Technology Commercialization Assistance

Products we use every day (telephone, lightbulb, elevator, PC) were once just an idea until an entrepreneur turned them into reality. In fact, new technologies are small business specialties. They are also a great way to grow your business.

The SBDC's technology commercialization services can equip you with the skills you need to develop a corporate strategy and help bring new technologies to market.

Services

SBDC technology consultants assist technology firms with business management issues specific to their needs including:

Alternative financing, including federal research grants
Patents and trademarking
Intellectual property
Product commercialization and marketing
Subcontracting with large corporations

The SBDCs also offer assistance to struggling US Department of Defense contractors affected by base closure and reduction, helping them to locate markets.

If you are ready to transform your idea into a commercially-viable product, consider tapping into the SBDC's Engineering Development Services, hosted by Bucknell University's College of Engineering.

Entrepreneurs who have an existing technology product that they are looking to commercialize can receive assistance at any of the SBDCs in the 18-center network.

Financing

Consultants at your local SBDC can assist you with financing proposals, marketing, advertising and any other help you need to bring your product to market. For instance, every year, the government offers more than $2.5 billion in small business funding for technology and science innovations through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. In 2008, the SBDC helped clients obtain 28 such investments totaling nearly $18 million.

The SBDC can help you:

Identify and select agencies and topics that best suit your innovation
Gather information for your proposal
Search technical and market literature
Discuss commercialization considerations
Review and critique your proposal
Address contract management issues
Develop project budgeting

In addition, the SBDCs offer educational programs throughout the year covering financing strategies and proposal preparation.

View upcoming workshops

Download our Guide to Federally-Funded Research Budgeting and Accounting

Engineering Development Services

Engineering Development Services (EDS) allows clients of the Pennsylvania SBDC network to tap the resources, technical expertise, and research and development opportunities of a world class engineering college at Bucknell University.

EDS is a resource for those seeking to create new products, improve existing products, and for a variety of other areas of engineering assistance. EDS can assist your firm with manufacturing process improvement projects, investigate new technologies, and work with you to explore new markets for your manufacturing capabilities. SBDC staff guide each project with support from engineering college faculty, staff, student interns, and even long-term class projects.

Clients can receive assistance in product design and re-design, prototype construction, and product testing, guided through our customized new product development process.

Through Engineering Development Services, clients have access to resources such as computer aided design (CAD) and analysis software, the Project Development Laboratory (a fully equipped machine shop), Rapid Prototyping equipment, and over thirty other state-of-the-art laboratories.

When the development phase is complete, the SBDC staff can help you identify vendors to manufacture your product. Product development projects supported by the Engineering Development Services include:

Home security products
Construction tools
Performing preliminary testing on a manhole riser system
Using finite element analysis to monitor structural changes in custom machinery

For more information on the SBDC's Engineering Development Services, visit the Bucknell University SBDC website.

Success Stories

Learn about some of the companies that have commercialized their technologies with SBDC assistance by reading the stories below.


RE2, Inc.	Daedalus Innovations	Bio Med Sciences	Clarion Research Group

Lightning Packs	Wood Technologies	Nokomis, Inc.	EcoTech Marine

Helpful Links

US Patent and Trademark Office (www.uspto.gov) – US patents, trademarks, forms, guides and helpful information for independent inventors.
Copyright Office (www.copyright.gov)- Registered U.S. copyrights
National Technical Information Service (www.ntis.gov) – science, technology and business information.
Technology-Based Economic Development Resource Center (www.tbedresourcecenter.org) – search reports by geography, topic, and type.
National Technology Transfer Center (www.nttc.edu) – lists federal technologies available for licensing.
IHS Engineering Resource Center (www.ihs.com) – databases of military and industrial standards and specifications.
Community of Science (www.cos.com) – databases on experts, research, and funding opportunities.
American National Standards Institute (www.ansi.org) – standards information and links to standards sites.
International Standards Organization (www.iso.ch – information on international standards.
Military Standards and Specifications (dodssp.daps.dla.mil) – information on Department of Defense standards.
TechSavvy.com (www.techsavvy.com)– supplier database, parts information, military documents, and standards.