OGDEN -- Innovation brings new jobs to the Top of Utah and Weber State University hopes to both innovate and create new jobs with a grant from Utah Science Technology and Research.
The $84,500 grant, awarded through the Technology Commercialization Grants program, will go to fund three research projects at the university.
Curt Roberts, vice provost of innovation and economic development, said the money, which comes from a federal stimulus program, goes to a university to help an inventor or company push an invention into the market place. All grant recipients are companies that want to build jobs within the state.
"It's a program to create a direct return to the taxpayer because of the jobs that are created within the state," Roberts said. "We're creating companies that are creating jobs."
With the grant, Weber State University will fund a project to develop a helium-impermeable membrane for use in lighter-than-air craft, a hovercraft autonomous target vehicle and a low-sodium fluid and dispenser to reduce incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia and chronic lung disease among ventilated intensive care patients.
Weber State won three out of the eight grants in the last round of funding from a pool of 31 applicants representing seven public universities and colleges in Utah. The University of Utah and Utah State University do not participate in the Technology Commercialization Grants program because they have a different source of revenue for similar projects.
"We think it's a good program. We have got a larger number awards than any institution in the state," Michael Vaughan, provost and vice president of academic affairs, said. "We like the program and we're pleased to participate."
According to the university, the grants assist faculty at regional institutions to prototype, test, assess markets, and commercialize new products and services in high-growth markets. Also, Utah-based companies and other organizations willing to sponsor technology development work at regional public institutions of higher learning may jointly apply with a faculty member.
Previous grant recipients include an out-of-state company that makes headsets for pilots. With the grant, they developed a wireless headset at Weber State University and the new headset will be manufactured in Northern Utah.
With another grant, the university worked with a company called Agwa to develop an improved drinking valve for a pressurized hydration pack.
This is the fourth round of Technology Commercialization Grants program awards. USTAR has awarded six to 10 grants on a quarterly basis since November 2009.
So far, Weber State University has won 15 of the 35 grants awarded.
"I think we have a very invigorating faculty here who are capable of working a broad range of products," Roberts said. "When we see an inventor who needs help, it's very common that we can find someone on campus that can do that work and do it in a really quality way."
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