For immediate use
UNC-Chapel Hill Kenan Institute launches technology commercialization center
(Chapel Hill, N.C.— Aug. 4, 2015) – The Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School has launched Technology Commercialization Carolina (TCC), an initiative supporting North Carolina innovators and inventors through commercialization and entrepreneurship training, early-stage venture launch support and funding.
The $1.1 million initiative is supported by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) i6 Challenge grant along with matching funds from the Kenan Institute.
TCC’s programs include:
- Patent Landscaping and Market Evaluation (PLME) helps inventors assess the marketplace and investment funding. Focusing on North Carolina counties needing economic development, the program offers custom analytical reports at no cost and provides a strategic view of the patent and competitive landscape and opportunities for grants and funding to complete research and launch new products and services.
- Startup Consulting develops commercialization strategies for novel, high-impact technologies that result from university-based research. Teams of MBA students consult with clients to conduct market research, competitive and financial analysis, develop business models and provide strategies for moving their technologies into the marketplace.
- The Entrepreneur Technical Assistance Program (E-TAP) is expanding through TCC to specifically assist technology-focused companies across North Carolina. With support from E-TAP staff and experts, MBA student analysts work on critical projects that add direct value to a growing business, such as financial projections, marketing strategy, business plan development, inventory control, supply chain logistics and human resources policies.
“The Kenan Institute has a long history of offering cutting-edge research and consulting to entrepreneurs,” said Mark Little, interim director of the Kenan Institute. “Through TCC we will expand these successful programs and serve even more innovators across North Carolina.”
To learn more and apply for TCC programs, go to http://tcc.unc.edu/.
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About the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the nation’s first public university, is a global higher education leader known for innovative teaching, research and public service. A member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, Carolina regularly ranks as the best value for academic quality in U.S. public higher education. Now in its third century, the University offers 78 bachelor’s, 112 master’s, 68 doctorate and seven professional degree programs through 14 schools and the College of Arts and Sciences. Every day, faculty, staff and students shape their teaching, research and public service to meet North Carolina’s most pressing needs in every region and all 100 counties. Carolina’s more than 304,000 alumni live in all 50 states and 150 countries. More than 159,000 live in North Carolina.
Kenan-Flagler contact: Allison Adams, (919) 962-7235, aadams@unc.edu
Communications and Public Affairs contact: MC VanGraafeiland, (919) 962-7090, mc.vangraafeiland@unc.edu