The technologies have been patented and spun off into 12 independent companies with assistance from the A&M System’s Office of Technology Commercialization. Now in various stages of commercialization, the companies are seeking investment capital to further develop their technologies and bring them to the marketplace.

“We are excited to bring together the outstanding intellectual capital of our A&M System researchers with entrepreneurs and investors from all over the world at this important event,” said Guy Diedrich, vice chancellor for technology commercialization for the A&M System. “Our goal is to turn findings in health care, energy, the environment and many other areas into products that will provide a strong return to investors, value to inventors and extraordinary benefits to society.”

The Texas A&M University System Technology Commercialization and Investment Forum will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 28, 2006, at the InterContinental Hotel at 2222 West Loop South in Houston. The forum will be hosted by venture capital firm Millennium Energy Ventures, LLC, (MEVCO), which manages the privately sponsored Millennium Emerging Technology Fund LP and the Millennium Life Science Fund LP.

Expected to attend are private and corporate investors, venture capitalists, investment bankers, pension fund managers and mutual fund managers primarily from Texas, New York and the California Bay area, as well as a large contingency from Asia, Europe and other international markets.

Robert McTeer, chancellor of the A&M System, will deliver remarks during the forum luncheon. “This is the first time our university system has hosted an event of this magnitude, paired with a private venture capital firm to identify potential investors for companies spun out from A&M technologies,” he said. McTeer has led several efforts to place more emphasis on technology commercialization across the A&M System, including revising the System’s policy to take patents and commercialization of research into account in the faculty tenure process.

The 12 companies presenting at the forum were selected from those commercializing top technologies from the world-renowned research programs of the A&M System’s nine universities, seven state agencies and comprehensive health science center. Their research addresses advances in a wide range of fields, including agriculture, food and feeds, energy, industrial applications, biopharmaceuticals, chemical industries, biofuels, medical devices, medical diagnosis, telemedicine, pharmacologics and therapeutics, intelligent vision and robotics.

Companies presenting at the forum include the Houston-based Qixar Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which focuses on drug delivery applications, including one that could substantially reduce the frequency of injections. Qixar technology was developed by Magnus Hook, a professor of biochemistry and biophysics based at Texas A&M Health Science Center’s Institute of Biosciences and Technology in Houston.

Also presenting at the forum will be technology developed by Raul Cuero, research scientist and distinguished professor at Prairie View A&M University, now being commercialized through Organi-Coat, Inc. The company develops low-cost, organic, natural solutions for coating marine surfaces that can replace or reduce the heavy metals and other toxins currently used in coatings as well as in disinfectants to prevent mold and bacteria.

College Station-based Plantacor, Inc. is developing therapeutic products for use in the treatment of cancer and other diseases. The company’s compounds are expected to move drug candidates more quickly from discovery to human testing. Plantacor CEO Gary Richardson said “This pairing of a university system’s science with interested investors is a first in Texas, and long overdue. We’re excited to participate in this unique event demonstrating the vision and leadership of the Office of Technology Commercialization.”

Other College Station-based companies presenting include StarRotor Corporation and CorInnova, both developed by Texas A&M University professors. StarRotor engines should require significantly less fuel than conventional engines, while offering high performance and low pollution. CorInnova is a medical device company that is developing and testing devices offering physical therapy for diseased hearts. CorInnova was recently recognized with a grant from the Emerging Technology Fund established by Governor Rick Perry.

The Texas A&M University Technology Commercialization and Investment Forum is open only to accredited investors as defined by SEC Rule 501 Reg. D and Rule 502. For more info, see www.sec.gov/answers/accred.htm. Registration deadline is September 26, 2006. For more information and a complete list of companies presenting, visit www.mevco.com. For more information about the Texas A&M University System, visit www.tamus.edu and for more information about the Office of Technology Commercialization, visit otc.tamu.edu.