The KC region does not have an organization that spans the entire continuum of technology transfer activities or has resources to develop regional tools and infrastructure to support such a network.

A new, bi-state regional organization will focus on developing and managing a comprehensive regional technology transfer network focused on efficiently and knowledgeably moving innovations to the marketplace. The network will also support active technology mining strategies to provide a coordinated system for identifying and assessing technologies existing in the academic and private sectors.

Successful completion of this effort will represent a significant transformation in commercialization activities within the region.

Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute will serve as the fiscal agent and will handle all necessary invoicing and report generation necessary for compliance with MARC, State, and USDOL regulations. TeKConvergence, Inc. will manage all programmatic aspects of the project and will be responsible for expenditure of all funds.

Goals:

• Establish a new organization responsible for developing and managing a comprehensive regional technology transfer network focused on efficiently and knowledgeably moving innovations to the marketplace.
• Establish a Commercialization Advisory Committee to provide advice, counsel, and recommendations to the new organization.The Committee will be comprised of regional and national experts in technology transfer and commercialization.The current technology transfer task force should serve as the nucleus for the Committee.
• Promote the integration of entrepreneurial education programs into all aspects of the regional technology transfer network.

Establish active technology mining as a key function of the new organization coupled with technical and commercial assessment services related to new applications.