University News

Craig Grossman has been named interim executive director for the University of Memphis FedEx Institute of Technology. Grossman sees an extraordinary opportunity to build the research capacity and academic offerings at the University by engaging regional businesses in non-traditional ways. "The work being done in the University's labs coupled with the energy of the region's great corporations creates a real opportunity," said Grossman. "Through the Institute, we can build reinforcing paths of innovation and commercialization like those found in the Bay Area, Boston and Atlanta. Through the fantastic work being done here, the University, our corporate partners, the region and the world all stand to gain."

Over the past year, under the direction of Vice Provost Andrew Meyers, the Institute has successfully supported campus research, connected its business partners to research on campus and hosted innovative events including research showcases and roundtables. "In order for the Institute to continue to grow, it needs a full time director, said Shirley C. Raines, president of the University of Memphis. "Craig's technology start-up, business and licensing experience will be invaluable to the Institute as researchers at the University seek to go public with products from their research."

"We look forward to working with Craig in continuing the FedEx Institute's vision of nurturing innovative young minds and extending the camp fire of new ideas to the business community," said Robert C. Carter, CIO of FedEx Corp.

Grossman has been an assistant professor of law at the U of M's Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and associate director for law and technology at the FedEx Institute of Technology since August 2003. At the law school, he taught business, intellectual property and technology related subjects.

Prior to his academic career, Grossman practiced in the Intellectual Property Work Group of Irell & Manella in Los Angeles, where he represented a wide range of software, hardware, Internet and traditional entertainment clients. He also served as General Counsel, then President and CEO of Scour, Inc., a leading multimedia Internet search technology company and Web destination. At Scour Grossman managed a lawsuit of national prominence against the major film studios and record labels and concurrently ran a successful reorganization and sale process.

Grossman's current research and writing focuses on the conflict between entertainment and technology companies over P2P networks, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the transformative effect of technology on the legal regimes governing the use of content.

Grossman is a magna cum laude graduate of the Harvard Law School and served as law clerk to Judge Alfred Goodwin of the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit upon graduation. He also holds a B.A. and M.A. in history with highest honors from Stanford University.

The University of Memphis FedEx Institute of Technology is a state-of-the-art research facility. Resident researchers and students are studying artificial intelligence, robotics, multimedia communications, business networks and supply chains and work space planning. With support from its Partner Network of business, research and government organizations, the Institute identifies and invests in the development of new ideas, approaches and technologies in three priority areas: learning technologies, business network and supply chain tools and biomedical/biosensor technologies.

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