Forum Proceedings

Introduction

The T²RERC's Demand-Pull Project focuses on the transfer of emerging technologies, R&D capabilities, and design expertise from Federal Labs, advanced technology manufacturers, and researchers (referred to as "technology developers") to assistive technology manufacturers (referred to as "technology consumers").

The T²RERC Demand Pull Project uses a five-step process to identify technology needs:

1) Select the Industry Segment

Each year the T²RERC, in partnership with a sister RERC, begins a new Demand-Pull Technology Transfer Project that targets a distinct assistive technology industry segment. The partner RERC or institute plays a key role in selecting the industry segment and in the identification of candidate technology needs.

2) Identify Technology Needs

Selection of specific technology needs relies upon the triangulation of information obtained from product end-users, technical and clinical experts and manufacturers. Consumer panels are used to obtain end-user information. Interviews are used to obtain information from technical experts, clinical experts and manufacturers. The Demand Pull team works with interviewees to ensure protection of intellectual property and business interests. The information obtained through these various sources is used to develop White Papers and an industry specific profile to compliment and expand upon the information derived from the interviews and panels. White Papers are written for each distinct technology area and include information on unmet customer needs, market information, business opportunities and technology state-of-the-practice for products now in the market. The Industry Profile provides details about relevant manufacturers and products, and identifies the overall market size, distribution channels, reimbursement issues, trade shows, and conferences for the targeted market segments. Smith-Kettlewell, our partner RERC has reviewed and validated the White Papers and Industry Profile.

3) Validate Technology Needs

A Stakeholder Forum is convened to provide additional focus and detail for the technology needs identified. Forum participants include: manufacturers, research and technical experts, advanced technology developers from related industry segments, product customers (e.g., end-users, clinicians, therapists, equipment vendors and service technicians), and private and public resource providers (e.g., representatives from federal agencies and national associations). Before the Forum, all participants receive the industry overview and White Papers that provide market and technical background on the technology areas to be discussed.

The purpose of the Forum is to:

1. Clarify and validate the existence of significant customer needs not addressed by current technology.
2. Validate that the unmet customer needs represent a significant business opportunity.
3. Validate that significant technical innovation is required to meet these customer needs.
4. Validate that the technical innovation cannot easily take place within the industry segment.
5. Establish design and performance targets for the technical innovation.
6. Identify barriers that might prevent the successful development or transfer of the technical innovation.

Stakeholder Forum outcomes and all prior work are used to generate problem statements that
summarize customer needs, business opportunities, and technical needs and specifications.

4) Locate Technology Solutions

A web site is developed to disseminate problem statements and promote the technology transfer project to the FLC, advanced technology manufacturers, research institutions and other technology developers. Additional project promotion is accomplished through the T²RERC and partner RERC web sites, press releases, articles in journals, newsletters and trade publications and presentations at trade shows and conferences. Technology developers are identified and contacted through phone, e-mail and mail correspondence.

Technology developers submit technology proposals through the project web site. Initially, all submitted solutions provide only non-proprietary information. To confirm that technology proposals address customer needs, manufacturer needs and are also technically feasible, the T²RERC and partner RERC review the technology proposals. External technical or industry experts may be used as part of this review. Proprietary information may be requested from the technology developer. In such cases, intellectual property is protected by all staff at the T²RERC.

5) Transfer the Technology Solution

The T²RERC prepares a technology disclosure that summarizes how the technology meets enduser needs and presents a business opportunity for product manufacturers. The package also outlines the technical specifications of the proposed technology and provides an overview of the business plan for the technology transfer. In addition, a marketing plan is developed that identifies target manufacturers and the strategy that will be employed to contact and present the technology to interested manufacturers.

The technology transfer is completed through mechanisms such as licensing the technology directly to a manufacturer, establishment of a research and development agreement between manufacturers, or a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) between a federal lab and a manufacturer. Technology Transfer activities of the T²RERC are funded by a grant from the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research. The T²RERC receives no financial benefits from technologies transferred under this project.

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