The buzzword of the 1980s and ’90s was “entrepreneurship.” This decade, the obsession is with “innovation” as the presumed path to riches for people and nations. Since the key generators of innovation are research universities and the key implementers of innovation are companies, there is an ever-increasing focus on making the university and industry interface more effective. But will the twain meet? It could be very difficult.

Academic institutions have huge reputations and visibility, but a very small or dedicated core staff. For instance, MIT is huge in reach, breadth, impact, and reputation. Yet its core faculty has hovered around 900 since 1950. Contrast this with IBM at some 350,000 employees.

The obsession with marrying research and markets, while generally a strength of American capitalism, leaves some needs unmet. To fill them, “companies need boots on the ground at universities,” says Henry Chesbrough, a business professor who studies innovation at the University of California, Berkeley.

Innovation Showcases: academic and government technology transfer offices, along with university-based startup companies, present the latest and greatest technologies in life sciences and physical sciences to affiliate members in these rapid-fire, business-oriented sessions. The Showcase will be followed by AUTM's new "Getting Down to Business" Social Hour, a reception for academics, company representatives, investors and other service providers an opportunity to get to know each other in a relaxed social setting.