The office of technology commercialization and economic development (OTCED) at the University of Missouri-Rolla is offering a free series of seminars on intellectual property issues, beginning with “The Importance of Patent Law to Research Universities” at noon on Wednesday, May 3, in the St. Pat’s Ballroom of the Havener Center on the UMR campus.         

“The seminars are designed to give the UMR community and others the opportunity to learn about the processes of technology transfer with respect to viable technologies,” says Keith Strassner, director of OTCED. “We want to inform technologists about the steps involved in transferring research results from university laboratories to the commercial sector.”         

The seminars are free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Online registration is encouraged at http://ceo.mst.edu/step.html . For more information, email umrceo.mst.edu or call (573) 341-4690.                  

OTCED is a partnership between UMR and the University of Missouri Extension, in conjunction with the Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach, the Missouri Small Business Development Center, the Missouri Federal and State Technology Program, the Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Centers and the Economic Development Administration’s University Center Program.