CT SB01130

Board of Trustees of UConn shall develop and maintain a program to recruit eminent faculty whose research supports economic development and meets societal needs or can be commercialized, with eligibility limited to individuals demonstrating research excellence and interest in collaborative work.

UConn president must develop a recruitment and hiring plan for research faculty by April 1, 2020, and biennially thereafter, outlining operating and capital costs and hiring goals, with annual progress reports to relevant General Assembly committees.

UConn president shall oversee benchmarking of technology transfer policies at leading institutions and develop a comprehensive plan by January 1, 2020, prioritizing startup business formation over patent licensing and including recommendations for faculty and student entrepreneurship support.

Higher Education Entrepreneurship Advisory Committee within CTNext shall consist of representatives from public and private institutions, students, and serial entrepreneurs, and shall review grant-in-aid applications with priority given to collaborative initiatives between institutions and alumni mentor networks.

UConn shall promote entrepreneurship and innovation to prospective students and faculty, build entrepreneurial culture through networking events, release unused patents held for ten years or more, and seek collaborative relationships with other Connecticut higher education institutions on entrepreneurial efforts.