FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Bob Friedman, research professor and director of the GENESIS Technology Incubator since 2001, is stepping down from the position and will assume a new position as co-director of the Satellite Communications Laboratory in the electrical engineering department at the University of Arkansas. James Gattis, associate dean of engineering, will assume responsibilities as interim director of GENESIS on August 16.

Under Friedman, a member of the GENESIS Advisory Board and Executive Committee, the incubator has grown from nine companies in 2001 to 20 companies today. Those companies are each involved in some form of entrepreneurial, technology-based development and commercialization. GENESIS client companies have raised more than $17 million in grants and contracts over the past five years, with $10.7 million in 2003 and 2004 alone.

"We are very grateful to Bob for his technical, business and managerial expertise," said Ashok Saxena, dean, College of Engineering. "We will miss his abilities at GENESIS, but his knowledge and skills will greatly benefit the Satellite Communications Laboratory, which is developing unique ways to increase the utilization of satellite capabilities."

Friedman will work with Neil Schmitt, university professor and director of the laboratory, and will report to Aicha Elshabini, head of the department of electrical engineering.

"I accept this position with great enthusiasm," said Friedman. "I'm grateful to the clients and staff of GENESIS for helping in the considerable advancements that we accomplished together. I'm also grateful to former deans Otto Loewer and Neil Schmitt, as well as Dean Ashok Saxena. I'm looking forward to creating a satellite laboratory that will be dedicated to research and education. In addition, it will be useful to GENESIS clients and an attribute to the University Research Technical Foundation."