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Start-Up Suite provides infrastructure needed to develop a concept or research result into a product, process or service that can be sold in the marketplace.
The process takes place in a facility that provides a temporary location for a new enterprise to increase its chances for success. Increasingly universities have assumed the incubation role in support of regional economic development.
In recognition of the State's policies and regulations, the State University of New York has formulated policies that encourage emerging technology enterprises to locate on the University's campuses for a limited duration.
Binghamton University guidelines have been established pursuant to SUNY’s "Policy and Guidelines for the Use of State University Facilities by Emerging Technology Enterprises.”
The Vice President for Research is designated by the President as the official who, in consultation with the Associate Vice President for Research, Assistant Vice President for Technology Transfer and Innovation Partnerships, Director of Translational Research Development and other Research Division staff, will consider a prospective tenant’s use of Start-Up Suite facilities and recommend such use to the President when appropriate.
The Innovation Technology Complex (ITC) Management Committee shall undertake initial review of each proposed Start-Up Suite use and recommend an action to the Vice President. Assistant Vice President for Technology Transfer and Innovation Partnerships shall be a member of the ITC Management Committee, and shall be responsible for management of the Start-Up Suite facilities of the ITC and co-chair, along with Director of Translational Research Development, the Start-Up Suite applications reviews as they come for consideration.
In compliance with the SUNY policy such committee will seek ad hoc assistance depending upon the expertise required to accomplish its mission.
This committee will also recommend guideline revisions for the operation of Start-Up Suite facilities to the Vice President for Research and will conduct periodic review of the success of the program (in terms of number of start-ups housed, transitioning to the next stage of incubation, impact on economic development, etc.)
The Committee will convene to review Start-Up Suite applications and will maintain synopses of its deliberations. The committee will review an application in a timely fashion according to the guidelines below.
Where a committee member has a financial interest in a company that has submitted a Start-Up Suite application, or for any other reason determines a potential for conflict of interest, that committee member will not participate in any committee deliberations regarding the application.
When the proposed tenant is a member of the Binghamton University community (faculty, staff, student, etc.), the Committee review will include assessment of potential conflicts of interest in accordance with University policies.
In order to assure that demands on campus facilities do not adversely affect other University programs, potential tenants will include in their applications a statement in which requirements for specific University resources will be outlined. This impact statement will serve as the basis for assessing financial charges for these services and for establishing guidelines for their use prior to approval of the application.
Following the Committee review, a written report recommending actions will be provided to the Vice President for Research. The report is to be completed within 30 days of receipt of the tenant application by the committee chair unless waived by the Vice President.
The Vice President may meet with the principal officers of the tenant applicant as part of the evaluation process.
Applications may be granted for industrial or business ventures that substantially meet the following criteria:
- Be a formally organized business entity in the early stages of its business development, and must not be primarily a retail, franchising or manufacturing concern. Engage in application and commercialization of research and/or advanced technology.
- Must have in place or must have identified a sound management and/or product development team.
- Must have intellectual property rights that were or will be licensed or transferred from the Research Foundation of State University of New York, and the technology or business must have been developed through the activities of Binghamton University faculty, staff or students.
- Develop, use, or produce products, processes or services that would rely for success on collaboration with campus academic programs or research activities of faculty, staff, and students and could stimulate employment opportunities for students and consulting and collaborative research activities with faculty.
- Submit realistic financial/business plans indicating the potential for future employment and for relocation to non-university space within a reasonable period of time.
- Offer evidence of the potential contribution to the economic development of the region and New York State.
- Demonstrate the capacity of meeting user fee obligations and/or the willingness to grant royalties or other pre-approved forms of compensation in exchange for use of facilities and University services.
Costs associated with the use of these Start-Up Suite facilities, including the cost of support services, shall be paid from user fees or from other non-University or Research Foundation sources.
Appropriate campus support services may be offered to emerging technology enterprises provided that the provision of needed services to campus academic and administrative units will not be diminished.
Emerging technology enterprises, including their employees and their consultants who utilize University Start-Up Suite facilities under this policy, will retain ownership of all patentable inventions and discoveries. Start-Up Suite facilities must be clearly defined in terms of space allocation and time of use for this policy to apply.
Faculty who act as company employees and who have ongoing research separate from company activities must keep separate log books of research activity distinguishing accomplishments for each entity.
All inventions and discoveries conceived or reduced to practice using University owned or controlled facilities not covered within the scope of Start-Up Suite use shall belong to the University or the Research Foundation in compliance with the SUNY Patent Policy.
Other applicable SUNY and Research Foundation policies and guidelines shall apply, including those governing university-industry cooperative use of research equipment, the professional obligations of faculty, conflicts of interest, patent, copyright and publishing policies related to faculty research. Students hired by company shall have a faculty advisor other than faculty directly involved in company.
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