CLEVELAND – George Harker, a senior business development, marketing and technical professional has been named associate vice president for technology transfer, engineering and physical sciences and executive director of the Wright Fuel Cell Group (WFCG) at Case Western Reserve University.  He will assume his new role May 1.

Harker comes to Case from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta where he served as Director, Office of Technology Licensing (OTL) and assistant vice provost for economic development and technology ventures.  

“George Harker has a very successful track record and vast technology transfer experience,” said Mark Coticchia, vice president for research and technology management at Case.  “We are fortunate to have him lead the Wright Fuel Cell Group and our technology transfer efforts in engineering and the physical sciences.”

In his role as associate vice president of technology transfer, Harker will be responsible for the evaluation, protection and commercialization of intellectual property developed from Case’s extensive research activities.  

As executive director of the Wright Fuel Cell Group, he will lead the organization’s mission to establish the state of Ohio as a national leader in fuel cells, assist in-state businesses to capture five percent of the global fuel cell market and stimulate economic development within the state.  Harker has served on the Wright Fuel Cell Group Board of Directors since 2004.

Harker brings over 25 years of broad technology transfer/licensing, research and development, financial, legal and manufacturing experience in both the U.S. and over 45 countries on six continents.

While at Georgia Tech from 2001-07, he was responsible for all technology transfer activities.  In the 2006 fiscal year, his office received 365 invention disclosures, filed 84 patent applications, had 38 patents issued and assisted in the start-up of 10 companies using Georgia Tech intellectual property.  He also was responsible for research contracts with industry sponsors and interfacing the OTL with the university’s economic development efforts. He developed strong connections to the research, entrepreneurial, angel and venture capital communities in Georgia and throughout the United States.

He also helped found and lead both the Georgia Technology Transfer Group and the Organization of Southeast U.S. Universities Technology Transfer Directors.

In 1999, following a successful career in industry, Harker was named the first director, office of technology transfer at West Virginia University.  There he established the office that was responsible for identifying, patenting and marketing research and technology with potential commercial value.  He also worked to strengthen ties between research and technology at WVU and state economic development initiatives.

Harker spent a dozen years at DuPont, serving in a number of roles including production superintendent and international technician.  He began his professional career as a research chemist at DuPont.    

Additionally, Harker was the director of international business for Nelson Brothers, Inc., a specialty chemicals manufacturing and sales company in Birmingham, Ala., and the Ensign-Bickford Company, a blast initiation systems manufacturer and seller in Simsbury, Conn.  He also was the vice president of marketing and corporate development at Chemtex International, Inc. in New York.  

His business experience covers a wide variety of functions, including technology transfer, research and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales, business development, strategic alliance and joint venture development, project management, financial analysis and legal.

Harker earned his doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of New Orleans and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Louisiana State University.

He is a member of the American Chemical Society, the Licensing Executives Society and the Association of University Technology Managers. While at Georgia Tech, he was a member of the Atlanta Technology Executives Roundtable, the Technology Alliance of Georgia and the Georgia Biomedical Partnership. 

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About Case Western Reserve University
Case is among the nation's leading research institutions. Founded in 1826 and shaped by the unique merger of the Case Institute of Technology and Western Reserve University, Case is distinguished by its strengths in education, research, service, and experiential learning. Located in Cleveland, Case offers nationally recognized programs in the Arts and Sciences, Dental Medicine, Engineering, Law, Management, Medicine, Nursing, and Social Work. http://www.case.edu.