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H.B. 125

             1     

CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE AMENDMENTS

             2     
2007 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Bradley M. Daw

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Sheldon L. Killpack

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Centers of Excellence Act by creating a commercialization grant
             10      component to more readily link companies with college and university researchers in
             11      transitioning their research developed technologies into industry.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    modifies the recognized purposes of the Centers of Excellence Act to include
             15      facilitating the transition of research generated technologies from the state's colleges
             16      and universities into industry to grow and expand the state's economy;
             17          .    provides that, in addition to state colleges and universities, Centers of Excellence
             18      grants may be awarded to companies who are working in partnership with colleges
             19      and universities and their researchers to transition their research generated
             20      technologies into industry for economic development;
             21          .    provides that a repayment by a college or university of grant proceeds or a portion
             22      of grant proceeds shall come only from the proceeds of a license established
             23      between the company and the college or university, or in the case of a company that
             24      receives a grant, from the proceeds of the license to that company; and
             25          .    provides that the Governor's Office of Economic Development may enter into work
             26      agreements with business team consultants, who would assist colleges and
             27      universities in facilitating the transition of technology into industry.


             28      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             29          None
             30      Other Special Clauses:
             31          None
             32      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             33      AMENDS:
             34          63-38f-701, as last amended by Chapter 356, Laws of Utah 2006
             35          63-38f-703, as enacted by Chapter 148, Laws of Utah 2005
             36          63-38f-704, as last amended by Chapter 356, Laws of Utah 2006
             37      ENACTS:
             38          63-38f-705, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             39     
             40      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             41          Section 1. Section 63-38f-701 is amended to read:
             42           63-38f-701. Purpose.
             43          (1) (a) The Legislature recognizes that the growth of new industry and expansion of
             44      existing industry requires a strong technology base, new ideas, concepts, innovations, and
             45      prototypes.
             46          (b) These generally come from strong research colleges and universities.
             47          (c) Technical research in Utah's colleges and universities should be enhanced and
             48      expanded, particularly in those areas targeted by the state for economic development.
             49          (d) Most states are enhancing their research base by direct funding, usually on a
             50      matching basis.
             51          (e) The purpose of this part is to catalyze and enhance the growth of these technologies
             52      by encouraging interdisciplinary research activities in targeted areas and by facilitating the
             53      transition of these technologies out of the university environment into industry where the
             54      technologies can be used to enhance job creation.
             55          (f) The Legislature recognizes that one source of funding is in matching state funds
             56      with federal funds and industrial support to provide the needed new technologies.
             57          (2) The Legislature recommends that the governor consider the allocation of economic
             58      development funds for Centers of Excellence to be matched by industry and federal grants on at


             59      least a two-for-one basis for colleges and universities in the state that offer any doctoral
             60      degrees.
             61          (3) (a) The Legislature recommends that the funds be allocated on a competitive basis
             62      to the various colleges and universities in the state[.] and to companies working in partnership
             63      with colleges and universities to commercialize their technologies.
             64          (b) The funds made available should be used to support interdisciplinary research in
             65      specialized Centers of Excellence in technologies that are considered to have potential for
             66      economic development in this state and to help transition these technologies out of the colleges
             67      and universities into industry.
             68          Section 2. Section 63-38f-703 is amended to read:
             69           63-38f-703. Definitions.
             70          As used in this part[, "centers]:
             71          (1) "Business team consultant" means an experienced technology executive,
             72      entrepreneur, or business person who:
             73          (a) is recruited by the office through a request for proposal process to work directly
             74      with a college or university in the Centers for Excellence program; and
             75          (b) works with the institution to facilitate the transition of its technology into industry
             76      by assisting the institution in developing strategies, including spin out strategies when
             77      appropriate, and go-to-market plans, and identifying and working with potential customers and
             78      partners.
             79          (2) "Centers of excellence" means university-based, federal and industry-supported,
             80      cooperative research and development programs.
             81          (3) "Direct license" means the licensing between a company and a Utah college or
             82      university of technology developed at the college or university for the intent of
             83      commercializing the technology or facilitating its transition into industry.
             84          (4) "Licensee" means:
             85          (a) a company that executes or is in the process of executing a direct license; or
             86          (b) a sublicensee of the technology from a direct license.
             87          Section 3. Section 63-38f-704 is amended to read:
             88           63-38f-704. Administration -- Grants.
             89          (1) The Governor's Office of Economic Development shall administer this part.


             90          (2) (a) The office may award Centers of Excellence grants to the various colleges
             91      [and], universities, and licensees in the state for the purposes of this part.
             92          (b) The governor's Office of Economic Development shall develop a process to
             93      determine whether a college or university that receives a grant under this part must return the
             94      grant proceeds or a portion of the grant proceeds if the technology that is developed with the
             95      grant proceeds is licensed to a licensee that:
             96          (i) does not maintain a manufacturing or service location in the state from which the
             97      licensee or a sublicensee exploits the technology; or
             98          (ii) initially maintains a manufacturing or service location in the state from which the
             99      licensee or a sublicensee exploits the technology, but within five years after issuance of the
             100      license the licensee or sublicensee transfers the manufacturing or service location for the
             101      technology to a location out of the state.
             102          (c) A repayment by a college or university of grant proceeds or a portion of the grant
             103      proceeds shall come only from the proceeds of the license established between the licensee and
             104      the college or university.
             105          (d) (i) A licensee that receives a grant under this part shall return the grant proceeds or
             106      a portion of the grant proceeds to the office if the licensee:
             107          (A) does not maintain a manufacturing or service location in the state from which the
             108      licensee exploits the technology; or
             109          (B) initially maintains a manufacturing or service location in the state from which the
             110      licensee exploits the technology, but within five years after issuance of the grant the licensee
             111      transfers the manufacturing or service location for the technology to an out of state location.
             112          (ii) A repayment by a licensee that receives a grant shall come only from the proceeds
             113      of the license to that licensee.
             114          (iii) A repayment by a licensee shall be prorated based only on the number of full years
             115      the licensee operated in the state from the date of the awarded grant.
             116          (3) (a) Funding allocations shall be made by the office with the advice of the State
             117      Advisory Council for Science and Technology and the board.
             118          (b) Each proposal shall receive the best available outside review.
             119          (4) (a) In considering each proposal, the office shall weigh technical merit, the level of
             120      matching funds from private and federal sources, and the potential for job creation and


             121      economic development.
             122          (b) Proposals or consortia that combine and coordinate related research at two or more
             123      colleges and universities shall be encouraged.
             124          (5) The State Advisory Council on Science and Technology shall review the activities
             125      and progress of [individual centers] grant recipients on a regular basis and assist the office in
             126      preparing an annual report on the accomplishments and direction of the Centers of Excellence
             127      Program.
             128          Section 4. Section 63-38f-705 is enacted to read:
             129          63-38f-705. Business team consultants.
             130          (1) The office may enter into work agreements with business team consultants through
             131      a request for proposal process to participate in the Centers for Excellence program.
             132          (2) Under a work agreement, a business team consultant shall assist a college or
             133      university in facilitating the transition of its technology into industry.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-16-07 12:14 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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