Barriers and facilitators to technology transfer of NIDILRR grantees

Figures & data

Table 1. NIDILRR funding mechanisms.

Grant mechanism	Funding amount	Goals
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP)	$200,000–$1,400,000	Supports knowledge translation, capacity building for minority research entities, individual research projects, and other work.
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centre Program (RERC)	$500,000–$1,000,000	Supports advanced engineering research and development of innovative technologies to solve rehabilitation problems or remove environmental barriers for people with disabilities.
Field-Initiated Project Program Rehabilitation Research (FIP)	$100,000–$200,000	Supports investigator-initiated research projects that generate new knowledge and development projects that generate new products.
Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)	Phase I – $25,000–$100,000 Phase II – $125,000–$575,000	Supports the development of new ideas and projects useful to people with disabilities through grants to small business firms with strong research capabilities.

Table 2. NIDILRR grantee perceived facilitators to tech transfer.

Question	Min	Max	Average
Streamlining and improving efficiency	0	6	3.5
Interdisciplinary collaboration	2	6	4.9
Working with an experienced tech transfer office	0	6	3.6
University supports tech transfer	1	6	3.6
Access to funding	0	6	5.2
Access to technical assistance	0	6	4.2
Access to nearby technology companies who support prototyping development	0	6	3.6
Access to technology incubators	0	6	2.8

Table 3. NIDILRR grantee perceived barriers to tech transfer.

Question	Min	Max	Average
Poorly defined and fragmented markets	0	6	3.5
Lack of clear regulations	0	6	2.9
Lack of funding to translate technology out of universities	0	6	4.1
Lack of support from tech transfer office	0	6	2.8
Lack of understanding or clear process to transfer technology	0	6	2.9
Lack of adequate training to learn about technolog transfers	0	6	2.7