Purdue Research Foundation to Honor 59 University Entrepreneurs, Researchers

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Fifty-nine Purdue University faculty, staff and students whose discoveries received patents during the 2010-2011 fiscal year will be recognized Wednesday (Nov. 2) during the Purdue Research Foundation's annual Inventors Recognition Reception.

Lonnie D. Bentley, professor in the Department of Computer and Information Technology, will receive the 2011-2012 Outstanding Commercialization Award for Purdue University Faculty. The award was established with an endowment gift from the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership Foundation.

Bentley is co-founder, board member and vice president of business development for Broadband Antenna Tracking Systems (BATS) Inc. The Indianapolis-based company provides enhanced electronic communications through automated antenna aiming and tracking technology for broadband directional antennas. Bentley co-developed the technology at Purdue with Anthony Smith and Michael Kane, also of the Department of Computer and Information Technology.

"What's important to the success of the technology is that there was a communication need that wasn't being met, and we met that need. What we have developed is adaptable to many situations," Bentley said.

The communication technology currently is being used by first responders to natural disasters, homeland security officials, for oceanic vessel-to-vessel communication and other situations.

Previous recipients of the Outstanding Commercialization Award include Stephen R. Byrn, Alok Chaturvedi, R. Graham Cooks, the late Leslie A. Geddes, Philip S. Low, Karthik Ramani, Fred Regnier and George Wodicka.

"It is essential to recognize faculty, staff and student researchers at Purdue University because their discoveries may be developed into applications that strengthen the agriculture, communication, energy, health-care, manufacturing and security sectors," said Joseph B. Hornett, senior vice president, treasurer and COO of the Purdue Research Foundation. "Their tenacity also should be recognized because the process to deliver research from the laboratory to the public can take years."

In the fiscal year that ran from July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2011, Purdue Research Foundation officials reported 269 invention disclosures, an increase from the previous fiscal year's total of 257 disclosures. The foundation also reported 303 patent applications worldwide, 97 issued patents worldwide and the creation of seven startups formed from Purdue-licensed technologies.