Ventis Group Launches Technology Commercialization Initiative for SBIR Grant Recipients

Focus is generating commercial revenues from SBIR grant-funded technologies

Westlake Village, CA, March 15, 2003 - Technology commercialization and licensing specialist Ventis Group LLC now offers a commercialization program specifically for companies with technologies developed with SBIR funding. The SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) program, a research and development grant program supported by ten Federal agencies, including NASA, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the Defense Department, funds new technologies developed by small businesses. Participating companies are free to profit from commercial applications of technologies developed with SBIR grants.

Commercialization is a key measure of success in the SBIR program," said Nelson Dodge, Ventis Group managing director. In fact, the ability of a company to win an SBIR grant is increasingly influenced by previous commercialization success and the strength of its Commercialization Plan, now a mandatory element of all Phase II applications. An important goal of the SBIR program is to foster new technologies in the commercial marketplace," Dodge explained.

Ventis Group has tailored a streamlined set of services specifically for SBIR-funded companies and technologies. Based on the proven Ventis Group commercialization process, the SBIR Commercialization Track focuses on quickly determining possible applications and assessing market potential for the technology or invention.

According to David Walker, Ventis Group managing director, If youre not actively pursuing a robust commercialization strategy, youre leaving money on the table." And, an SBIR awardees failure to actively commercialize the funded technology diminishes the likelihood of future SBIR awards and risks gaining the disfavor of the granting agencies by being branded as an SBIR mill"-a company that repeatedly wins SBIR awards, but fails to pursue commercialization opportunities for the technologies. The emergence of SBIR mills" is one of the factors prompting increased emphasis on commercialization by Federal agencies that fund SBIR grants.

This initiative, focusing on successful SBIR award grantees who need commercialization services from an experienced team, is really the 'third leg of the stool in terms of our target market," said Dodge. We continue to make successful inroads into the private R&D and major research university markets. SBIR companies, which are by definition on the leading edge of technology and innovation, are a natural extension for us."

About Ventis Group LLC
Ventis Group is a California Limited Liability Company that plans and implements comprehensive technology business development services, including licensing and technology transfer. The Ventis Group approach provides an experienced, highly flexible technology commercialization resource, delivering solutions optimized to each clients unique circumstances, needs and objectives.

More information is available at the Ventis Group web site www.ventisgroup.com.

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