The Plan

Work conducted under the Interdisciplinary Research And Creative Activities Fund (IRCAF) grant is the first step in the formation of a Niagara Regional Consortium on Technology, Research, Aging, Disability and Environments. Under steering committee direction, the Steps outlined in our IRCAF proposal have been expanded and refined. The Plan will continue to evolve as we obtain input from the UB research community; UB academic and business leadership; and the private sector.

Do you have creative suggestions? Please contact out Project Coordinator Sue Arnold at: 829-3141 ext. 169 or smarnold@buffalo.edu.

Step 1: Establish NRC TRADE“steering committee.” Initial steering committee membership is comprised of the IRCAF grant principle investigators. The steering committee considered "Disability and Aging" to constrictive and their first decision extended our vision to: "Technology, Rehabilitation, Aging, Disability and Environments." Future steering committee membership will include regional corporate and government representation. (DONE)

Step 2: Draft the NRC TRADE website to facilitate faculty recruitment; promote the Regional Consortium on Disability and Aging to the UB community and the private sector; and establish a persistent information repository. (DONE)

Step 3: Contact forty research faculty who have already expressed an interest in the NRC TRADE Project. Ask these faculty to provide basic information on research interests, research capabilities, collaborative interests, research with commercial potential and experience working with the private sector. Each person will be asked to identify other research faculty whose research interests have potential application to rehabilitation, aging, disability, and environments. (ONGOING)

Step 4: Recruit private sector manufacturers, investors and strategic partners ; and solicit their participation on the NRC TRADE steering committee. Identify barriers that prevent or hinder manufacturers for working with the UB research community. Identify specifics on how the manuafacturing community would like to work with the UB research community. How can NRC TRADE help to overcome these barriers? (ONGOING)

Step 5: Identify tools (e.g. web portals, databases); activities (e.g workshops, technology fairs) and strategic partnerships (e.g. HCIA, FirstWave) that will facilitate collaborations between UB research faculty; disseminate UB research initiatives to the private sector; communicate technology needs from the private sector to UB researchers; and provide resources for research, development and technology transfer. Leverage strategic partner strengths and eliminate redundancy. The NRC TRADE steering committee; participating UB faculty; manufacturers and strategic partners will guide this process.

Step 6: Convene two receptions to formally kick-off the NRC TRADE, one per campus. Provide an overview of research, business and collaborative opportunities with examples of on-going work, and enlist participation.

Step 7: Draft NRC TRADE web portal (extension of current site) featuring: faculty interests and expertise, “opportunities” for research collaboration among UB investigators; research activities with commercial potential; technology needs identified by the private sector; a listing of upcoming events and opportunities and resolve security and privacy issues. Establish timelines for workshops, technology fairs and other activities including collaborative projects with strategic partners. Identify funding sources and secure downstream support.

Step 8: Draft plan to ensure that NRC TRADE will be self-sustaining after completion of the IRCAF grant. In particular, faculty and manufacturer recruitment; cataloging of research activities; cataloging of collaborative research opportunities; cataloging of private sector technology needs; maintenance of the NRC TRADE website; and other effective, high value tools and activities should continue.

Step 9: Complete final report for IRCAF grant.