Sobocinski receives SBA small business research advocate awards

Philip Z. Sobocinski, assistant director in the Office of Corporate Relations, has been named by the U.S. Small Business Administration as the recipient of its first Wisconsin and Regional Small Business Research Advocate of the Year (2003).

Sobocinski was recognized with the two awards for his work promoting small business through research, including efforts to develop an enhanced technology transfer climate for Wisconsin by “advocating for small businesses and serving as an evangelist in identifying the role of technology-based small business in economic development.”

Erica Kauten, director of Wisconsin’s Small Business Development Centers and one of the people who nominated Sobocinski for the SBA awards, says Sobocinski’s work has had broad implications for local, state and federal policymakers: “He showed that universities are contributors to small-business births and growth and that policymakers interested in sustaining an environment that supports job-creating small businesses should take the findings from his work into consideration.”

Sobocinski joined the UW–Madison staff in 1987. As associate director for technology development and commercialization at UW–Madison in his position at University-Industry Relations, he played a leading role in helping move university research to the marketplace, and especially to small technology-based companies in Wisconsin.

In acknowledging Sobocinski’s awards from the SBA, U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl says: “I understand the commitment to excellence that is necessary to building a successful business. Through your research, you assist businesses to learn and grow. Your work helps strengthen our state and country’s economy.”

Among his accomplishments, Sobocinski has helped nurture the infrastructure to increase the availability of venture capital for small technology-based businesses.

“Dr. Sobocinski has played a crucial role in Wisconsin’s progress in research, technology transfer and small-business development,” Kauten says. “He has let the world know that Wisconsin has a strong research base, a world-class tech-transfer function, a world-class licensing function and the creative entrepreneurs to help technology-based businesses grow.”