TTAC

TTAC at Tennessee Tech 

Tennessee Tech University is taking a pivotal role in TTAC with an ambitious goal—to generate a minimum of 10 invention disclosures that not only demonstrate commercial viability but also hold the potential to spark the birth of startup companies, licensing agreements, or other promising commercialization ventures. To achieve this objective, Tennessee Tech's Center for Rural Innovation (TCRI) will collaborate closely with key academic departments and faculty members throughout the university. With a dedicated budget of $80,000, our valued partners include TCRI, which will lend its expertise in program direction and offer invaluable support in innovation and entrepreneurship, drawing from its extensive experience in NSF I-Corps and its longstanding relationship with LaunchTN's The Biz Foundry (the upper Cumberland’s entrepreneurship center/accelerator). Additionally, Tennessee Tech's Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence (CAFÉ) will contribute its wealth of knowledge in faculty innovation, lifelong learning, and professional development, while our various colleges will join forces to establish mentorship training and network development for faculty creating pipelines for intellectual property disclosure. Although our primary focus is on faculty disclosures, we are also dedicated to nurturing a pipeline of student inventors, thereby fostering an inclusive culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the campus community.  

During its pilot phase (October 2023 – June 2024), TTAC will provide essential commercialization and technology transfer support to select institutions, democratizing access to these critical resources and breaking down cost barriers. As it expands its reach beyond the pilot year, TTAC ensures that novel technologies and budding companies can flourish throughout the entire state, enriching Tennessee's technological landscape. This endeavor is made possible through the generous support and commitment of LaunchTN, including substantial funding for Commercialization Counselor activities and intellectual property evaluation and protection. To learn more, visit https://launchtn.org/launchtn-technology-transfer/.