The Fuzzy Front End - How Technological Breakthroughs are Achieved

New high technology products are used in our society on a daily basis, but how exactly are our high-tech "gadgets" found, financed and developed? Will a shaky economy, war on terrorism and increased focus on homeland security inhibit the development of new technologies? Or can these spur new private-public partnerships that advance the creation of new innovations?

These topics and other issues about how our scientists achieve new high technological breakthroughs are discussed this Sunday on Technogenesis, a TV program produced by Stevens Institute of Technology, in cooperation with cn8, the Comcast Network.

Featured guests include Dr. Peter Koen, Associate Professor, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Dr. Ed Dormier, Vice President of Research and Development, Ethicon, Inc.

The Technogenesis program, "The Front End of Innovation. Finding How Technological Breakthroughs are Achieved," airs at 7:00 p.m., on cn8, the Comcast Network, each of the following Sundays in the New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore regions: Nov. 18, Dec. 2, Dec. 16 and Dec. 30. The program will also appear at various times throughout the week on the local Comcast outlets in Prince William and Fairfax counties, VA, as well as Prince George's County, MD. Please check for local listings.

Dr. Koen is currently an Associate Professor at Stevens' Wesley J. Howe School of Technology Management and the director of the university's Consortium for Corporate Entrepreneurship. Dr. Koen has performed extensive research in determining where the most profitable ideas in large corporations are developed. He is also an expert in identifying the creation and flow of knowledge at the beginning of the innovation process, as well as how to obtain start-up funds for new technologies.

Dr. Dormier is an expert in the research and development of new technologies, particularly in the area of polymer physics. He currently serves as the vice president of research and development for wound closures at Ethicon, Inc., and is also a member of the board. He has over 13 years of experience at various corporations, including 10 years with the Mobil Chemical Company. Dr. Dormier has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Cooper Union, and received his Masters and Ph.D., also in Chemical Engineering, from Princeton University.

Co-produced by Stevens and Comcast, the half-hour Technogenesis programs feature government, research and industry leaders discussing some of the most challenging real-world issues facing science and technology today.

Hosted by Stevens President Harold J. Raveche and veteran TV journalist Steve Taylor, each program includes two or more special guests from the areas of science, technology, government, education, business or industry.

The Comcast Network is one of the nation's largest regional cable networks reaching close to 4 million households in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870 and celebrating 140 Years of Innovation, Stevens Institute of Technology, The Innovation University TM , lives at the intersection of industry, academics and research.  The University's students, faculty and partners leverage their collective real-world experience and culture of innovation, research and entrepreneurship to confront global challenges in engineering, science, systems and technology management.

Based in Hoboken, N.J. and with a location in Washington, D.C., Stevens offers baccalaureate, master’s, certificates and doctoral degrees in engineering, the sciences and management, in addition to baccalaureate degrees in business and liberal arts.  Stevens has been recognized by both the US Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security as a National Center of Excellence in the areas of systems engineering and port security research. The University has a total enrollment of more than 2,200 undergraduate and 3,700 graduate students with almost 450 faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America as well as strategic partnerships with industry leaders, governments and other universities around the world.  Additional information may be obtained at www.stevens.edu and www.stevens.edu/press.