The Fuzzy Front End - How Technological Breakthroughs are Achieved

New high technology products are used in our society on a daily basis, but how exactly are our high-tech "gadgets" found, financed and developed? Will a shaky economy, war on terrorism and increased focus on homeland security inhibit the development of new technologies? Or can these spur new private-public partnerships that advance the creation of new innovations?

These topics and other issues about how our scientists achieve new high technological breakthroughs are discussed this Sunday on Technogenesis, a TV program produced by Stevens Institute of Technology, in cooperation with cn8, the Comcast Network.

Featured guests include Dr. Peter Koen, Associate Professor, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Dr. Ed Dormier, Vice President of Research and Development, Ethicon, Inc.

The Technogenesis program, "The Front End of Innovation. Finding How Technological Breakthroughs are Achieved," airs at 7:00 p.m., on cn8, the Comcast Network, each of the following Sundays in the New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore regions: Nov. 18, Dec. 2, Dec. 16 and Dec. 30. The program will also appear at various times throughout the week on the local Comcast outlets in Prince William and Fairfax counties, VA, as well as Prince George's County, MD. Please check for local listings.

Dr. Koen is currently an Associate Professor at Stevens' Wesley J. Howe School of Technology Management and the director of the university's Consortium for Corporate Entrepreneurship. Dr. Koen has performed extensive research in determining where the most profitable ideas in large corporations are developed. He is also an expert in identifying the creation and flow of knowledge at the beginning of the innovation process, as well as how to obtain start-up funds for new technologies.

Dr. Dormier is an expert in the research and development of new technologies, particularly in the area of polymer physics. He currently serves as the vice president of research and development for wound closures at Ethicon, Inc., and is also a member of the board. He has over 13 years of experience at various corporations, including 10 years with the Mobil Chemical Company. Dr. Dormier has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Cooper Union, and received his Masters and Ph.D., also in Chemical Engineering, from Princeton University.

Co-produced by Stevens and Comcast, the half-hour Technogenesis programs feature government, research and industry leaders discussing some of the most challenging real-world issues facing science and technology today.

Hosted by Stevens President Harold J. Raveche and veteran TV journalist Steve Taylor, each program includes two or more special guests from the areas of science, technology, government, education, business or industry.

The Comcast Network is one of the nation's largest regional cable networks reaching close to 4 million households in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.

Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 2,150 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate students, with about 250 full-time faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.  

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