News

The AI-enabled TTO

           On March 21st, Foresight attended an AUTM webinar called “The AI Enabled TTO.”  The presenters were Marc Sedan & John Kearney of NYU and Declan Weldon from the University of Glasgow. These presenters provided background information on what AI is, how to implement it in your workplace, the worries/challenges of AI, and specific use cases in their workplace to show how to adapt AI to your everyday. The most common callout from all of the presenters was resistance to change. This problem is their biggest hurdle, and more specifically, people do not want to change processes they have used for countless years. Once the experts demonstrated how AI worked, they introduced it into the workplace in steps. It then started to get more widely used and saved time and money while at the same time giving users the confidence to use this in their everyday work.

      Mr. Kearney talked in depth about how NYU was one of the first places to gain access to AI, other than the healthcare field. NYU introduced AI to their workplace, giving 40 people access to explore and play with it. It took around four weeks for people to start making use cases. Six months after being introduced, they have over 200 use cases, with 75% of the office using AI. Once people started using AI and gained confidence, they found countless use cases for AI. He mentioned three stages for users of AI. Stage 1: Understanding basic concepts, Stage 2: Refining & Learning from AI, and Stage 3: Expanding your AI applications. All three steps are integral to getting comfortable with AI and using it to help with everyday/repetitive tasks. He also mentioned that the money invested into the specific AI chosen comes back to your workplace –by reducing the time spent on repetitive tasks and, at the same time, keeping billable hours the same, taking dead data off the books, and making things more efficient and correct. He went on to say that these are all ways that can affect the bottom line.  

      Mr. Weldon was the last presenter of the day. He supported a lot of what Mr. Kearney stated. Mr. Weldon agreed that The University of Glasgow has been resistant to change. He also agreed with the notion that it has a steep history. Lastly, Mr. Weldon concurred that the challenge had a lot to do with how to adopt AI into the University and getting staff to implement it. Mr. Weldon was passionate and excited about how AI can benefit the college. He was so excited that he even had Mr. Kearney fly there to help introduce it to his employees. Mr. Kearney spent time training basic prompts and dealing with simple aspects of AI to staff and worked on streamlining contracts, disclosures, and dead data. What did they find? They spotted partnerships hidden in corporate data, helped find new projects/opportunities for the university from the old data, helped streamline and drastically reduce hours for invention disclosures while keeping the validity of the form intact, and finally, helped with client contract review (a 1-hour process reduced to 10 minutes).

         Overall, this webinar was an excellent opportunity to see detailed examples of AI use in the workplace. The webinar also showed that resistance to change was very common. But after giving AI a chance, the possibilities are endless. Finally, the webinar showed that the money will return to your workplace. AI is a worthy venture to explore because AI will be a big part of our workplace future.

ASTP Annual Conference 2024 Exhibit

         Foresight Science & Technology is excited to be sponsoring and exhibiting at the ASTP Annual Conference in Seville, Spain, on May 22-24, 2024. Our message this year is focused on CraftsmanshipWisdom & Excellence—celebrating 40+ years of service and experience in the field of technology and knowledge transfer. We are also happy to announce a new EU office in Rome, Italy, and eager to share the collective expertise of over 60 Senior Consultants with our European clients. What better place than the ASTP Annual Conference—the largest gathering of Europe’s knowledge transfer professionals—to showcase the full range of consulting and training services we have to offer?! Check out the ASTP website to learn more here. If you are a current client, or interested in how Foresight can help add value to your office or organization, please contact Arendt Speser to arrange a meeting (arendt.speser@foresightst.com). We look forward to seeing you in Seville!

FLC National Conference 2024 Exhibit

Foresight Science & Technology will be exhibiting at the 50th Anniversary FLC National Meeting in Dallas, Texas on April 9 -11, 2024.

Be sure to stop by if you would like to learn more about our assessments, SBIR program support, and training. Still not sure if you would like to attend? Check out their website here, or contact Alyssa Belleville at alyssa@foresightst.com for more information.

NIAID Small Business Applicant Assistance Program

Now Full!

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Small Business Applicant Assistance Program (AAP) Cycle 3 opened on December 20, 2023 at 12pm EST. This program cycle is intended for applicants who plan to submit their Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant applications for the April 5, 2024 submission deadline.

The NIAID Small Business AAP will offer support for companies planning to apply for a NIAID Phase I, Phase II/IIB, Fast Track, or Direct-to-Phase II Small Business Innovation Research STTR/ STTR Awards at no cost. NIAID encourages AAP participation from small businesses that are owned or operated by individuals who are traditionally underrepresented in biomedical sciences, such as women-owned small businesses, socially/economically disadvantaged small businesses, and companies located within Historically Under-utilized Business (HUB) Zones.

Participants in the NIAID AAP will work one-on-one with a Senior Consultant from Foresight Science & Technology, who will help you prepare your proposal with such services as Outlines and Checklist, Registration Guidance, Review and Feedback on Commercialization Plan, Research Strategy, Budget, and/or other Attachments.

To be eligible for the program, you must meet the following criteria:

  • The research area of interest aligns with the mission of NIAID. You can read NIAID High-Priority Areas of Interest to determine if your application fits within NIAID’s mission.
  • Your company intends to submit a Phase I, Phase II, Fast Track, or Direct-to-Phase II SBIR/STTR application. Completion of the 4 required registrations is strongly recommended for all applicants. If you have completed the registrations in the past, please make sure that all registrations are renewed and updated properly.
  • Your Phase II application must be received within the first six receipt dates following the expiration of the Phase I budget period.
  • Your company intends to submit an application for the April 5, 2024 grant submission deadline.
  • Your company must be eligible to apply for NIH SBIR/STTR grants based on the NIH Small Business Eligibility Criteria.

