One of the slides used in the virtual Tech Showcase event to introduce the panel speakers.
The 2020 Technology Showcase welcomed more than 300 viewers for half a day of presentations and panels on technology commercialization and collaboration. The annual event once again highlighted the capabilities of the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNL), National Cancer Institute (NCI), and greater Frederick region—but this year, with its novel virtual format, it reached new audiences. Attendees logged in from all over the world, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Brazil, Malaysia, and China. It was a first for the typically regional event.
“[The virtual format] allowed us to be accessible to everyone in the world,” said Leonard Freedman, Ph.D., FNL chief science officer, in his opening remarks. It was a clear win for an event that aims to foster collaboration.
Innovative technologies
The focus of this year’s event was technologies. NCI has more than 350 currently available for licensing and even more available for collaboration. Three FNL and six NCI inventors presented cutting-edge technologies they developed, then addressed questions from the virtual audience.
“The technologies highlighted the breadth and depth of expertise at NCI and FNL,” said Maggie Scully, Ph.D., of the FNL Partnership Development Office, who moderated the presentations. “This year, cancer therapeutics from small molecules to antibodies, an HIV vaccine, drug delivery platform, and computing solutions were showcased. Each technology pitch was a neat package of the value of the biomedical solution complete with a concise snapshot of data and market description.”
In addition to the technologies presented by the inventors, the NCI Technology Transfer ambassadors presented virtual posters on other available technologies.
A full agenda
The event also featured remarks from keynote speakers Kelly Schulz, secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce, and Howard Bland of Kite Pharma. Schultz and Bland each noted the growing biotech community in Maryland and, specifically, in Frederick County, a region some international attendees previously knew little about.
There were also four educational panels given by moderators and panelists from investment firms, industry, nonprofits, and various government laboratories and agencies.
“This year’s event went beyond expectations,” said Vladimir Popov, Ph.D., director of the FNL Partnership Development Office. “We had so many variables at play, but everything went according to the plan. Every technology presentation and panel went smoothly and was very well received by the audience.”
Looking forward
The event co-sponsors—FNL, NCI, the Frederick County Office of Economic Development, the City of Frederick Department of Economic Development, and TEDCO—are already busy planning the next event.
“The international reach of the Tech Showcase, which included registrants from Canada to Switzerland to China, is something we plan to continue in 2021,” said Michael Salgaller, unit supervisor of the NCI Technology Transfer Center. “This is achieved by developing a hybrid live-virtual event. The Tech Showcase Planning Committee has begun discussing how to accomplish this for the fifth annual event. We look forward to taking on the challenge of creating a program relevant to a local, national, and worldwide audience while maintaining the core mission of creating awareness to foster licensing from, and partnerships with, NCI and FNL.”
