Source: Kent Glasscock, 785-532-3900, kentglas@k-state.edu

Friday, Dec. 3, 2010

UNIVERSITY'S TECH TRANSFER GROUP TO HELP COMMERCIALIZE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PORTFOLIO

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University's goal of being recognized nationally as a top 50 public research university by 2025 is getting a boost.

A recently formed partnership between the National Institute for Strategic Technology Acquisition and Commercialization, or NISTAC, and the Midwest Research Institute, or MRI, will use many of the processes in the marketing and commercialization of K-State technologies to help deliver technologies to the market on behalf of MRI.

"This partnership with MRI is key to achieving the K-State 2025 plan," said Kirk Schulz, K-State president. "Since NISTAC works closely with research generated though K-State, we consider the organization to be an extension of the university."

NISTAC was created to help grow the economy of the city of Manhattan, the state of Kansas and the region through the commercialization of K-State intellectual property, either by licensing or facilitation of technology-based business start-ups.

"MRI is one of the premier research institutes in the country," said Kent Glasscock, president of NISTAC. "It's well-positioned for growth on a national and international basis in the coming years. We're thrilled to be associated with it, and very optimistic about the prospect of a partnership with us, MRI and the private sector."

"MRI is excited to work with NISTAC to commercialize more of our technologies. NISTAC's knowledgeable and dedicated team complements MRI's innovative environment. We are confident that the results of our relationship will be valued by the marketplace," said Tom Fleener, MRI chief financial officer.

Glasscock said he expects the MRI portfolio's high-profile nature to help broaden K-State's potential audience.

"Our prime goal is to help convert research into viable commercial opportunities that truly impact the financial landscape of the country," Glasscock said. "We feel that we have been able to achieve this for K-State, one of our founding members, and in our partnership with MRI we look forward to replicating the success that we continue to experience with K-State. It is truly an honor to have the opportunity to serve these great research institutions," Glasscock said.

Since its inception in 1994 the National Institute for Strategic Technology Acquisition and Commercialization has also embarked on several initiatives to help provide greater access to intellectual property, such as a corporate donated patent program, and partnerships with individual investors, with small companies, and more recently with other regional research institutions, such as Wichita State University.

The NISTAC board includes members from the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, city of Manhattan and Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation, as well as K-State employees, former state legislators, senior executives of regional companies and other Manhattan residents.

The Midwest Research Institute is a not-for-profit scientific/engineering organization with nearly 2,800 employees under management nationwide. It performs scientific research and engineering technical services for clients in government, industry and academia. Established in 1944, MRI conducts technical services in the areas of national security and defense, energy and environment, life sciences, food and agriculture, and transportation safety.

MRI is one of two partners in the Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC, which manages and operates the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., for the U.S. Department of Energy.

MRI is headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., but also has operations in Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia.