Closing the KTP Gap

Most scientists, doctors, and engineers know KTP as Potassium titanyl phosphate (KTiOPO). KTP is a non-linear material which is commonly used for lasers such as Nd:YAG and other neodymium-doped lasers.

More and more, they know the acronym as knowledge transfer programs. Like everything, there is a right way and a wrong way to execute them. For example,

• A clear risk profile for a ready workforce

• Clear metrics and deliverables

• Role definition for the teacher/expert, learner, manager and executives

• Framework for setting priorities

• Data-driven plans for mitigating the risk

• Easy to explain process with a common lexicon

• Supports international knowledge transfer

• Supports knowledge transfer between employees and outsource partners

• Uncovers and transfers wisdom and tacit knowledge

• Works cross-platform

• Customizable for individuals

• Scalable

When it comes to biomedical and health industry-academic KTP, there are many cultural, operational, legal, regulatory, and logistical barriers. But, given the imperatives facing the biopharma industry and academic medical centers and major research centers, those obstructions are gradually crumbling. Here are 10 ways that is happening:

1. Advancement and fundraising. Donors are now becoming philanthropreneurial investors and are demanding immediate accountability and participation in funding clearly defined goals.

2. Academic-industry collaborative research and development. Biopharma companies are partnering with major research universities like Harvard and Stanford to get targeted impact on a given disease or population.

3. Graduate student education. Students are creating Career Clubs and hosting Biotechnology Symposia to advance interaction and collaboration.

4. Bioentrepreneurship education. Courses, certificate programs, and degree programs are emerging around the world in an effort to create bioentrepreneurship as a recognized academic domain.

5. Government funding. The NSF, NIH, and other government agencies are funding education, development, and commercialization grants.

6. Crowdfunding. Researchers are taking advantage of new equity crowd funding platforms to fund their research to supplement other more traditional sources.

7. Community-based initiatives. Citizen scientists and entrepreneurs are participating in online human subjects research.

8. Decentralized clinical trials. Independent practitioners are taking advantage of turnkey research networks to enroll more patients.

9. Expanding networks. Scientists, doctors and engineers to expanding their direct and online networks with industry partners and using virtual, inexpensive collaboration tools.

10. The scholarship of innovation. Universities are granting promotion and tenure credit to faculty focusing on the scholarship of innovation.

The KTP gap is closing and coming to an entrepreneurial university near you. The quicker it comes, the better will be your health.