UB celebrates faculty inventors, entrepreneurs

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The University at Buffalo will celebrate faculty inventors and innovative companies that reside in the UB Technology Incubator during the university’s annual Inventors and Entrepreneurs Reception today.

The invitation-only event begins at 4 p.m. at the Center for Tomorrow on UB’s North Campus.

During the reception, Alexander N. Cartwright, vice president for Research and Economic Development, will discuss the university’s continuing role in growing the regional economy. His office was recently restructured to emphasize economic development in addition to research.

Robert Genco, the vice provost who heads UB’s Office of Science, Technology Transfer and Economic Outreach, will open the celebration. UB President Satish K. Tripathi will deliver closing remarks.

The reception will recognize UB faculty and local entrepreneurs for their work in 2011.

Jeff Dunbar, director of STOR, and Woody Maggard, associate vice provost of STOR, will introduce honorees in several categories.

The University at Buffalo was awarded 14 U.S. patents in 2011 for technologies ranging from an augmentative communications device for the speech-impaired to a dye for purging blood pathogens and for photodynamic therapy. A list of the patents and their UB inventors is available at www.buffalo.edu.

Several others are also being honored as visionary innovators — UB faculty who developed technologies licensed to industrial partners — technology incubator graduates and technology incubator company entrants.