Programs to help Nebraska businesses, inventors and entrepreneurs develop new technologies are the focus on a noon presentation today (Nov. 18) at the UNL Research Fair.

The lunch presentation at the Wick Alumni Center is geared for UNL faculty, staff and students interested in R&D collaborations with industry, startup companies and commercializing technology. The event is free but registration is required. The Research Fair schedule lists the registration link.

Joe Fox, business innovation manager for the Nebraska Department of Development, will outline several state programs and funding opportunities. Nebraska’s Business Innovation Act programs provide funding to develop new technologies, including grants for collaborations with UNL faculty and matching funds for awarded Small Business Innovation Research grants.

A panel of UNL faculty and industry partners will discuss their experience with the grant programs, how to balance startup activity with faculty responsibilities, best practices in R&D collaboration with industry and outcomes of their funded projects. Panelists will be Can Vuran, associate professor, UNL computer science and engineering and founder of Wildsense LLC.; Galen Erickson, UNL animal science professor; and Russ Zeeck, CEO, and Joe Luna, business strategy manager, Pellet Technology.

The 2014 Fall UNL Research Fair runs through Thursday. All events are free but some require registration. Check the web schedule often or the latest information.