Tennessee Tech is taking its research responsibilities to new heights. From increases in sponsored research to a record number of intellectual property disclosures, Tech’s Office of Research and Economic Development is seeing a revitalized research effort across the university.
“We support, inspire, incentivize and help develop faculty to pursue sponsored research,” said Bharat Soni, vice president for research and economic development. “By November of 2016, we had already surpassed the total amount of sponsored research from the previous year.”
The total for the previous fiscal year (July 1, 2015—June 30, 2016) was $11.2 million. By November 2016, Tech’s sponsored research stood at $11.8 million. Soni’s office has also seen significant growth in research proposal submissions.
Along with sponsored research, the university supports innovation and entrepreneurship.
“So far this year, we have had a record 11 intellectual property disclosures, with two more to be filed soon.”
Soni says that an objective of his office is to spin off two companies based on Tech’s intellectual property by the end of 2017-2018, as well as license two additional intellectual properties.
Three of Tech’s faculty researchers are showcased: Ambareen Siraj, computer science; Steven Anton, mechanical engineering; and Adam Holley, physics.