Oregon’s first signature research center strengthens industry connections
Corvallis, OR – April 3, 2013 – Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute announced today that Len Blackstone has been appointed as its new High Tech Extension Director. Blackstone will assist Oregon’s research universities in growing and connecting their technology research and shared user facilities capabilities to small business and industrial clients.
“I’m honored and delighted to be part of ONAMI’s talented team and the outstanding Silicon Forest science and technology community,” commented Blackstone. “ONAMI is a demonstration of Oregon’s commitment to technology-based economic growth. I look forward to helping Oregon’s university research expertise connect to private industry.”
Skip Rung, president and executive director of ONAMI, said “Len Blackstone has 30 years of experience helping organizations grow, from multibillion dollar Fortune 500 companies to small, entrepreneurial start ups; both for profits and nonprofits. He is a master marketer whose work has gained national media attention, been a college instructor, and is a recurring guest lecturer at major universities. We’re very fortunate to find someone of Len’s caliber to fulfill this role and expand Oregon’s national and global footprint.”
Blackstone is also CEO of Blackstone, Inc., a management and strategic marketing consulting firm. He is an expert at exploring and assessing new market opportunities, identifying marketing strategies, and developing go-to-market tactics. Prior to starting his consulting firm in 2001, Blackstone led numerous national and international marketing campaigns. He is also on the board of directors of the Oregon Bioscience Association and a member of the Association for Corporate Growth.
About ONAMI (Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute)
ONAMI is an alliance of academic, industry and government leaders committed to technology-based economic growth in Oregon by accelerating the research and commercialization of advanced materials and device technologies. ONAMI has three major programs: (1) The ”High Tech Extension” program which connects Oregon’s academic research facilities to industry and startups on a fee-for-service basis; (2) The ONAMI Commercialization Gap Fund: helping entrepreneurs transition technology from discovery to business success through university partnerships and mentoring by ONAMI’s entrepreneurs-in-residence; and (3) Technology and talent development capacity growth by assisting collaborative teams of academia, national laboratory and industry researchers to win major federal and private funding opportunities.
Since its founding in 2004, ONAMI has leveraged $386 million in federal and private research and capital investment dollars. Thirty nine U.S. patents related to nanoscience or microtechnology have been issued to ONAMI member researchers. ONAMI’s gap fund startup companies have raised $113 million in leveraged funds.
For more information, contact:
Skip Rung, president and executive director, ONAMI
Direct (541) 713-1331
Cell (541) 231-4883
skip@onami.us
www.onami.us
Len Blackstone
High-Tech Extension Director, ONAMI
Direct (541) 942-3870
Cell (541) 501-5396
len.blackstone@onami.us
www.linkedin.com/in/lenblackstone