Technology Management ~ Information About Faculty/Staff Start-Ups

The Division of Technology Management provides support for faculty and staff who want to create companies around the products and technologies which they discover and/or develop while working at The University of Mississippi. A key consideration in the formation of a company is the potential for a conflict of interest. Interested faculty and staff should discuss their company plans with the Director of Technology Management early in the process and should review The University of Mississippi Objectivity in Research Policy (http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/research/office/policies/objectivity.doc) to become familiar with the potential conflict of interest issues.   

The State of Mississippi is supportive of the creation of companies based on technologies discovered and/or developed by faculty and staff at Mississippi universities. The Mississippi University Research Authority Act (MURA, Mississippi Code 37-147-3) addresses the potential for a conflict of interest that occurs when an employee of the university wishes to have a material financial interest in a private entity which provides or receives equipment, material, supplies or services in connection with the university in order to facilitate the transfer of technology developed by the employee of the university to commercial enterprises for economic development. The Chancellor submits a MURA application on behalf of the university employee. The Director of Technology Management will help employees prepare an application to MURA using the MURA Form that initiates this process.

Useful information regarding the formation of a business is available from the following agencies:

Mississippi Technology Alliance
http://www.technologyalliance.ms  

Mississippi Development Authority
http://mississippi.org/doing_busn/busn_dev/how_to_start_busn.htm

University of Mississippi Small Business Development Center
http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/umsbdc