The Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation: Fueling Kentucky’s Innovation Pipeline with Research and Talent

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The Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC) is a statewide non-profit led by President Terry Samuel, who is also a member of the Metals Innovation Initiative board. KSTC fuels Kentucky’s innovation ecosystem through initiatives that support research-driven products and services, increase access to capital, and develop a talented workforce. These three pillars are essential for a thriving innovation-driven economy which is central to KSTC’s mission.

One initiative, Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV), supports each of these pillars by partnering with Kentucky’s public higher education institutions to turn research into products and services on the market. They help faculty, staff and students access technology transfer resources such as industry partners, licensing agreements, intellectual property knowledge and funding through their shared service model.

KCV recently announced the winners of the 2023 IMPACT Competition, providing $100,000 in funding for seven innovative projects at five institutions. The goal of the competition is to encourage ideation relevant to the improvement of the social, health, or economic conditions and highlight the value of innovators across the state of Kentucky. Winning projects address topics such as food scarcity, renewable energy systems and machine learning. You can learn more about KCV and how you can connect with researchers across the state at kycommercializationventures.com.

Launched in November 2022, KSTC’s KY VALOR initiative works with employers to recruit service members and their spouses as they transition out of the military to open positions throughout the Commonwealth. This program builds on accelerated pathways to licensed occupations previously established through a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, meaning industry partners can fill technical roles quickly with experienced employees.

KY VALOR team members are travelling to military bases nationwide to recruit these service members and their families to Kentucky. They match service members with job opportunities based on previous experience, desired location and career goals. If you’re interested in becoming an employer partner, visit kyvalor.com or email valor@kstc.com for more information.

KCV and KY VALOR are just a few of the programs working with industry partners to fuel Kentucky’s innovation talent pipeline. Visit kstc.com to learn more about our programs and opportunities for collaboration.