9625772 Tornatzky The project, University-Industry Technology Transfer in Southern EPSCoR States, will focus on research universities located in eight southern EPSCoR states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and West Virginia) in a region-wide effort to upgrade their technology transfer performance and practices. Its operating premise is that a more robust technology transfer relationship between EPSCoR state universities and industrial partners will have positive impacts on the fundamental research and educational activities of the institutions. The project will conduct an outreach effort focused on EPSCoR-state universities that has the following components: (1) an annual report to the region (e.g., the Southern Governors Association) on the state of university-industry technology transfer; (2) an annual practitioner/stakeholder conference; (3) a network of "best practitioners" who can provide outreach assistance to peers in EPSCoR-state universities; (4) a continuing analysis of performance and practice benchmarks; (5) accelerated dissemination of relevant reports, guidebooks, and tools; and (6) continued professional development services for faculty.
