Technology Transfer

Connecting research at area institutions to commercial investors

Opportunity

Connect researchers at area universities, health care institutions and large companies that develop intellectual property with individuals and companies who are able to bring these ideas to the commercial marketplace.

Area universities, medical research facilities, hospitals and large companies employ researchers or support academic work that often results in promising technology developments and applications.

The Whiteboard to Boardroom initiative enables the process of skill transfer of knowledge, technologies, and methods of manufacturing to ensure that scientific and technological developments are accessible to a wider range of users who can then further develop and exploit the technology into new products, processes, applications, materials or services.

Solutions

Support intentional efforts to connect research at area institutions to commercial investors and companies interested and capable of taking the research to market.
Urge state technology transfer support organizations to enhance services to Kansas City area research institutions inidentifying commercial application opportunities.
Identify funding to support increased visibility of KCSourceLink’s White Boards to Board Room program.
Create a “CEO Bullpen” program that identifies top executive talent to work with researchers and potential investors to advance ideas to commercialization.

Benefits & Outcomes

Provides ideas and capacities for entrepreneurs looking for project investment.
Enables opportunities for research to be connected to resources for commercialization
Provide execution support for ideas developed in research settings

Existing Resources

KC SourceLink, UMKC Innovation Center

UMKC Office of Technology Transfer

University of Kansas Center for TechnologyCommercialization

Kansas State University Center for Engagement &Community Development

Johnson County Community College

William Jewell College

Missouri University of Science & Technology Transfer Office

KU Medical Center and other hospitals

Missouri Technology Corporation

Kansas Dept. of Commerce Innovation Growth Program

Large companies

Projects in action

Smart Gigabit Communities

On a foundation enabled by the Smart Gigabit Communities grant, we’re in the second year of a three-year program that’s built around two goals: building at least two gigabit apps per year, and establishing a Digital Town Square that connects next-generation network resources within the metro area to keep gigabit traffic local and between other gigabit communities.