Frequently Asked Questions
General
The IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh is funded by NIDILRR to provide tools and approaches to comprehensively understand barriers and facilitators to successful Assistive Technology Tech Transfer (ATTT), raise awareness and increase the capacity of researchers and entrepreneurs to perform successful ATTT.
The IMPACT Center provides:
1. Training - to assist researchers and entrepreneurs get their idea to market or the intended audience.
2. Research and Commercialization Tools - annual reports on successful technology transfer rates, as well as developing and expanding research-based models and approaches for transferring AT products to the marketplace.
3. Technical Support - for Technology Transfer Plans, and Potential Market Data to increase visibility of technology for licensing to support technology transfer and increase collaboration.
Check out the What We Do page to find out more.
Training
The Massive Open Online Course on Coursera is open to all regardless of funding and can be taken at any time as the course is asynchronous (taken on your own with feedback from course peers). (Link to Coursera)
The Online Course idea 2 IMPACT (i2I) Boot Camp “idea 2 IMPACT: An Introduction to Translating Assistive Health Technologies and Other Products Bootcamp,” is open to NIDILRR grantees and those seeking NIDILRR funding. It is sponsored by NIDILRR funds. An application to partake in IMPACT BootCamp is required. (Apply Here)
Phase 1: IMPACT BootCamp - 6 weeks
Phase 2: IMPACT StartUp - 10 weeks
Phase 3: IMPACT Accelerate - 6 weeks
All participants (training team, mentors and training participants) sign a Public Disclosure and Confidentiality form when participating in the IMPACT Training.
The IMPACT Center does not claim ownership of any technology that participates in the training program. Invention disclosures should be filed with the participating team's university prior to participation, if applicable.
You can protect your innovation from public disclosure with a provisional patent application and/or by using a Confidentiality Agreement or Confidential Disclosure Agreement (CDA). As early as possible, work with a lawyer, counsel or your technology transfer office to submit an Invention Disclosure, to provide the necessary information to evaluate your innovation for patent protection at the earliest opportunity. Check with your Licensing Manger to learn whether a provisional patent has been filed before making a public disclosure.
Research & Surveys
IMPACT Reports are a summary profile of outputs associated with a given NIDILRR grant. Information includes: outputs produced (publications, patents, websites, products, etc.), monies received, number of grants.
Reports are generated using publicly available information. Primary Investigators are welcome to submit their APR or CV to update the report.
IMPACT Report surveys go out to current and former NIDILRR grantees annually to allow them to update their NIDILRR grant outputs.
The Barriers and Facilitators Survey helps the IMPACT Center and NIDILRR understand what helps or hinders technologies from successfully getting to market, translated or to its intended users from NIDILRR research.
Surveys are sent out annually.
Media
The IMPACT Center's podcast, ImpacTech, is hosted by our very own Dr. Mary Goldberg. Join us as we delve into the stories of assistive technology researchers and entrepreneurs. What does it take to get an assistive technology to market? What is happening across the country and around the world? Listen to their journeys and hear about some really neat technologies helping to improve people's daily lives.
Send us a message here!
Technical Assistance
Yes we do. We review potential NIDILRR grant submissions. Have questions on an SBIR or other grant submission, need tips, a consultation or a review by the IMPACT team? Contact us by submitting a "Request Help" form.
Support for Technology Transfer Plans, and Potential Market Data to increase visibility of technology for licensing to support technology transfer and increase collaboration.
Small Business Help Desk - Looking for guidance, inspiration or information on the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program? Look no further. Click here.
SBIR Proposal Review or Assistance - Request Help
Newsletter - Find out what is happening in AT & Rehabilitation Tech Transfer. Sign up here.
Looking for guidance, inspiration or information on the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program or technology transfer information? Look no further. Click here.
Have more questions not found here?
Get in touch with us to find out more.