Benchmarking Programs

The key to regional prosperity is the strategic combination of technology, entrepreneurship, and education. IC² Institute's Global Commercialization Group works with a region’s policy makers, educational institutions, local and international investors, and new and existing ventures to accelerate and sustain technology-based economic development.

We do this jointly with regions by:

• Conducting assessment studies including technology, venture, and market assessments; high-tech cluster analyses; and science and technology policy evaluations.

• Providing access to international markets and risk capital through proactive business development: matching technology ventures with interested customers, partners, and investors; internships in business development and high-tech marketing.

• Developing and implementing educational programs in technology commercialization and entrepreneurship.

• Selecting promising technologies for commercial development and training technology representatives.

• Launching and managing venture incubation, global business acceleration, and lab-to-market technology licensing programs.

Examples of IC² - Global Commercialization Group (GCG’s) economic development programs:

Armenia ▪ IC² GCG worked with the government of Armenian, the US Agency for International Development, and other organizations to develop, assess, and revise the Armenian Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Master Strategy..

Australia ▪ Hi-tech development for the State of Queensland ▪ IC² Technology Assessment process technology for the Greater Adelaide Area ▪ International Desert Knowledge Innovation Centre initiative for regional innovation system strategies.

Brazil ▪ Transferred IC² methodologies and the "Austin model" for technology-based growth for the country ▪ Hi-tech study for the state of Parana, Brazil ▪ Workforce development program.

Chile ▪ Through funding provided by Lockheed Martin, GCG is working with the Chilean Economic Development Organization (CORFO) on a nation-wide program to develop an “industry” of technology incubation and international business acceleration management.  The program assesses selected Chilean incubators and trains incubator managers, CORFO staff and entrepreneurs through hands-on training, workshops and business development activities. Training topics include: technology screening and assessment, technology business development, and international commercialization and incubator management.  Additionally, the program provides assessments and selection of Chilean technologies, and provides international business development of those technologies by matching Chilean enterprises with business opportunities outside Chile in order to produce cooperative agreements and open new markets and opportunities for Chilean companies. 

Egypt ▪ In 2008, GCG completed a three-and-one-half month pilot project for the Egyptian Science and Technology Development Fund (STDF).  Forty-five Egyptian technologies were evaluated for commercial potential and ten finalist-technologies were selected for further research relative to  the US market.  Representatives of the ten finalists presented information on the innovations to an international panel of judges, and four winning technologies were awarded STDF grants, as well as ongoing support and training to help bring the technologies to market.  Additionally STDF managers were trained at IC² Institute in technology assessment and technology commercialization.  GCG looks forward to working with STDF on a multi-year program to continue the success of this pilot.

Hungary ▪ GCG has partnered with Valdeal ZRt. to create a Hungarian international technology enterprise center in Budapest. The center will be a competitive, for-profit entity serving as a model for wealth creation in a global knowledge economy.

India ▪ GCG has implemented a two-year technology commercialization and business development program in the nation of India. The IC² India Innovation Program is intended to be a high-visibility program designed to attract the best early-stage Indian technologies.

Japan ▪ Management of the Japan Industry and Technology Management Training program ▪ Fostered growth of Keystone Studio ▪ Mentored managers from Daiwa House on e-business in the housing industry.

Jordan ▪ In 2006, GCG conducted a feasibility study and developed a business plan for Jordan Science and Technology Initiative (JSTI)that wa presented for public funding and private investment.

Kazakhstan ▪ GCG was engaged in a project to provide business incubation support for the National Innovation Fund (NIF) of Kazakhstan. The project involved conducting an in-country assessment of potential for a successful technology-business incubation program in Kazakhstan and provided strategic guidance, manager training, and initial operational support for the opening of two business incubators in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Korea ▪ GCG is providing a three-year innovation program for the province of Gyeonggi, South Korea.  (Gyeonggi is the most populous state in South Korea.)  In June 2008, UT established the UT-Gyeonngi Innovation Center in Suwon, South Korea, and launched a three-year innovation program in partnership with the Gyeonngi Small Business Center (GSBC).  In Year One of this program, nearly one hundred Gyeonggi innovators applied to have their technologies considered for international business development support through the program.  Twenty finalists delivered  presentations to an international panel of technology commercialization experts, and the technologies judged to have the highest potential for international commercialization were selected for the final phase of the year:  acceleration of the ventures in the US market and business development training in the US.  Results for Year One include several business agreements, and screening for Year Two is already underway. 

Malaysia ▪ GCG provided a workshop of six modules on entrepreneurship, delivered in Kuala Lumpur over a four month period.

Mexico, national:  TechBA-Technology Business Accelerator-housed within ATI for 16 Mexican companies at one time.  Entering its 3rd year.

Nuevo Leon, Mexico▪ GCG is engaged in the third phase of a program for the INVITE organization of the state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. GCP work with INVITE began in 2004 and is expected to continue at least through 2009.

Poland ▪ Created technology business incubators in Lodz and Warsaw ▪ Transferred U.S. technologies to Polish enterprises ▪ Licensed the IC² master's degree program to the University of Lodz ▪ Transferred IC² entrepreneurship and technology commercialization knowledge to an Institute at the University of Lodz Commercializing Polish research and development projects.

Russia ▪ New venture incubator program for Russian technology commercialization ▪ Joint US-Russia initiative to develop opportunities for U.S. businesses to capitalize on the technical capabilities of Russia's "nuclear cities" ▪ Trained upper-management Russian Sarov scientists in technology commercialization practices ▪ Partnered with the International Science and Technology Center ▪ Created an self-sustaining incubator.

Spain (Canary Islands) ▪ Assessment of technology-based growth, networking technology incubators, bridging EU and Northern Africa.

Texas-Mexico ▪ Cross Border Institute for Regional Development ▪ Knowledge-based benchmarking study on assets and challenges for accelerated technology-based growth.