Driven by innovation, our nationally unique organizational structure serves K-State, community partners and industry in one comprehensive unit. We’re committed to delivering a streamlined mission of corporate engagement, technology commercialization and economic development.

In FY21, Innovation Partners helped facilitate $2.2 million in corporate sponsored research agreements. 

There are many ways to engage with industry partners, from classroom speaking engagements and student-led projects, to co-location and industry-sponsored research and everything in between. Whether you are new to working with industry or are a seasoned collaborator but could use assistance with managing your industry relationships, do not hesitate to reach out to our staff. We have university-industry experts ready to support our world-class K-State faculty.

Contact Katie Small, ksmall@k-state.edu, to start the conversation.

Over the last decade, Innovation Partners has helped bring 24 companies and more than 700 employees to the Manhattan region.

We partner with university and community entities to attract, retain and expand knowledge-based companies in Kansas. We engage faculty directly in this process to collaborate with companies who have shown interest in relocating or expanding to our area to be closer to our talent and innovation.

Contact Rebecca Robinson, spexarth@k-state.edu, to help facilitate next steps.

Innovation Partners executed 22 new license or option agreements last fiscal year — three of which were related to COVID-19.

Our goal is to promote, encourage and aid scientific investigation, research and technology transfer at K-State. We strive to assist K-State’s faculty, staff and students in developing and protecting their discoveries and inventions to return the greatest advantage to the creators, K-State and the general public — whether that be through protecting an invention, licensing a technology or forming a start-up company.

Contact Chris Brandt, tech.transfer@k-state.edu, to learn more about the protection process and the commercialization options for your research.

Are you interested in developing your research into a proof-of-concept or prototype? If you have received a research grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) or participated in the NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps™) program, you may be eligible to apply for an NSF Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) grant.

We invite you to attend a virtual question and answer session to learn about the PFI program and the PFI Solicitation (NSF 19-506). During the webinar, you will have the opportunity to ask questions about the PFI program and what to expect for the submission deadline. You may have attended or registered for a similar webinar in the past, but we want to give you every opportunity to have your questions answered.

PFI grants offer researchers the opportunity to transform new knowledge into societal benefits through translational research and technology development efforts, which catalyze partnerships to accelerate innovations that address significant societal needs.

In advance of the webinar, we recommend you view a recording of a similar session on YouTube, then come prepared with any questions you might have. The program description, Frequently Asked Questions, and a synopsis of the PFI program are available on the NSF PFI website.

Register in advance for this webinar.

The Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, or TIP, is pleased to share an exciting event opportunity. NSF’s Convergence Accelerator, a TIP program, is hosting its annual portfolio showcase event – Convergence Accelerator Expo 2022.

This must-attend virtual event is your opportunity to see NSF Convergence Accelerator’s portfolio in a live exhibition format. Attendees will be able to connect with more than 45 funded research teams across six convergence research track topics that are focused on national-scale societal challenges.

This year’s tracks include:

Who should attend: Open to the public. Researchers, innovators, technology and business practitioners, and media from academia, industry, government, nonprofit, and other communities are encouraged to attend.

Learn more and register to attend — registration is complimentary.

5 steps for a heart-healthy grilling season SFGATE

HydroGraph Ready for Graphene Production at Newly Completed Plant Yahoo! Finance

Low-dose radiation, radioisotope supply among nuclear's main challenges Reuters Events

Biden Pitches Fuel Tax Holiday Progressive Farmer

Russia’s invasion could cause long-term harm to Ukraine’s prized soil Science News

We hear a lot about how climate change will change the land, sea and ice. But how will it affect clouds? "Low clouds could dry up and shrink like the ice sheets," said Michael Pritchard, an Earth system scientist at the University of California, Irvine. "Or they could thicken and become more reflective." NSF

NIH-funded research reveals aging rates vary and evolutionary tricks such as armor and venom have influence. Looking at data from more than 100 different animals, researchers have revealed some insights into aging that may help better understand longevity in humans. NIH

Years of studies on abortion access foreshadow the negative economic and health effects ahead. Public-health researchers have renewed their warnings of the harms that this decision will bring to the country. Nature

It’s a painful truth for people who fly: Airplanes are climate killers. Air travel is among the most carbon-polluting human activities. To get the carbon out of air travel, industry and government are trying, again, to turn farm and food waste into fuel. Science

Yushun Zeng squishes cancer cells in a petri dish at work. No, not with his ungainly, macroscopic human fingers. Zeng, an engineering graduate student at the University of Southern California, has built a device that traps and compresses the cells using acoustic waves—otherwise known as sound. Wired

Have suggestions for future issues? Email researchweekly@k-state.edu

Miss an issue? Visit our archives