1. Center on Knowledge Translation for Technology Transfer (KT4TT)
Session Code: ACC-020
Designing Fundable Product Development Projects, What YOU Need to Know!
James A. Leahy
Center on Knowledge Translation for Technology Transfer (KT4TT)
University at Buffalo
8:00 - 9:00 am
January 31, 2015
ATIA
Orlando, Florida

2. Key Learning Objectives
Identify 5 Best Practices in New Product Development
Discuss 7 Key Elements of a Fundable Development Project Grant Proposal
Describe 5 Best Practices Used in Successful Technology Transfer Plans

3. Acknowledgement
The KT4TT is funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Department of Education. The contents of this presentation were developed under a grant from the Department of Education, NIDRR grant number H133A However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

4. Who or What is the KT4TT?
NIDRR grantee - from the RERC on Technology Transfer; from the Center on Knowledge Translation for Technology Transfer.
Current Center is to contribute to the increased rate of successful technology transfer of rehabilitation technology products developed by NIDRR-funded technology grantees.
Provides Technical Assistance to current and prospective grantees (those writing proposals) on development project (NPD and TT) best practices.

5. Presentation Focus Best Practices in New Product Development
Strategic Information on YOUR Development Project that MUST be in your proposal
Technology Transfer or Commercialization Best Practices that Need to be addressed in your proposal

6. Background
Federally funded AT grant programs are being evaluated on the direct benefits their new AT products and services are contributing to an improvement in the Quality of Life of PWD.
In RFPs, federal grant programs are stating that ‘technologies developed or adapted must be designed for commercialization as consumer products or for integration into rehabilitation practice or relevant service delivery systems.’
Applicants are expected to utilize best practices in NPD development and sound TT practices to generate planned outputs and achieve intended outcomes and impacts.

7. Five Best Practices in New Product Development
Clear stated identification of project and project goal
If your project goal is to bring a product to the marketplace, you need to state that and in your development project, and provide the plan on how you will get there.
What void is the product/device/tool/standard/guideline filling? Why is it needed?
Perform in depth, not cursory, scoping or preliminary assessment reviews (business, consumer, technical).
Team needs to be well versed in regulatory and business perspectives.

8. Five Best Practices in New Product Development (cont.)
Generation of a Timeline and Resource Allocations
Show forethought and planning where each step of the project is identified and the time it will take to accomplish those steps or tasks.
Show adequate amounts of researcher’s time and staff time are allocated to ensure reviewers that the project will be completed. Who will do what, when!
Show adequate resources are allocated to allow completion of each step of the project. Don’t underfund!

9. Five Best Practices in New Product Development (cont.)
Consumer/End User involvement in all stages of NPD!
Plan to involve consumers/end users in every aspect of the project.
Involve consumers early to identify needed design functions and features of the new product. Involve consumers in the evaluations of prototypes and the final design.
Involve consumers to ascertain purchase intent and price point for the new product.

10. Five Best Practices in New Product Development (cont.)
Identify Path to Market Early On!
a. Develop your Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy. Who and how will you protect any IP developed?
b. If licensing is your goal, you need to screen and identify a potential partner as early on in the design process as possible. Delays here make licensing more difficult downrange.
c. If you plan to produce and market the product yourself, you need to develop your Business Plan!

11. 7 Key Elements of a Fundable Development Project Grant Proposal
Strong Section on the Importance of the Problem and Identifying the Need and Target Population for the device.
Research needs to be performed on existing products and methods that currently address the need. Identify deficiencies in those products and methods.
Detailed Section on what your project is and what the Beneficial Impact your device/project will have on the Target Population? Why and How will it solve the Problem?

12. 7 Key Elements of a Fundable Development Project Grant Proposal
Outline how your development project addresses Goals of Funding agency. How it Addresses the RFP.
Employment, community living etc.
Inclusion of Best Practices of New Product Development (NPD) outlined earlier. Ensure rigor, success and inclusion. Must show your plan for development, clinical testing and evaluation. Must show how your device is cost-effective and useful.

13. 7 Key Elements of a Fundable Development Project Grant Proposal
Is everything needed for success included in your Project Timeline and Budget?
Specific planning and budgeting for Technology Transfer (TT) must be included. TT is very time consuming and costly.
Development Team
Highlight your expertise, your teams’ and your consultants’.
Must Show a Commercialization Plan.
Must show that your project will result in not just a prototype but a commercial product that will be available to PWD. IP Plan. App example. (who will maintain, provide tech assist etc.)

14. 5 Best Practices Used In Successful Technology Transfer Plans
Mentioned earlier - Identify and screen potential partner companies early on and your need to engage those companies. Agreements drafted?
Disclosure to your university or funding sponsor if applicable;
confidentiality or NDA drafted;
if seeking a co-development partner, agreement on scope of research;
agreement on ownership of IP;
if licensing do you have a draft license agreement with potential terms.

15. 5 Best Practices Used In Successful Technology Transfer Plans
What unmet need is the product/tool/instrument/standard/freeware trying to fulfill?
What is the scope of the project? Prevents mission creep.
Who is your target market? Be specific! Can your project have mainstream application?
Have you done a competing technology search? Do a competing product matrix. Show product differentiators.

16. 5 Best Practices Used In Successful Technology Transfer Plans
What external research have you done?
Plan to involve end users in all stages of development and testing?
Focus groups, surveys planned? If so, how many and are they up to industry standards?
Have other developers performed/performing the same work?
If a product, how will your product generate income for the licensing entity? iBot, w/c handrim, app and other examples. How will it stand the test of Time???

17. 5 Best Practices Used In Successful Technology Transfer Plans
Timelines with Milestones
a timeline for each step of the development process
personnel identified along with their FTE’s - who will be working on each stage of the project and when?
adequate time allocated after completion of the project for technology transfer and commercialization

18. 5 Best Practices Used In Successful Technology Transfer Plans
What is your plan for actual commercialization of your development project?
Who will do what, when?
who will develop the commercialization package and all of its elements?
who will contact potential licensing companies?
BTW - Must have availability of a working proof of concept prototype along with the availability of the developer to answer questions

19. Summary
Visit the kt4tt.buffalo.edu web site for additional information, more examples, and a Checklist titled – ‘From Pre-Proposal to Implementation of Development Projects’.
Electronic handouts are available on the ATIA web site and there are also a few hard copy handouts available here too.

20. Thank You for Attending this Session
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Handouts
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