Athabasca UniversityAthabasca UniversityEdTech R&D DayEdTech R&D DayJanuary 20, 2012January 20, 2012

A d ay for discussion and exploration A d ay for discussion and exploration

2. Increasing AU’s Innovation 2. Increasing AU’s Innovation ImpactImpactOver the past year, we have moved

more intentionally into the Innovation space

Recommended by government, growing public and private focus across Canada

Better fit with some AU research, including elearning/EdTech

Should help increase knowledge transfer, build relationships, increase successful funding applications, support R&D

General Activity HighlightsGeneral Activity Highlights1. Alberta Innovates: Technology

Futures funding to partner with TEC Edmonton

◦Help faculty explore options to commercialize research (start-up or partners) – push

◦EdTech, health, remote sensing

2.Explore partnership opportunities with companies re: R&D product development

◦ Help companies achieve R&D needs – pull

General Activity Highlights General Activity Highlights cont.cont.3. Connect with Alberta EdTech

companies, related networks, R&D support bodies (TRLabs, Alberta Innovates, etc)

◦Find out what they need – inform ourselves4.Elearning / EdTech awareness raising, fit with

productivity, knowledge economy, other aims◦ Advocacy: government, users – inform others

5. Support Campus Alberta networking◦Leadership in eCampus Alberta, Moodle,

dialogue with other PSEs, government re: elearning/EdTech – collaborate

Targeted ActivitiesTargeted Activities1. Seek Peer-Reviewed R&D Envelopes

◦Gathering info for faculty to apply for R&D envelopes, which are often better fits

2. Talk to government about our model◦Grad students already in industry3.Explore Intellectual Property, roles, etc◦ Facilitate innovation, stay on mandate,

support faculty research plans, empower grad students

4.Build a network for our Analytics work◦ LAK12, strong Summit attendance, Alberta

Big Data, Foundations, joint submissions (George)

3. EdTech Dialogue3. EdTech DialogueBrian Stewart, George Siemens,

Deanna Douglas meeting with EdTech SMEs and related government bodies, networks

Primarily in Edmonton, some CalgaryAsking what they needHeard many consistent messagesBuilding awareness of online

education expertise in their own backyard

What We Are HearingWhat We Are HearingR&D (learning from and incorporating)Elearning, EdTech, serious gaming, ICTAnalyticsShare and evaluate researchSystem integration (Moodle etc)Piloting, testing, Quality AssuranceLeverage for salesIT, learning design, content supportBridging – “an honest broker” Support gap: Alberta EdTech Subsector

11. Intellectual Property: AU 11. Intellectual Property: AU BackgroundBackgroundAn emergent area for all universitiesUnique for AU: premised on an

academic model where the University owns the IP

Received Executive approval to develop a new IP policy to reflect new realities

Work done in 2009Stopped: planned government

initiatives

IP: ConsiderationsIP: ConsiderationsR&D opportunities raise new IP

questionsLooking at what other universities do

for research / R&D (rather than academic)

Facilitate, motivate innovationEncourage knowledge transfer,

private sector collaboration Working on the IP policy, related docsPatent, copyright, licensing, etc

12. Research and 12. Research and Development Funding Development Funding EnvelopesEnvelopes

• Encouraged to move in new funded research directions

• Expanding to include R&D envelopes more intentionally

• Canadian universities without medical and engineering programs are catching up

• Many types of opportunities

Various Avenues to Funding:Various Avenues to Funding:• ‘Direct’ – AU researchers eligible to

apply to program for funding; private-sector partner may be required

• ‘Indirect’ – application must emanate from private-sector partner

• ‘Other’ –post-docs; graduate and undergraduate students

‘‘Direct’ Funding Opportunities:Direct’ Funding Opportunities:Examples•NSERC:

◦ Idea to Innovation Grants ◦ Partnership Workshops Program◦ Collaborative R&D Grants◦ Strategic Network Grants

DFAIT:◦ Int’l Science & Technology Partnerships

Program (Brazil, China, India, Israel and California).

‘‘Indirect’ Funding Indirect’ Funding Opportunities Opportunities AB Government:

◦ Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures

Tecterra◦ Geomatics Program

13. R&D Roles13. R&D RolesR&D presents opportunities for faculty,

Research Associates, PostDocs, grad students, and AU (professional staff work)

Facilitate: innovation, recognize research; funder, University, and public roles

Consider: research plans, careers, teams; service; open vs commercial choices

Goal: RA, PD, grad student opportunitiesSome potential for researcher revenue

ScenariosScenarios

1. R&D funded envelopes: traditional roles, spending, etc regulations

2. Tech transfer varies: stand alone or partnership; full AU support or just legal/IP; faculty or admin project

3. Consulting: low level=service; work to maximize opportunities for RA, PD, grad students; we are developing regulations for faculty based on best practice

THANK YOU THANK YOU for participatingfor participating

Let’s stay in touch!Let’s stay in touch!