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CORVALLIS, Ore. – A longtime leader in launching and growing leading-edge technology firms will present the first Oregon State University “Innovation Lecture” Monday, May 11, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at OSU’s LaSells Stewart Center as part of “Recognizing Excellence Week.”

Patrick Murphy, chief operating officer of The University Funds and a principal at Lawrence Associates LLC, will speak on “Stimulating the Commercialization of Research-based Innovations: Restructuring the IP Assessment Process and Seed-Stage Venture Fund Model.” The talk is free and open to the public.

“Recognizing Excellence” week began last year as an effort to recognize the innovation and creativity at work in the laboratories and classrooms of OSU year round. This year’s Recognizing Excellence events not only include the debut Innovation Lecture, but a luncheon honoring OSU Distinguished Professors and members of the National Academy of Sciences and American Academy of Sciences and lectures by OSU’s two newest Distinguished Professors, Alan Acock of Health and Human Sciences and Jeffrey McDonnell of Forestry. A full schedule of events is available at http://oregonstate.edu/events/excellence/.

Murphy began his entrepreneurial career in 1984 at Medical Computers International, helping to create and market one of the first personal computer-based healthcare billing systems. In the 25 years since, he has built or served on executive teams for multiple startups and has provided strategic sales and marketing consultation for Microsoft, AT&T, Intel and other global technology leaders.

Murphy earned a bachelor’s degree and MBA from Washington State University, which he continues to assist through service on the College of Business National Board of Advisors and Entrepreneurial Studies Program Advisory Board.

His talk at OSU will focus on the risks inherent in each stage of the commercialization process involving university and externally created intellectual property. Murphy will use real-world examples and experiences with unsuccessful commercialization efforts, as well as provide an overview of how The University Funds is attempting to restructure the process to increase the value for each stakeholder, as well as the success rate.

Beverages will be provided in the lobby of the LaSells Stewart Center beginning at 10 a.m., to allow time for networking with university faculty and staff and visiting entrepreneurs.