Description :  Universities in Northern Louisiana produce both capable graduates and innovative ideas. However, the ideas often wither for lack of commercial follow-up, and graduates leave the area for lack of competitive application of their newly acquired skills. The Louisiana Tech PFI project is a catalyst for innovations in emerging technologies, such as microsystems and bionanosystems, to be deployed in new business ventures in Northern Louisiana. The PFI project exploits technologies produced from the research programs of the University’s Institute for Micromanufacturing and other engineering and science research centers. Coordination is provided by the Center for Entrepreneurship and Information Technology, a state-funded partnership between the College of Engineering and Science and the College of Administration and Business that supports the transformation of technologies stemming from the University’s research enterprise.

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Principal Investigator:  Guice, Les  --  Research & Development

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Collaborators:  Marc Chopin, CAB and CEnIT; Bobby Rawle, Economic Development; Kody Varahmayan, IfM: Michael McShane, Biomedical Engineering

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Funding Agencies:  National Science Foundation and Board of Regents

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Amount Awarded:  $630,000

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Start Period:  11/01/2003

End Period:  10/31/2006