AUSTIN, Texas—Dr. Neil Iscoe, an experienced technology entrepreneur, researcher and executive, has been appointed director of the Office of Technology Licensing (OTL) at The University of Texas at Austin, Juan Sanchez, vice president of research, announced today (Jan. 27).
The OTL is responsible for moving research developed at the university into industry through licenses for commercialized products. The appointment comes after a six-month national search.
“A critical component of the university’s service mission is to commercialize the research produced on campus,” Sanchez said. “Neil Iscoe is capable of making The University of Texas at Austin’s Office of Technology Licensing a responsive and efficient organization that will be regarded as a model for public universities.”
Iscoe has extensive experience in both industry and academia. He has founded and run two startups, been a researcher at the Microcomputer and Electronics Consortium, and been a senior executive at Electronic Data Systems (EDS). While at EDS, he was the project manager for the EDS Technology and Trading Center that was dedicated in the McCombs School of Business in 1996. He holds a Ph.D. in computer science from The University of Texas at Austin and, as an adjunct professor, teaches technology commercialization to scientists and engineers. He is on the boards of several local organizations, including the Austin Technology Council.
“We are in the process of restructuring our approach to commercializing technology,” said Steve Nichols, associate vice president of research. “We are thrilled to have Dr. Iscoe accept this position. His approach and his experience in technology and in business helped us identify him as the person who could most effectively produce positive change.”
Venture capital firms finance early technology companies and will benefit from a proactive Office of Technology Licensing at The University of Texas at Austin.
“We are in the business of creating new ventures and look forward to the possibility of finding new technologies and ideas at UT,” said Steve Vandergrift, a partner with Techxas Ventures. “We’re glad to see Neil Iscoe appointed as director because we need someone who understands the needs of startup technology companies.”
“We are glad that Neil Iscoe was appointed to this position,” said Carolyn Stark, executive director of the Austin Technology Council, which represents more than 350 Austin technology companies. “He brings an important combination of industrial and academic experience to technology commercialization that will be of great value to Austin and our membership. He is the perfect person to lead the UT Technology Licensing Office into its next phase of development.”
For more information contact: Don Hale, 512-471-3151.
