CCAT's History
In 1999, a collaborative industry-academia-government partnership was formed among ORINCON Corporation, San Diego State University, University of California, San Diego, and SPAWAR Systems Center, San Diego. The objective of the partnership was to establish a technology commercialization program to help small businesses as well as academic and government scientists advance their proven technologies to the marketplace.
With strong congressional support, the partnership received its initial round of funding in July 2001 and established the Center for Commercialization of Advanced Technology (CCAT). A second center at California State University San Bernardino became operational in year 2. During the ensuing six years, the program with continued annual appropriations conducted 27 competitive solicitations, rated over 1000 applications, and worked with 149 technologies from 145 companies, academic institutions and government laboratories nationwide. Approximately $23.3 million in awards and services were provided with 53.6% of the CCAT clients achieving at least one or more of the following critical commercialization milestones:
- additional funding (capital investment, SBIR awards, etc)
- license/CRADA agreements (academia and government laboratories)
- partnerships/mergers/acquisitions
- market penetration (e.g., sales)
In particular, through December 2006 (2007 data is being compiled), the program facilitated:
- over $96 million of 3rd party investment funds for 36 clients
- over $38 million in sales of 35 technologies
- 9 mergers/acquisitions/partnerships (GE, Titan, L3, etc.)
- transition of 21 technologies from government/academic laboratories into existing and 7 new start-up companies
For additional information check out the archive page links on the left for CCAT newsletters, portfolio, success stories and testimonials.
