THE OFFICE FOR COMMERCIALIZATION
and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
An important part of UK's mission is to be a catalyst for economic growth. University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd Jr. underscored this commitment to Kentucky in the fall of 2006 by bringing all commercialization and economic development activities together under one office. In December, the UK Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Dr. Leonard E. Heller as Vice President for Commercialization & Economic Development reporting directly to President Todd.
Mission
- Broaden and strengthen the development of the Kentucky economy through:
1) effective management of technology transfer, entrepreneurship, and business outreach
2) commercial development of UK-based technologies and intellectual properties. - Support the creation of jobs, careers, businesses, and wealth.
- Foster the continuous advancement of UK's premier education and research programs.
Goals
- Strengthen ties and decision-making capability with federal agencies, state government, Lexington business and civic leaders, and the business community throughout the state.
- Foster a culture at UK which encourages and supports faculty working on technology with commercial potential.
- Manage and steward the university's resources including intellectual property, Kentucky Technology Inc. (KTI), Coldstream Research Campus, and campus incubators ASTeCC and AgTeCC.
Kentucky Technology Inc. (KTI)
Founded in 1988, KTI is a for-profit corporation wholly owned by the University of Kentucky Research Foundation (UKRF). Len Heller, CEO & President of KTI, and a Board of Directors are charged with generating revenue from leasing incubator space (ASTeCC & AgTeCC), royalty fees from licenses, and equity investments, and re-investing in the commercial development of university-based technologies and technology-based businesses. Through KTI, UK is one of the investors in the Bluegrass Angel Venture Fund, an early-stage seed fund. The Bluegrass Angels, an organization of 50 successful local businessmen and businesswomen who are accredited investors, was formed several years ago and has already invested in six new businesses, some of which are UK startups.
contact us
Len Heller, Vice President for Commercialization & Economic Development
CEO & President, Kentucky Technology Inc. (KTI)
859.218.6512
EconDev@uky.edu
A256 ASTeCC Building
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0286
Business Development &
Entrepreneurship
Lexington ICC
Lexington Venture Club
Dean Harvey
859.257.1930
CFO Kentucky Technology Inc.
CED Fiscal Affairs & Operations
Taunya Phillips
859.218.6512
Coldstream Research Campus
Tina Carpenter
859.231.8324
Intellectual Property
Material Transfer Agreements Confidential Disclosure Agreements
Don Keach
859.218.6555
Kentucky Small Business Development Center
Becky Naugle
888.475.SBDC
Marketing & Communications
Deb Weis
859.338.0751