The annual Biotechnology Research and Technology Review Day Professor Venture Fair is hosted by the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech), the Office of Technology Commercialization, and the College of Chemical and Life Sciences. The pitch competition encourages scientists to consider the commercial potential of their work and challenges them to translate their ideas to a general, non-technical audience.

This year's Professor Venture Fair was sponsored by the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO).

Both past winners in the fair's relatively brief, three-year history have gone on to create successful start-up companies. Last year's winner, Matt Dowling, had already started Remedium Technologies in 2007, and the company, now in the Mtech VentureAccelerator Program, continues to develop its Velcro-like biomaterial bandages.

Lawrence Sita, the 2007 winner, started Precision Polyolefins, a company that could revolutionize the plastics industry by introducing a clean alternative to existing methods of plastics production.

"Investors can find it difficult to navigate the wealth of research at universities to pinpoint a major market winner," says Dean Chang, director of Mtech's venture and
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