UW: Open for Business
Fall 2007
Each quarter, visit this Web page to find some of the most important news about research commercialization, partnerships, start-ups, and other ways the University of Washington is building relationships with Washington businesses and helping strengthen our state's economy.
News Alerts
UW Names Business School to Honor Michael G. Foster
Northwestern has Kellogg. Penn has Wharton. In fact, 41 of the top 50 business schools in the country are named in honor of generous and influential donors. On Sept. 20, the UW joined their ranks: In recognition of The Foster Foundation's multigenerational relationship with the UW and generous support of the UW Business School, we are naming our business school the Michael G. Foster School of Business.
UW Achieves $1 Billion Research Milestone
At the end of the 2006–2007 academic year, the UW passed the $1 billion mark for research funding in a single year for the first time in its history. This is a major economic victory for Washington state. Much of the money will go toward generating innovations and knowledge in high-impact areas, such as technology, medicine, and the environment.
Ask the President
Question of the Quarter
“Would you please tell us more about yourself and your goals for the UW?”
See the answer.
Profiles in Partnership
Faster, Cheaper Port-Safety Technology
With funding from Erudite Inc., an Everett-based supply chain security and logistics company, Les Atlas, UW professor of electrical engineering, is testing a low-cost acoustic profiling technology that can track and monitor the security and integrity of ship cargo containers. If a container appears to be tampered with, the system analyzes the changes and, if necessary, alerts authorities.
Top Dawg
Meet Ben Hall
Dr. Hall is best known for developing a protein production technique that led to a vaccine for Hepatitis B. It all started from his experiments with splicing yeast DNA. So how is he following up on an achievement of this magnitude? He’s researching another seemingly mundane topic: the evolution of Rhododendron DNA. However, it’s the potential outcome that makes it beneficial for our region: His discoveries may provide clues to understanding major continental and plate tectonic movements.
Discoveries & Opportunities
Mind over Metal
Meet a student-designed robot you can control with your brain. Watch the video.
Judge Student Business Plans
Volunteer at the UW Business School’s 2008 CIE Business Plan Competition.
PlayStations Aren’t Just for Gaming
Together, IBM and the UW are discovering how to use a game console microprocessor to produce high-quality medical images.
Doing Business at UW
Saving Green by Building Green
Besides being named for a truly stellar researcher, the brand-new Benjamin Hall Interdisciplinary Research Building also is a strong symbol of the UW’s dedication to environmental stewardship. Also the designer-builder team agreed to operate and maintain the building at a guaranteed price for the full 30-year contract. This ensured us the most economical construction costs and building life cycle costs and resulted in some clever cost-saving innovations.