Office of Technology Transfer and Economic Development

Mission Statement

A fundamental element of the university's mission is to enhance the quality of life of Ohio residents and the world through the results of its research and creative activity.  A portion of its faculty-led research and its other creative activities result in intellectual property, including patentable inventions or copyrightable materials. The primary mission of the Office of Corporate Engagement and Commercialization is to seek protection of the university's intellectual property and to make these results available to the public by actively seeking business partners, collaborators and licensees.  A key to this mission is to seek ways to connect Kent with external groups and organizations through the outreach initiative, especially working with economic development organizations throughout the northeast Ohio region. This office also provides education, resources and assistance to Kent State University's faculty, staff and students in all matters related to identifying and protecting intellectual property.

Research, technology commercialization and economic development are important to businesses and to society. Kent State University is an active participant and has a multitude of research programs, scores of patents and a variety of technology licenses that advance business and industry. Kent State has also facilitated several start-up companies and has assisted many businesses with improved products and processes. We are eager to develop additional partnerships with companies and other organizations with complementary interests.

The Office of Corporate Engagement and Commercialization serves as a resource for those wishing to collaborate with Kent State

The office facilitates:

• Technology partnerships
• Research collaborations
• Entrepreneurship
• Start-up companies
• Economic development opportunities

Key research and technology areas include:

• Advanced materials/liquid crystals/polymers
• Biomedical sciences/biotechnology
• Information technologies/software/linguistics

The Office of Corporate Engagement and Commercialization would be pleased to explore a mutually beneficial collaboration with you. Please contact us at 330-672-2692 or by e-mail at partner@kent.edu. 

 

News & Announcements

• New Liquid Crystal-Based Technology Rapidly Detects Multiple Pathogens in Food The need for faster detection of harmful pathogens in food is evident. A rapid, reliable method that can test for multiple pathogens simultaneously gives food-safety assurance to farmers, food processors, distributors, retailers and ultimately to the public. The Crystal Diagnostics MultiPath SystemTM addresses this need. The novel technology, in development since 2006, uses liquid crystals to detect multiple harmful pathogens in food in a single test, offering significant time savings over the most common testing methods.
  - Posted Oct. 26, 2011
• JobsOhio’s Mark Kvamme Visits Kent State University’s Centennial Research Park Kent State University received Mark Kvamme, the newly installed interim chief investment officer and president of JobsOhio, on Tuesday, July 26. JobsOhio is the private economic development agency established by Gov. John Kasich and the Ohio legislature. Kvamme visited the university’s Centennial Research Park and three Portage County manufacturing firms that are all licensees of technology developed through research at Kent State’s Liquid Crystal Institute®.
  - Posted Jul. 26, 2011
• Kent State Plans Exciting New Liquid Crystal Research Investments Kent State University’s Liquid Crystal Institute®, the most comprehensive research and educational center in the field of liquid crystals, has been demonstrating value with exciting new liquid crystal science initiatives since its creation in 1965. The applications of breakthrough findings at the institute have had an impact on the world, from liquid crystal display (LCD) televisions to computer monitors to new electronic devices, like the iPad.
  - Posted Jun. 7, 2011
• Kent State Names New Vice President for Research Kent State University has named Dr. W. Grant McGimpsey as its new vice president for research. McGimpsey comes to Kent State from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, Mass., where he serves as director of the WPI Bioengineering Institute, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and professor of biomedical engineering.
  - Posted Mar. 1, 2011
• President Obama praises Kent Displays, Inc. in Northeast Ohio stop President Barack Obama hosted the “Winning the Future†forum in Cleveland yesterday to meet with the Northeast Ohio business community, including Albert Green, CEO of Kent Displays, Inc., a local spin-off company of the Liquid Crystal Institute that employs about 100 people.
  - Posted Feb. 23, 2011