View the Slides from the Informational Webinar which took place on December 18, 2023 to learn more.

Participation in the AAP is limited to the first 35 qualified applicants.

 

For additional questions regarding the NIAID Applicant Assistance Program, please contact:

Mrs. Kelli Cardoso
Program Administrator
Foresight Science & Technology
Email: kelli.cardoso@foresightst.com

Entrepreneurship and Grantsmanship Training Program for First-Time Entrepreneurs

Foresight Science & Technology is excited to be working alongside the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) in association with the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to provide training and resources for a new Innovator to Entrepreneur Program (ITEP). This program will benefit inventors developing technically sound, innovative products but having little to no experience in turning their inventions into a business and in business grantsmanship. ITEP will assist these aspiring entrepreneurs by providing them with cohort-based comprehensive training covering the key elements of company launch, business strategy development, IP protection, market research and customer discovery, startup financing and SBIR/STTR grantsmanship. This training will be provided at no cost to all participants.

To be eligible for the program, participants must meet the following criteria:

  • Have little to no previous experience in entrepreneurship
  • Have not previously received an NIH SBIR/STTR award
  • Develop products that are within the scope of NIAID and NHLBI areas of interest

Upon successful completion of the program, participants will be equipped with the necessary knowledge, tools, and resources to launch and run a company and apply for the NIAID/NHLBI SBIR/STTR programs.

It is a well-known fact that participation in entrepreneurship has significant racial and socio-economic barriers. ITEP strongly encourages participation from underrepresented groups, including Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs) and Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs) This program may be of particular interest to organizations actively promoting innovation and entrepreneurship among minorities, women, and socially disadvantageous groups such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Women Business Organizations, HUBZone programs, and others.

View the Slides from the Informational Webinar (which took place on Dec 6) and be sure to subscribe to the NIAID email list and NHLBI Newsletter to receive up-to-date information about ITEP and other opportunities!

 

For questions regarding the NIAID-ITEP Program, please contact:

Mr. Reda El Alami

Foresight Science & Technology
Email: reda.elalami@ForesightST.com

Foresight President and COO Announces His Retirement

It is with mixed emotions we announce the retirement of Norton Kaplan, our beloved President and COO. His last day with the company is December 29, 2023.

Norton’s outstanding leadership and operational expertise for more than 14 years have had a lasting effect on our organization. We will remember Norton for his many accomplishments, which include developing the Senior Consultant Service Model, growing the Foresight staff into a powerhouse in the industry, and nurturing the founder’s focus on exceptional value for our customers. On behalf of the entire organization, we would like to extend our gratitude and thanks to Norton for his many years of service.

“I am grateful for the many years of trust and support that I have received from the professional staff, the Foresight Board of Directors, and our many dedicated consultants and customers. I am confident that Alyssa, Konstantin, and the team will continue the good work that Foresight is known for. I will miss my work family and wish everyone continued success,” said Norton Kaplan.

As we transition to a new management team, we welcome back Arendt Oak Speser to the Foresight team. Arendt will take on the role of CEO, effective immediately. We are very excited to have him back and look forward to continuing to serve our clients and partners.

-Foresight Science & Technology Board of Directors

Foresight Exhibit at AUTM 2024

Foresight Science & Technology will be exhibiting at the AUTM Annual Meeting in San Diego on February 18-21, 2024. For those who don’t know, the AUTM Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of Tech Transfer Pros. At this event, attendees will have the opportunity to get inspired, make connections, and learn from some of the greatest leaders in the field. Want to know more? Click here. Also, if you’re attending, be sure to stop by booth 517 to learn more about our Market Assessments and SBIR Services!

TechConnect & SBIR Fall 2023 Conference Exhibit

Foresight Science & Technology will be exhibiting at the SBIR/STTR Fall Innovation Conference co-located with the 2023 Defense TechConnect Conference in Washington, DC on November 28-29, 2023.

Swing by our Booth 703 to learn about our SBIR/STTR Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) services! If you can’t make it, check out information here or contact Alyssa Belleville at alyssa@foresightst.com.

Foresight Receives USDA SBIR Phase II Award to Research Novel Peptides for Controlling Invasive Ants

Foresight Science & Technology, Inc. (Foresight) has received a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture to further develop a control method for imported fire ants using novel bioactive peptides. The successful USDA Phase I research demonstrated the effectiveness of USDA patented peptides in laboratory experiments. In Phase II, a bait formulation with the peptides as the active ingredient will undergo field tests and further refinement of the bait formulation. The ultimate objective of this research is to develop an effective, environmentally neutral bait formulation for bait stations, primarily for household and small garden applications.

The peptides are covered in US Patent 9,771,393 B2. Bioactive Peptides Having Insecticide Activity, Choi and Vander Meer, issued Sep. 26, 2017; US Patent 10,017,538. Bioactive Peptides Having Insecticide Activity, Choi and Vander Meer, issued Jul. 10, 2018; and PCT WO 2016/0262388 A1 and WO 2018/0086790 A1. The research will be performed under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between Foresight and the USDA, Agricultural Research Service.

For further information, please contact Daniel Satinsky, Daniel.satinsky@foresightst.com.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fair

Foresight Science & Technology’s Director of Consulting & Training, Dr. Konstantin Izvolsky, will be a panelist at the upcoming Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fair being held at the University at Albany, NY on October 20th, 2023. At the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fair, attendees will have the opportunity to network, pitch their ideas to a seasoned venture panel, and explore how breakthrough discoveries move from the University to the marketplace. More info can be found here.