NC State has a long history of driving economic growth through the commercialization of its research discoveries, with over 500 products to market and 100 startup companies launched. The Office of Technology Transfer continued this tradition in 2015 by executing 139 commercialization agreements and breaking records for startups created (12) and revenue generated ($7.6M). These numbers are a big reason why NC State ranked so highly in a recent report by the Association of University Technology Managers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To recognize NC State\u2019s innovative and entrepreneurial individuals who made this possible, the OTT held its 26th Celebration of Innovation and Entrepreneurship this November. Chancellor Randy Woodson hosted over 100 NC State faculty and staff to honor the recipients of the Innovator of the Year and Dr. John S. Risley Entrepreneur of the Year awards. These awards are presented annually to a faculty, staff, or student inventor or entrepreneur that has demonstrated excellence in innovation or entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Sylvia Blankenship, Associate Dean for Administration, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Sylvia Blankenship is an inventor of one of the most successful technologies ever developed at NC State. Along with her co-inventor, Dr. Edward Sisler, Dr. Blankenship discovered 1-methylcyclopropene, a material that blocks the activity of the naturally occurring plant hormone ethylene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The technology extends the storage life of fruit and floral products and is used in over 26 countries around the world. This has led to revolutionary changes in the way apples and other products are handled in the postharvest environment. Dr. Blankenship is a Professor in the Horticultural Science Department. She has worked on postharvest problems in a number of crops including apples, peaches, pears, tomatoes, peppers, sweet potatoes, bananas, and flowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She is a fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science and received their Outstanding Researcher Award. Dr. Blankenship is also an International Society for Horticultural Science Fellow. She received her B.S. and M.S. degrees from Texas A&M University in 1977 and 1979, respectively. She received her Ph.D. degree from Oregon State University in 1983, specializing in postharvest physiology. She joined the faculty at NC State in 1983.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Innovator of the Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Todd Klaenhammer, William Neal Reynolds professor, Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Todd R. Klaenhammer is a true visionary in the area of food microbiology and biotechnology. Dr. Klaenhammer and his research team have a distinguished IP portfolio that has resulted in 36 issued patents and 22 licenses and executed options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2009, the UNC Board of Governors awarded him the prestigious O. Max Gardner award for the most outstanding research in the system. His group has published over 280 articles on lactic acid bacteria, their bacteriophages, and probiotic cultures and their genomic traits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Klaenhammer was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences in 2001. He is a Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Microbiology, the Institute of Food Technologists, and the American Dairy Science Association. He obtained degrees in Microbiology (B.S), and Food Science (M.S. & Ph.D.) from the University of Minnesota. He joined the faculty at NC State in 1978.<\/p>\n\n\n\n