Technology Acceleration Innovation Consortium

Via a Regional Innovation Cluster Consortium

In October of 2010, Catalyst Connection received a grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) to help small manufacturers enhance their productivity, technological performance and global competitiveness. The funding is being used to develop a model for Technology Acceleration via a Regional Innovation Cluster (T-RIC) Consortium that facilitates technology transfer from university and federal laboratories, to regional manufacturers for product commercialization.

T-RIC VISION

To create a model for technology acceleration that improves the competitiveness of American small manufacturers, and inspires them to develop and commercialize new products and services.

T-RIC MISSION

It is the mission of the T-RIC Consortium to improve the competitiveness of small manufacturers in southwestern Pennsylvania and increase their success rates in developing and commercializing new technology. We will do this by: 1) increasing the connections between regional small manufacturers and university and federal laboratories, 2) developing the tools and processes to accelerate technology development, and 3) providing the training and assistance to successfully commercialize new technologies and products.

Petra Mitchell, President and CEO of Catalyst Connection explained, “This funding will enable us to better link our region’s innovative manufacturers with the technology resources available to them, and fast track new technology into product commercialization and viable manufacturing jobs for this region.”

T-RIC Overview

2nd Annual Energy & Innovation Conference

The 2nd Annual Energy & Innovation Conference, hosted by Catalyst Connection and NETL-RUA, provided attendees a unique opportunity to network with a wide range of local experts from industry, federal labs, universities and leading manufacturers to collaborate in the acceleration of technology development and commercialization!
Conference materials are now available to view