Technology Commercialization

For Kansas SBDC innovators, we break down the complexity of commercialization. Our Tech Innovation Center makes it manageable for businesses to run their existing businesses while expanding through research and development. We advise, refer, and connect businesses to the resources they need to succeed and ensure the engagement on both sides of the table is more productive. Our technology commercialization program provides a wide variety of services including but not limited to:

Steps in the commercialization of a product
Understanding the commercialization process model
How to market an idea to a company
Product commercialization strategies

We help innovators interested in working with the U.S. government and private enterprise by connecting the idea people with the people that need the ideas. Our clients include individual developers as well as industries such as biomedical, software development, and UAS. We help our clients make meaningful connections to take the next steps in commercialization.

Tech Center Video Library

The Goldsmith Model

The Kansas SBDC staff uses a model developed by H. Randall Goldsmith, Ph.D. as a tool to determine the status of your innovation from the perspective of technology, market, and business and to identify your next best steps.

Goldsmith Model

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) & Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs

The federal SBIR program was created to stimulate technological innovation, utilize small businesses to meet federal research and development (R&D) needs, and increase private sector commercialization derived from federal R&D. This is a highly competitive program that encourages small businesses with the potential for commercialization to engage in federal R&D.

The federal STTR program is modeled on the SBIR program with similar objectives. It also serves to encourage tech transfer through research between small business concerns and non-profit research institutions. STTR's most important and fundamental role is to bridge the gap between the performance of science and commercialization of resulting innovations. To learn more about SBIR/STTR grants and programs, visit our Resource Guide.

To learn more about the impact and overall assessment of the SBIR program, check out the case studies below.

SBIR grants: Successfully funded university spin-off
SBIR grants: Successfully funded academic collaboration

Rural and Independent Innovators Conference

The Kansas Small Business Development Center (SBDC) developed the Rural & Independent Innovators Conference (RIIC) model to cultivate innovators and entrepreneurs in rural areas of Kansas and to assist independent innovators and businesses anywhere in the state who lack the support of a developed research program. RIIC events are hosted by several Kansas SBDC regional centers throughout the state.

To learn more about the Rural and Independent Innovators Conference, visit https://www.ksinnovator.com/.

Encountering Innovation

Encountering Innovation is a program of the Kansas Small Business Development Center. It provides innovators the opportunity to present and showcase their technology to tech scouts and the public.

Tech Scouts from the Department of Defense, Service Labs, Academia, and various government agencies will listen to pitches, examine poster board displays, discuss government needs, and chat with innovators during lunches and evening networking events.

Through these connections, innovators will gain feedback and direction, and their innovation might be selected for socialization among government agencies and for fast-track contracting.

To learn more about Encountering Innovation, visit https://www.encounteringinnovation.com/.

Creating Opportunity Through SBIR and Encountering Innovation

The Tech Innovation Center hosted SBIR / STTR trainings that covered Encountering Innovation Conference updates for prospective and participating innovators, as well as discussions with experts from PTAC, Tech Warrior Enterprise, other government and business organizations, and entrepreneurs who provide their take on commercializing their technology.

To view our previous trainings, see the video library below.

To view the recorded webinars in the video library, you’ll first enter your email address and name. After entering your info, the first video in the library will begin to play. To navigate through other videos in the library, visit the menu in the upper left-hand corner of the screen and select the “down” arrow to view all recorded webinars and select the one you’d like to watch.

Tech Center: SBIR 201 Series

This recurring series covers in-depth topics surrounding SBIR, including Intellectual Property, NASA iTech program for innovators, and United States Special Operations Command.

To view our previous webinars, see the video library below.

To view the recorded webinars in the video library, you’ll first enter your email address and name. After entering your info, the first video in the library will begin to play. To navigate through other videos in the library, visit the menu in the upper left-hand corner of the screen and select the “down” arrow to view all recorded webinars and select the one you’d like to watch.

Kansas SBDC Tech Innovation Center Director

Alan Badgley

316-290-9434