Center on Knowledge Translation for Technology Transfer
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SBIR Accomplishments
Center on Knowledge Translation for Technology Transfer (KT4TT)
Center for Assistive Technology, University at Buffalo
Funded through the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
KT4TT’s Involvement with NIDRR Phase II SBIR grantees
The KT4TT offers technical assistance to NIDRR Phase II SBIR grantees that have been awarded funding and have generated a proof of concept prototype under their Phase I award. The KT4TT has not been involved in the selection of either Phase I or II awards. As the SBIR grantees are independent companies and have no mandate to work with the KT4TT Center, we contact the Phase II grantees and offer assistance, but it is strictly their decision if they wish to accept our offer of assistance or not.
Additionally, the KT4TT will respond to requests for assistance from Phase I grantees, as well as entities intending to apply for SBIR funds. This level of technical assistance (for non-funded or Phase I grantees) is limited to 5 to 8 hours of staff time per entity. Our involvement may begin as early as Stage 1 in the Need to Knowledge (NtK) Model, and continue throughout the lifecycle of the project.
For a select number of Phase II grantees in our three NIDRR directed topic areas (Environmental Access, Sensory and Wheeled Mobility) the primary mechanism for working with these grantees involves a demonstration of KT & TT ‘best practices’ using their funded concept as the basis of our demonstration project. The SBIR grantee receives both instruction on the use of the best practices and the end results from our joint effort. Again, as an independent funded grantee, the SBIR grantee is free to use the information we gather and provide or not use it. As part of our agreement with the SBIR grantee, a confidentiality agreement is signed, stating that all intellectual property generated from our joint efforts remains the property of the Phase II grantee.
T/A Provided by KT4TT to SBIR Grantees and Potential Grantees
(Information in parenthesis indicates the number of findings housed in the knowledge base that are related to each stage and step)
Stage 1: Define Problem and Solution
(49 primary findings at stage level; 105 primary findings at the step level)
- Consulted with individuals interested in submitting Phase I or Phase II SBIR proposals to identify unmet needs, possible business opportunities, and potential paths to market.
Stage 2: Scoping
(58 primary findings at stage level; 67 primary findings at the step level)
- Offered consultation in defining innovation opportunities.
- Provided information on disability statistics – including where to find information; in some cases compiled marketing data.
- Performed preliminary business, market and technical assessments on their funded SBIR grant topic.
- Provided competing technology assessment.
- Identified potential barriers for company.
Stage 3: Conduct Research and Generate Research-Based Findings
(27 primary findings at stage level; 39 primary findings at the step level)
- Provided general Information and consulting on SBIR funding and recommended agencies and institutes within NIDRR, NSF and NIH.
- Provided submission deadlines, discussed what work was appropriate for Phase I versus Phase II awards, and reviewed topics of interest to each funding agency.
- Reviewed company’s proposal outline and made suggestions regarding the various sections of the document.
- Provided sample proposal of funded Phase 2 grant to be used as a guide for grantees (KT4TT received permission from funded grantee to share proposal).
Stage 4: Build Business Case and Establish Development Plans
(56 primary findings at stage level; 202 primary findings at the step level)
- Assisted in seeking co-development partners – Made brokering introductions to researchers, other corporations, and NIDRR grantees.
- Assisted in securing additional funding.
- Contributed to business case development by providing market data and compelling argument for device or service.
- Provided intellectual property information – assisted in providing information for decision on whether to patent the device or not.
- Developed consumer testing criteria for focus groups.
- Provided detailed primary marketing research in the form of focus groups to identify and prioritize customer needs.
- Provided device-specific consumer purchase intent/price point information to the grantee.
- Assisted in building static models for consumer research.
Stage 5: Implement Development Plan
(43 primary findings at stage level; 36 primary findings at the step level)
- Designed and conducted pre-production prototype usability studies.
- Provided intellectual property guidance to Phase 2 grantees seeking to license their work.
- Provided information on what conferences and shows a grantee may want to attend for exhibiting, seeking partners, or presenting.
Stage 6: Testing and Validation
(40 primary findings at stage level; 62 primary findings at the step level)
- Provided beta focus group testing/user trials.
KT4TT publications and presentations intended to benefit the SBIR audience:
- Lane, JP and Flagg, J. (2011). "Beyond Theoretical Discussions: Operationalizing Knowledge Translation for Successful AT Commercialization", January 27-30, Orlando, Florida
- Leahy, J. (2011). "Guide for Inventors: Idea for an AT Product Now What Do You Do?", ATIA, January 27-30, Orlando, Florida
- Leahy, J (2010). "Targeted Focus Groups in Product Development", PDMA Global conference on Product Innovation Management, October 16-20, Orlando, Florida
- Lane, JP, Westbrook, J. (2010). "Getting from Knowledge to Action: Effectively Communicating R&D Value to Multiple Stakeholder Groups", RESNA 2010, June 26-30, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Leahy, JA. (2010). "Ownership of AT Innovation: Differing Perspectives of Researchers, Universities, and Companies, RESNA 2010, June 26-30, Las Vegas, Nevada.
- Tomita, M, Flagg, J, Schlueter, E. (2009). "Internet-based diabetic monitoring system for patients with sensory impairment", IASTED, Cambridge, Massachusetts, November 2-4, 2009.
- Leahy, JA. (2009). Consumer Products, Baby Boomers & Profit, PDMA's 33rd Annual International Conference. October 31-November 4, 2009
- Leahy, JA (2009). "Intellectual Property Basics for Researchers and Inventors", RESNA 2009, New Orleans, Louisiana, June 23-27, 2009
- Leahy, JA. KT for TT. (2009). Ensuring Technology-based R&D matters to Stakeholders. ATIA Conference 2009, Orlando, FL, January 28-31, 2009
- Bauer, SM, Flagg, JL. (2010). Technology Transfer And Technology Transfer Intermediaries. ATOB, Summer 2010 6(1).
- Leahy, JA, Lane, JP. (2010). Knowledge From Research And Practice On The Barriers And Carriers To Successful Technology Transfer For Assistive Technology Devices. ATOB, Summer 2010 6(1).
- Lane, JP. (2008). Delivering the "D" in R&D: Recommendations for Increasing Transfer Outcomes from Development Projects, Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits, Fall 2008 Special Issue.
- Webcasts:
- Leahy, J. (2010). Intellectual Property Basics for Researchers and Inventors
- Flagg, J. (2010). The KT4TT Knowledge Base: Steps and Supporting Evidence to Improve Your Process!
- Leahy, J. (2010). Begin with Knowledge Translation: Have the End- Technology Transfer- In Mind.
- Lane, J. (2009). Knowledge Translation for Technology Transfer: Beneficial Impacts from Research and Development.
- KT4TT Chronological Guide for Inventors- Intellectual Property Module
- A Resource Guide to Evaluation in the Context of New Product Development
- Training Module on Primary and Secondary Market Research
- Focus Technical Briefs:
- KT4TT: Knowledge Translation Embedded in Technology Transfer , JA Leahy, FOCUS: Technical Brief #30. 2011.
- The Need to Knowledge Model: A Roadmap to Successful Outputs for NIDRR Grantees, JL Flagg and M Lockett, FOCUS:
Technical Brief #28. 2010. - Facilitating Technology-Based Knowledge Utilization, JP Lane, FOCUS: Technical Brief #26. 2010.
