Knowledge from Research and Practice on the Barriers and Carriers to Successful Technology Transfer for Assistive Technology Devices

Historically, the assistive technology (AT) industry is made up of small to medium size companies serving relatively small markets with products characterized as ‘niche’ or ‘orphan’ products. Presenting opportunities to AT companies that are created by outside sources is difficult. Presenting such opportunities to companies serving larger markets is even more difficult. In both cases, transferring new or improved products is fraught with barriers.

This paper outlines the critical barriers to brokering efforts between major U.S. university technology transfer offices and U.S. corporations.