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Tech Transfer on the Ground
Manufacturing in Colorado
MEP Center is Measured by Results
TT Anecdotal Assumptions
• 5-10% of manufacturers have cultures that support tech transfer discussions– Mostly in the 20-100 person range– Usually already technology oriented in product or
process– Running up against a competitive or product-
development wall
TT Anecdotal Assumptions
• Tech Transfers occur between two people• Process of approximations and refinement• Yield is relatively small
– Problem has to be almost existential– Tech has to address a pretty narrow issue– Competing for attention with more familiar
solutions and routine operations
TT Anecdotal Assumptions
• It’s at heart a communication problem– Technologists talk technology– Manufacturers talk problem statements
• Key is bridging the gap between the two to get a seed planted
What We Have Done• Find receptive manufacturers
– One-at-a-time discussions with the Usual Suspects
• Established relationship is critical
• Some manufacturers sought help
• Ongoing discussions on issues– Focus on growth and
development– Include process issues– Listen for key obstacles or
opportunities
• Find receptive institutions and technologists– TT vs. IPP– Build relationship and knowledge– Some institutions reached out
• Ongoing discussions on technologies– We have to learn enough to be
credible to both sides– Determine tech opportunities at
high level– Listen for tech that we think has
potential, real or imagined
Success Story - NASA
• Dedicated liaison on our staff– Brilliant Engineer– Excellent people skills– Problem solver– Established network within NASA research centers
• Visited 63 companies in 12 months• Resulted in 2 tech transfers
Success Story - Allosource
• It’s where you go when you have a heart on your driver’s license
• Speed and timing is critical• Issue: Pathogen Screening• Obviously, they should talk to Jet Propulsion
Lab!
“ALLOSOURCE SIGNS SPACE ACT AGREEMENT WITH NASA AND JET PROPULSION LABORATORY Technology used in NASA Mars missions will provide insights into microbial testing related to tissue processing”
Result
The molecular microbial detection technology used in the rigorous pre- and post-mission testing of the Mars mission spacecraft components provides an opportunity for AlloSource to evolve microbial testing on donated tissue. In order for tissue to be safe and suitable for transplant, an array of intense, specialized scientific testing is required. Tissue is subjected to microbiological testing at recovery and must be free of specific microorganisms and contaminants that would preclude tissue from processing or transplantation. Additional post-processing testing is also required before the tissue is transplantable. NASA, JPL and AlloSource will share ideas and processes related to microbiological testing methods and will look for new ways to rapidly detect the presence of microorganisms.
Success Story - Lifeloc
• It’s what happens after the cop asks you for your driver’s license
• Accuracy, speed, and cost is critical• Existing tech based on fuel cells• Obviously, they should talk to Glenn Research
Center!
ResultBreathalyzer firm takes cue from NASA technologyWheat Ridge-based Lifeloc Technologies Inc. signed a five-year agreement with the U.S. space agency’s Glenn Research Center, in the hope that NASA sensor technology can help make better, cheaper and smaller alcohol breath testing machines.
• NASA has sensor technologies, using microchips, which could be adapted to measuring the contents of breath, holding the promise of shrinking the breathalyzers and making them cheaper to produce.
• Lifeloc found potential to explore manufacturing other kinds of sensors — for disease detection, or to test air in mines for harmful gases — more cost-effectively than the company could otherwise.
• “Things moved from intriguing to quite interesting very quickly,” Knott said. “We got to the point where we said, gee, let’s go ahead and see where this goes.”
Our Conclusions
• TT is hard and takes people digging into problems from both sides
• Yield is small, payback potentially large• It’s a match-making business. • Credibility of the match-maker is a key
component• It’s a relationship business• Trusted relationship is a key component
