ASA IS PARTNERING WITH THE OHIO Department of
Development and the City of Cleveland's corporate community to create a
world-class environment for entrepreneurship with a modest investment of public
dollars.
Volume 5, Number 4 July/August 1997
Moving Forward
ASA IS PARTNERING WITH THE OHIO Department of
Development and the City of Cleveland's corporate community to create a
world-class environment for entrepreneurship with a modest investment of public
dollars.
Lewis Research Center, Great Lakes Industrial Technology Center (GLITeC), Enterprise Development Inc. and the State of Ohio are developing the Lewis Incubator for Technology (LIFT) to commercialize NASA-developed technologies.
LIFT enables entrepreneurs, start-up companies and early-stage companies to gain comprehensive business, financial and marketing assistance while residing in a state-of-the-art laboratory environment in Cleveland.
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| Rob Usher of GLITeC, kneeling, Kim Veris of Lewis Research Center and Wayne Zeman, Enterprise Development Inc. watch Lewis Researcher mark Bethea demonstrate his stereo imaging velocimetry technology, one of the first assessed for the Lewis Incubator for Technology. |
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"NASA has an obligation to maximize the return on the American taxpayer's investment in the space program. One of the most effective ways to do this is through the transfer of NASA's technology to business," said NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin. "An incubator, like the one initiated at NASA Lewis, is an effective way to generate new businesses and explore innovative concepts. LIFT builds on the proven strengths and capabilities of several entities in the Cleveland region and State of Ohio to create a world-class environment for entrepreneurship with a modest investment of public funds."
Enterprise Development Inc. manages LIFT under a cooperative agreement with Lewis. LIFT is jointly funded by NASA and the State of Ohio. LIFT tenants have access to laboratory and office space, machine and graphics shops and conference and library facilities at BP's Cleveland Research Center.
An important component of LIFT's success will be identifying viable technology on which fledgling companies can base their business. The LIFT management team developed a technology evaluation process to assess Lewis technologies appropriate for emerging technology companies. The evaluations are conducted by GLITeC, NASA's Midwest Regional Technology Transfer Center, and identify potential commercial markets for technology, assess general conditions of markets and compare the technology to competing technologies. This information is used to identify viable technology candidates for LIFT tenants and decide whether a patent application should be filed or whether existing patents should be maintained.
"This is an exceptional public and private sector partnership that will provide an outstanding environment for the creation of new products, jobs, and opportunities for economic growth in Northeast Ohio," said Lewis Director Donald Campbell.
For more information, contact Tom Campbell at Langley Research Center.
Call 757/864-1772
Fax:757/864-7975
E-mail: t.g.campbell@larc.nasa.gov
Please mention you read about it in Innovation.
