For immediate release
March 30, 2026
LaunchTN evaluates first-of-its-kind emerging tech transfer model
Nashville, TN — With support from a $350,000 research grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Launch Tennessee, a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit, will lead a first-of-its-kind national study examining how new models of technology transfer can expand access to innovation across America’s heartland.
The research is designed to strengthen commercialization capacity at emerging research institutions and in rural and regional communities, with a focus on generating insights applicable to ecosystems like Kansas City — a central priority of the Kauffman Foundation’s place-based strategy — while identifying scalable approaches that can support regional economies nationwide.
The study will be the first national evaluation of Multi-Institution Technology Transfer Offices (MITTOs), including LaunchTN’s Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium (TTAC), Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV), and Wisconsin’s WiSys.
“This study represents the first time MITTOs from across the country will systematically document what works and develop shared standards,” said Charles Layne, LaunchTN’s Technology Advancement Director. “There is currently no playbook for how to build and scale these models. This work will help create one while building a national community of practice to support emerging research institutions.”
In addition to evaluating existing models, the study will assess how MITTOs could be implemented and scaled in other regions. Partners for this portion of the research include Georgia’s Partnership for Innovation and Kansas City’s KC Biohub, positioning Kansas City as a primary market for applying and testing insights.
“The Kauffman Foundation’s investment is external validation that the TTAC model is addressing a real gap,” said LaunchTN CEO Lindsey Cox. “Tennessee is leading the nation in developing program infrastructure, governance, and administration for multi-institution commercialization.”
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation has a strategic focus on college access and completion, workforce and career development, and entrepreneurship as key pathways to equitable economic mobility.
Their Project and Research grants invest in innovative ideas, data-driven insights, and community-centered solutions designed to expand economic mobility as well as support organizations and researchers working to better understand and address the systemic barriers that limit access to opportunity while advancing practical strategies that help individuals learn, work, and build wealth.
“Economic mobility doesn’t happen by chance. It is built through intentional investment in people, systems, and ideas,” said Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation President and CEO Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace. “These cohorts of research and project grantees bring critical insight and innovation to the work. By supporting both evidence generation and on-the-ground solutions, we are strengthening the conditions that allow individuals, families, and communities to thrive.”
Multi-Institution Technology Transfer Offices provide a scalable, collaborative approach to supporting research commercialization at emerging research institutions, especially in rural and regional communities. By expanding access to expertise, resources, and networks, the model creates a clear and replicable pathway for innovation-driven economic growth.
LaunchTN will soon release a Request for Proposals for an external evaluator to lead the formal research component. Interested parties may contact donna@launchtn.org.
About Launch Tennessee
As Tennessee’s hub for startups and innovation, Launch Tennessee’s mission is to empower innovators across Tennessee by providing capital, commercialization and connections. As a public-private partnership, we are uniquely positioned to provide direct investment, while also supporting collaboration among founders, investors, researchers, the private sector and government.
Contact:
LaunchTN Communications Director Chloé Morrison, chloe@launchtn.org