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For over 70 years, Battelle has been committed to “putting technology to work” to develop improved products and processes and to improve the quality of life. In recent years, Battelle has re-energized this philosophy and its commitment to take technology from the laboratory to the marketplace. Battelle is not only responsible for technology transfer and commercialization of its own technologies, but also for many federal agencies, including NASA, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
To carry out these activities, Battelle’s well-proven model for technology transfer and commercialization has been adapted to the needs of the national labs. The end result is a well-defined process and methodology that is the standard of excellence for the federal laboratories.
In the environmental arena, the Environmental Technology Commercialization Center (ETC2) has the lead for creating a national technology transfer and commercialization process for EPA. ETC2’s commitment is two-fold: to help EPA share research with industry in order to improve human health and the environment, and to identify, analyze, and market EPA’s expertise, resources, and intellectual property to private sector firms. In pursuit of its mission, ETC2 uses a seven-step process to assess the technology transfer and commercialization potential of EPA technologies.
Project Start Up
ETC2 staff assess the major capabilities of the EPA laboratories and research organizations, assess databases and client lists, identify and sort key technologies and products, and formulate a technology transfer and commercialization training strategy for relevant organizations.
Technology Mining and Assessment
Staff identify experts to help assess existing capabilities, visit key research centers, formulate an overview of the EPA technology transfer process, conduct preliminary assessments of identified technologies, and identify opportunities for market opportunity analysis of high-potential technologies or technology pools.
Market Opportunity Analysis
Staff screen out market opportunities and conduct a thorough market assessment of each identified technology’s market potential. Staff evaluate the overall commercialization potential, potential market applications, and the effectiveness of the market opportunity analysis process.
Technology Marketing/Partnership Identification
Assessment
Staff formulate a strategy to bring federally developed technologies to the marketplace, to establish relationships with a diverse network of businesses, and to identify potential licenses for EPA products and processes as well as potential partners for further research. Where there is no individual interest, ETC2 works to form consortia.
Commercialization Support
Staff work with firms to enable the commercialization of technologies advanced through cooperative research as well as EPA technologies that already have been patented or licensed. Firms are provided with technical, financial, capital, and business planning advice and support. When necessary, outside expertise is added to the team.
Marketing Support
Staff create and test a comprehensive set of technology marketing materials for EPA technologies and researchers. Staff also formulate and publish “success stories” to help foster additional technology transfer/commercialization/cooperative research activities. ETC2 assesses opportunities to present and exhibit at key environmental conferences and forums and to participate in activities sponsored by the EPA laboratories.
Reassess the Process and Take Steps to Improve It
The old adage, “good, better, best, never let it rest, ‘til your good is better, and your better is best,” is at the very heart of effective technology transfer and commercialization. ETC2 reassesses processes and procedures, monitors trends in the marketplace and in government regulation, assesses market gaps, and incorporates up-to-date tools to reach broader market segments.
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technology requires both
know-how and patience. The experienced, top-notch team Battelle has assembled for the ETC2 program is successfully linking EPA researchers with key businesses to bring innovative technologies to the marketplace. EPA’s partnership with Battelle’s ETC2 is achieving sound results for businesses while bringing important environmental
advances to the public arena.”
Larry Fradkin, Coordinator
Federal Technology Transfer Act Program
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Technology transfer and commercialization is something that each and every Battelle employee has a role in – whether they are engaged in internal activities for Battelle or external activities for a federal client. Battelle is working to “push” technology out of laboratories and into the marketplace and to “pull” technology requirements out of the private sector by assessing internal and external customer needs.
If the past is indeed prologue to the future, Battelle will continue to keep its promise to “put technology to work” in new and innovative ways – and the world will be a better place because of this commitment.
For more information about ETC2, please call the program office at (440) 734-0094 or visit the Web site at www.etc2.org.
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this issue . . .