Bridging The Research to

Commercialization Gap

TRE Roundtable
December 8, 2011

Robert D. “Skip” Rung

President and Executive Director
 The Oregon Innovation Cluster

Seattle
Region
Winner!
Oregon Translational Research
and Drug Discovery Institute
 Small Startup
Businesses Companies

open
fast access

responsive

client friendly
close by

Education, Large
Research Industry

well maintained

The “High Tech Extension” Concept

Nanoscience facilities and equipment can best benefit technology development when
they are conveniently located and easy to use by businesses. Such access is especially important to
the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that are critical for early stage commercialization. State
and regional economic development field staff can serve as “high tech extension” agents.

3
 The ONAMI Commercialization
Gap Fund Concept
Technology Company Funding
Stage Stage Source
Research “Investable”
Research (NA) NNI Team, Company:

Gap Project
Result Grants Idea
•Large Opportunity
Proven Formation Gap Grants •Competitive Edge
Prototype (state + Entrepreneur, •Solid Mgmt Team
federal) •Sound Plan
Market Need
Products, Development Early Stage
Sales Investors
Product Line Growth Various
Expansion (private)

Federal/state partnerships in “gap” (aka “valley of death”) funding for new ventures commercializing NNI technology could
accelerate commercialization by 2-4 years and also ensure proper focus on economic returns and job creation.