Technology Transfer

The process of moving research findings, inventions, and prototype technologies from the laboratory to commercial availability and widespread use. In assistive technology, technology transfer is a critical but often challenging step — many promising devices developed in research settings fail to reach the people who need them due to barriers including manufacturing costs, market assessment, regulatory approval, and lack of industry partnerships. The Technology Transfer Act of 1986 in the United States authorized federal laboratories to negotiate directly with industry for commercialization, significantly reducing bureaucratic obstacles to bringing publicly funded assistive technology innovations to market.