The Thomas Walter Center for Technology Management was established in 1989 with a grant from a private foundation to honor a distinguished alumnus of the College of Engineering, Mr. John Thomas Walter, native of Selma, AL, and former EDS executive. Mr. Walter received a degree in engineering physics from Auburn University in 1955 and has become one of its most accomplished graduates. The programs of the Center are made possible by endowments, gifts, Auburn University funds, and research sponsors.

The mission of the Center from the inception is to train engineering and business students in common programs and to study and improve the solutions to problems at the interface between business and engineering disciplines. 

The strategies for accomplishing the mission of the Center include joint academic programs for engineering and busines students, enabling of technology commercialization and invention monetization, and research on topics at the interface of business and engineering. 

The Center's notable programs are:

1. An academic two-year minor for selected engineering and business students called the Business-Engineering-Technology mnor (16 credits); it consists of seven custom-designed courses delivered by senior professors from both college; among other things, business and engineering student teams learn to develop business plans for complex technologies; the program takes applications in January and has over 60 students enrolled.
2. Assistance to Auburn University and others on technology commercialization; and
3. Research publications on technology transfer and technology commercialization.

For information on the Thomas Walter Center of Technology Management, please contact:

Thomas Walter Center
Ramsay Hall, Room 211
Auburn University, AL 36849
Phone: 334/844-4333
Fax: 334/844-1678

Website: http://www.eng.auburn.edu/center/twc/
Email: swamidas@auburn.edu