Tough economic times and financial constraints that are not likely to lessen anytime soon are encouraging a rethinking of how we can best, as a nation, fund research in the sciences, engineering, and technology. Federal research agencies have launched, utilized, or are proposing new funding mechanisms that are less like the traditional research and development grant and more akin to direct investments in technologies that may be perceived as critical to a particular agency. State governments are also exploring novel ways to advance research from the bench into the marketplace, including crowdfunding and creative public-private partnerships. With this GUIRR meeting, members will consider new financing models and mechanisms designed to leverage resources and more efficiently convert the nation’s research assets into economic assets, thereby increasing the nation’s overall competitiveness.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Location: National Academy of Sciences Building

5:30-6:30 PM Cocktails

6:30-7:30 PM Keynote Address
Moderator: Dr. Jack Gansler, Roger C. Lipitz Chair in Public Policy and Private Enterprise and Director of the Center for Public Policy and Private Enterprise, School of Public Policy, University of Maryland and GUIRR C0-Chair

IMPROVED FUNDING MECHANISMS TO SUPPORT CREATIVE, HIGH-RISK/HIGH-REWARD RESEARCH

Mr. Tom Kalil, Deputy Director for Technology and Innovation, Office of Science and Technology Policy, The White House
7:30-8:30 PM Dinner

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Location: National Academy of Sciences Building

7:30-8:00 AM Continental Breakfast

8:00-8:15 AM Welcome Remarks
Dr. Uma Chowdhry, Chief Science and Technology Officer Emeritus, DuPont and GUIRR Co-Chair

8:15-9:15 AM CREATING AN INNOVATION FINANCING ECOSYSTEM
Moderator: Ms. Kathleen Harger, Executive Consultant, Innovation Financing Roundtable

Col. Mark “Puck” Mykleby, United States Marine Corps, Retired
Mr. Leslie Platt, President, Innovation Financing Roundtable
Mr. Scott Fouse, Director, Advanced Technology Laboratories, Lockheed Martin

9:15-10:15 AM FINANCIAL INNOVATIONS FOR TRANSLATIONAL BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH

Mr. Richard Basile, Founder, BioPontis Alliance Foundation
Dr. Andrew W. Lo, Charles E. and Susan T. Harris Professor of Finance and Director, Laboratory for Financial Engineering, MIT Sloan School of Management

10:15-11:00 AM Break

11:00-11:30 AM IN-Q-TEL, STRATEGIC INVESTOR FOR THE CIA

Mr. Jeffrey Smith, Partner, National and Homeland Security Practice Chair, Arnold & Porter LLP

11:30 AM-12:00 PM PRIVATE FINANCE MECHANISMS TO FACILITATE SPACE EXPLORATION

Dr. Michael Potter, Senior Fellow, International Institute of Space Commerce, Isle of Man

12:00 PM-1:15 PM Lunch

1:15-1:45 PM SCIENCE FOUNDATION IRELAND AND SCIENCE FOUNDATION ARIZONA: DESIGNING
REPLICABLE MODELS FOR EFFECTIVE INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS

Dr. William Harris, President and CEO, Science Foundation Arizona
1:45-2:15 PM BREAKOUT LABS: RESHAPING THE WAY EARLY-STAGE SCIENCE IS FUNDED 

Ms. Lindy Fishburne, Executive Director, Breakout Labs, Thiel Foundation

2:15-2:50 PM UPDATES AND DISCUSSION ON CURRENT GUIRR PROJECTS
Moderator: Dr. Jack Gansler, University of Maryland, GUIRR C0-Chair

University-Industry Demonstration Partnership (UIDP) – Dr. John Hickman, Director of Global University Relations and Life Sciences, Deere & Company and UIDP President
Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) – Dr. Susie Sedwick, Associate Vice President for Research and Director, Office of
Sponsored Projects, University of Texas at Austin and FDP Chair
International Research Collaborations (“I-Group”) – Dr. Arturo Pizano, Manager, University Collaboration Program,
Siemens and I-Group Co-Chair
GUIRR Webinars and Other Activities – Ms. Susan Sloan, Director, GUIRR

2:50-3:00 PM PROPOSAL OF NEW TOPICS AND PROJECTS FOR GUIRR + OTHER MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS

3:00 PM Adjourn