An incubator for innovation

Manhattan-K-State Innovation Center to grow businesses from research, technology transfer

 

A new campus building set aside to build local industry from K-State research was dedicated recently * Leaders from K-State, Manhattan and state organizations gathered for a dedication ceremony and ribbon-cutting June 27 at the Manhattan-K-State Innovation Center at K-State Research Park.

The center serves as the headquarters for the National Institute for Strategic Technology Acquisition and Commercialization.
Kent Glasscock, the institute's president and CEO, said the recently-dedicated facility offers many advantages over the former headquarters on Hayes Drive.

"From a scientific standpoint, this facility allows us to have very modern, well-equipped, well-appointed scientific labs that will allow us to create greater velocity of development in return," he said. "The location is really important because we are on the edge of the main campus, and the interaction between the main campus and NISTAC already has improved tremendously."

As an example of that cooperation, Glasscock points out that two of the institute's new companies, Pharmcats Bioanalytical Services and Veterinary Diagnostic Labs, are outgrowths of the university.

"I think literally just being up the hill from the College of Veterinary Medicine was a key component in allowing those companies to be conceived and launched," Glasscock said.

The National Institute for Strategic Technology Acquisition and Commercialization was founded in 1994 under the auspices of K-State and the state of Kansas via the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation. The institute also is co-sponsored by the city of Manhattan and the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. The institute fosters startup businesses based on research and development done at K-State as well as those based on technology and patents donated by corporations no longer using them. One of the goals is for these businesses to grow and sustain the local economy.

"We think it's important that we create a pipeline of innovation into the state from around the world," Glasscock said. "We have effectively done that through the donated corporate portfolios. We think it's important that as innovation is attracted to Kansas, Manhattan and our region that we couple that with the university's capabilities, strengths and talents to foster opportunities for further education and return on our investments."

In addition to supporting the local and regional economies, the institute shares K-State's focus on global outreach.

"We understand that the reach of K-State is global, and part of our mission is to take university innovation and technology and find a productive home for that in the marketplace around the world," Glasscock said. "We want to create a pipeline that brings innovation into our region and at the same time find a home and marketplace for innovation from our region."

 

Photo: A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Manhattan-K-State Innovation Center at K-State Research Park took place June 27. Leaders from K-State, Manhattan and state organizations took part in the dedication. Photo courtesy of Dan Donnert, photographic services.