November 30, 2004

Four southwestern Ontario universities have created one of the nation's largest consortia for technology transfer. UW, the University of Western Ontario, the University of Guelph and McMaster University have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaboratively protect and commercialize technologies deriving from research at each institution.

Technology transfer is a booming business. The Association of University Technology Managers reports that gross licence income was more than $1.2 billion from more than 200 institutions in 2002, with another $1 billion in running royalties. This memorandum is the first of its kind in Canada and puts the consortium on a par with the largest technology transfer institutions in the United States.

This initiative is based on a joint vision for coordination, cooperation, collaboration and commercialization, with the working name "C4". By sharing resources and expertise, the universities hope to establish broader partnerships, apply jointly for funding opportunities and more effectively market and commercialize technologies. The C4 also plans to extend an invitation to other universities in southwestern Ontario, further expanding the local commercialization network.

The C4 universities will benefit from having the ability to draw upon the best resources and strengths from each institution. "We have long been advocating that institutions can improve their knowledge transfer by working with partners and by building on innovation strengths within geographic regions, said Paul Guild, UW vice-president (university research). "There is much to learn about how to support our campus innovators. We will learn more quickly if we do so together."

Says Nils Petersen, his counterpart at the University of Western Ontario: "As a consortium, our probability of linking to appropriate channels in the private sector increases and this will enhance our commercialization output."

"Moving our knowledge out of our laboratories and putting it into practical use is a primary goal for our institutions," said Mamdouh Shoukri of McMaster. "By sharing our resources and knowledge, this consortium will allow us to be even more effective in delivering competitive advantage to industry and others."

WHEN AND WHERE

Miniature exhibition and fund-raiser for the fine arts department continues, 9 to 4, East Campus Hall.

Graduate student referendum on proposed dental plan: polls open online 8 a.m. today through 8 p.m. Thursday.

Waterloo Advisory Council representing co-op employers, fall meeting began last evening, continues to 3:30 today.

'Boxing Day' sale at UW bookstore, today through Thursday, South Campus Hall concourse.

UW-ACE Users Group 10:30, Davis Centre room 1302.

Alternatives Journal table in Student Life Centre 9:30 to 4:00 (today through Thursday) offering holiday discounts on subscriptions.

Internet Safety for Children seminar sponsored by Employee Assistance Program, 12 noon, Davis Centre room 1350, reservations to Johan Reis, health services.

Mystery movie winds up German 359 series ("classic American film that is indebted to German influences"), 6:30, Rod Coutts Hall room 308.

Canadian Undergraduate Technology Conference information meeting Wednesday 5 p.m., Davis Centre room 1301. The conference will be held January 20-22 in Toronto.

Perimeter Institute lecture: Raymond Laflamme, director of UW's Institute for Quantum Computing, "Harnessing the Quantum World", Wednesday 7 p.m. at Waterloo Collegiate Institute, free, tickets 569-7600 ext. 6152.

Orchestra@UWaterloo inaugural concert Thursday 8 p.m., Humanities Theatre, admission free. Math alumni event beforehand, information ext. 3638.

Charity art auction sponsored by "the Funkification Project", Friday evening at Vault Lounge, 9 King Street North, information online.

Year-end note on flexible pension plan

Faculty and staff members got a memo this week reminding them of the UW "flexible pension plan", a retirement savings arrangement that's useful mostly to people who have already reached their maximum Registered Retirement Savings Plan contribution.

"The Flex feature allows you to make additional voluntary tax-deductible contributions without affecting your RRSP room," says the memo from the human resources department. "Each year you decide whether or not you wish to contribute. If you do, your contributions go into a personal Flex Account and earn tax-sheltered interest at the same rate as the UW Pension Fund."

It warns that the total can go down as well as up: "The rate for 2003 was 12.16% meaning flex account balances increased, but for 2002, the rate was minus-4.59% which means the flex account balances decreased."

There's a limit on how much an individual can contribute to the Flex plan, based on salary and pension contributions. For someone earning $105,000 annually, the limit might be about $3,400.

"The balance in your Flex Account is used to improve your UW pension by purchasing Flex Options at the time you retire," the memo says. Three main options are available: Improved early retirement pension ("you can eliminate some or all of the adjustment in your UW pension due to early retirement"); bridge benefit ("this replaces CPP and Old Age Security payments from your early retirement until you are 65"); and "a larger joint and survivor pension if you have a spouse, or a longer guarantee period if you are single". The memo notes: "If you plan to work at UW to age 65, only the third option will be available to you, and you will need to be especially careful not to accumulate too large a Flex Account."

It stresses: "The money in your Flex Account must be used to purchase Flex Options and cannot be withdrawn for other needs or emergencies. Canada Revenue Agency limits the total amount that can be paid to you from the Pension Plan, including your Flex Account. If your Flex Account contains more than you can spend on permissible Flex Options when you retire, the excess is forfeited and must remain in the Pension Fund.

"It is important for you to plan ahead and monitor your Flex Account balance carefully. This is your responsibility: the University cannot provide individual help or counselling. You will need to be especially careful if you plan to work to age 65, or if your pension will be affected by the Canada Revenue Agency maximum. If you are in doubt, you should consult a professional financial advisor.

"Because of the Use It or Lose It Rule and the inability to withdraw funds except as retirement income, most Plan members will want to make full use of their RRSP room before contributing to a Flex Account."

Flex plan contributions for 2004 must be received by cheque not later than December 17, the memo says. More detailed information and examples are available online.

[Sawatsky]

Grebel mourns former president

Rodney Sawatsky (left), a former president of Conrad Grebel University College, died Saturday in Waterloo. He was 60.

Sawatsky came to Grebel as a faculty member in 1974, and served as academic dean, vice-president and acting president, then as president from 1989 to 1994. "Rod Sawatsky's vision and passion for liberal arts education were instrumental in shaping the academic program at Conrad Grebel," says the college's current president, Henry Paetkau. "He helped to forge the close relationship the College has with the University of Waterloo. Rod's vision extended beyond undergraduate education to graduate theological education which would serve the leadership needs of the church. He left an indelible imprint on the College."

In 1994 he was named president of another Mennonite-affiliated institution, Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania, where he was president until his retirement on June 30 this year. He and his wife, Lorna, retired to Waterloo. Says a tribute issued by Grebel yesterday: "In the last months of his life, Rod completed a book, Gracious Christianity, together with a colleague, and enjoyed many stimulating conversations with friends and former colleagues."

Visitation is scheduled for 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 today at the Edward R. Good Funeral Home on King Street. The funeral service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at First United Church. Memorial donations to the Sawatsky Visiting Scholars Fund at Grebel, or to the Mennonite Central Committee, are suggested.

CAR

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