scope of Work on the NSF Grant to Enhance Translational Research and Technology Transfer (TRTT)

Suggested Action Items for Implementation in 2025-26

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT