Conference Sponsor Profile: GLITeC, GMCI, NASA IL Commercialization Center

As sponsors of Beyond the Hype: Tools for Building Tech-based Economies, the Great Lakes Industrial Technology Center, the NASA Glenn Garrett Morgan Commercialization Initiative and the NASA Illinois Commercialization Center will share space in the conference exhibitor’s area. Brief profiles of each organization are provided below:

Great Lakes Industrial Technology Center -- One of six NASA Regional Technology Transfer Centers (RTTCs), GLITeC provides technology and business solutions to industry in the Great Lakes region (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin). GLITeC also works to commercialize NASA Glenn Research Center technologies throughout all 50 states. Its services include matching needs with specific expertise, providing business and technology planning and evaluations, and helping companies acquire and adapt technology.

GLITeC works with industry to acquire and use NASA technology and expertise. GLITeC has dedicated in-reach into NASA and bridges the gap between federal discovery and commercial application. GLITeC and its regional affiliates provide industry with tools and methodology to develop new products and enhance processes through the efficient application of technology and related capabilities from NASA.

NASA Glenn Garrett Morgan Commercialization Initiative -- creating a competitive advantage for small, minority- and women-owned companies in the Great Lakes Region by providing access to NASA technology, expertise and other resources. The Initiative provides services that enable companies to grow or strengthen their business by leveraging NASA technology, expertise, and programs.

GMCI services have been designed with the particular needs of small, minority-owned, and woman-owned businesses in mind. Opportunities to grow a business by working with NASA abound, but accessing and making the most of them are not easy for companies operating on tight margins. Through the GMCI, companies can quickly identify promising opportunities and obtain the support they need to build opportunities into better bottom lines.

The GMCI provides qualified companies with comprehensive business assessments, identification of promising NASA opportunities, strategic planning, linkage to resources, partnership and project facilitation, and market development assistance.

NASA Illinois Commercialization Center -- A new partnership of NASA, the Illinois Coalition, and GLITeC, NICC will bring NASA technology and business solutions to Illinois organizations, including large corporations, industry groups, and start-ups.

The NICC will follow GLITeC's successful model in offering a range of technical, management and financial services. Through these services, the NICC will aid the growth of Illinois' most vital technology/industry clusters: software services, energy and environment, telecommunications, electronics, chemicals and life sciences. The Center will help scores of Illinois companies use NASA technology to develop new products and processes and help establish new Illinois companies built from NASA technology. Additionally, the NICC will offer a unique advantage to a few of Illinois' small and disadvantaged companies: commercialization awards to help them over the final hurdle in going to market.