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FOSTERING INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP 347

the classroom setting. Touching on physical layout, the future and recognizes that the gains we have made
proximity to key areas, opportunities for engage- can only be sustained and surpassed if our national
ment, the groups of people sharing the space, and and global leadership continue to make economic and
more, Farritor offers a blueprint that cannot guar- social improvements and advancements a priority.
antee innovation but will certainly give faculty and T&I’s regular features include the United States
administrators a starting place for considering the Patent and Trademark Office’s commentary, which
key characteristics their makerspaces should have focuses on their Patents for Humanity awards.
in order to promote innovation output. This is their top honor for innovators who bring
New analysis tools are expanding the options for life-changing technologies to those in need. This
innovation researchers. While previous researchers issue’s NAI Fellow Profile features professor, inventor,
often speculated on the relationship between inputs, and serial entrepreneur Dr. Joseph DeSimone, who
such as patents or funding, and outcomes, such as discusses how his company Carbon is revolution-
product releases or initial public offerings, new soft- izing the Maker Movement, why we shouldn’t be
ware tools enable researchers to analyze innovation pessimistic about the impact that 3D printing and
event data more efficiently. Tools such as EventFlow other technologies will have on jobs, and what really
make it possible to rapidly scan visual displays, makes innovative teams successful. The T&I book
algorithmically search for patterns, and study an review assesses Paul Swamidass’s book Engineering
aggregated view that shows common and rare pat- Entrepreneurship, From Idea to Business Plan. Finally,
terns. This paper presents initial examples, using data T&I is pleased to present a new feature in this issue,
from 34,331 drugs or medical devices, of how event Innovation in Action, which focuses on exciting new
analytic software tools such as EventFlow could be technologies, drugs, and processes being developed
applied to innovation research. at universities across the country and around the
Vinit Nijhawan discusses the great benefits that world.
universities can achieve in the tech transfer arena by The various papers in this issue have been written
applying platform strategies, strategies which have by individuals who are known innovators and/or
propelled the success of companies such as Uber and entrepreneurs. I sincerely thank these authors for
Airbnb. As he notes, these new strategies are neces- their contributions to this issue and their perspica-
sary because the majority of universities engaging in cious observations about I&E, especially what makes
these commercialization activities do not generate it successful in a university setting. This issue provides
enough to cover costs despite the encouragement substantive (and new) information, including mean-
provided by the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980. By employ- ingful examples, that furthers the understanding of
ing platform strategies, which focus on connecting I&E. I thank the reviewers for their helpful comments
people, organizations, and resources in an interac- and criticisms of the manuscripts.
tive ecosystem, Nijhawan shows the real results that Finally, I am indebted to Kimberly Macuare for
Boston University was able to achieve, including her guidance, patience, and numerous suggestions
significantly accelerated research and intellectual to help make this issue possible.
property commercialization.
James Smith’s contribution takes a wide view of REFERENCES
innovation history, focusing on the centrality of inno-
vation to our society’s economic and social success. 1. Advisory Committee on Measuring Innovation
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Specifically, he argues that energy and the trans- in 21 Century Economy. Innovation measure-
portation afforded by that energy has allowed us to ment: tracking the state of innovation in the
advance as a society. Starting from the origins of the American economy. Washington (DC): Depart-
Industrial Revolution in the United States, he traces ment of Commerce; 2008.
the progression of innovation and the concomitant 2. Wikipedia contributors. Entrepreneurship.
development of the U.S. as a global powerhouse, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 2017 May
highlighting the interdependent relationship between 22 [accessed 2017 May 15]. https://en.wikipedia.
the two. After his historical review, Smith addresses org/wiki/Entrepreneurship.