FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear announced the creation of Kentucky Commercialization Ventures, or KCV, a new national public-private partnership that aims to develop academic innovations into job-creating tech companies.

KCV brings together the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville with the Kentucky Science and Technology Corp., or KSTC, and KY Innovation, the state’s office for entrepreneurial and small business support. Under recently signed contracts, Kentucky this fiscal year will pay KSTC $755,000 and over the next two fiscal years $200,000 to each of U of L’s and UK’s research foundations.

The partnership leverages UK's and U of L’s commercialization offices, KSTC’s history of managing innovation programs and KY Innovation’s statewide entrepreneurship resources.

KCV also partners with Eastern Kentucky University, Western Kentucky University, Northern Kentucky University, Kentucky State University, Morehead State University, Murray State University and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. 

KCV and its team of commercialization experts will work with innovators at these institutions to provide resources to develop marketable products, services and businesses from research findings and intellectual property. As well, they will assist with intellectual property protection, licensing of products and services, and creating connections with industry partners.  

“This collaboration will be pivotal in building Kentucky’s future economy,” said David Brock, operations director for KY Innovation within the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. “KCV provides the tools and expertise to launch tech startups and grow new jobs. Success here will lead to the future attraction of researchers, innovators, students and research dollars.”

KCV will be led by an executive director, and staff will include an intellectual property director — both to be named at a later date — based at KSTC in Lexington. The partnership will include two program managers — located at UK and U of L — working directly with inventors at institutions statewide. Each university will also dedicate a faculty or administration champion to work directly with faculty, staff and students. KCV partners will also provide entrepreneurial and immersive student experiences in the innovation and commercialization process.

KSTC brings decades of experience working with university researchers, entrepreneurs and startups to help them develop and commercialize their ideas. KSTC President Terry Samuel said the partnership will breathe new life into the entrepreneurial landscape statewide.

“KCV will energize collaboration and commercialization of ideas and inventions from and between our state universities,” he said.

UK President Eli Capilouto said the partnership reinforces the university’s commitment to entrepreneurship and innovation.

“The entrepreneurial spirit at the University of Kentucky makes us the heartbeat of the state’s economy,” he said. “Kentucky Commercialization Ventures empowers us to work collaboratively with our sister institutions and strengthen our state’s economic development pipeline. This venture underscores our commitment to transform the creative research and development on our campus into tangible solutions benefiting our communities.”

UofL President Neeli Bendapudi said KCV will concentrate the university’s expertise in areas that could change the future economy.

“The University of Louisville has long been a leader in driving innovative, research-backed technologies to the marketplace,” she said. “Through this new venture, we can extend our vast proven experience, knowledge and success to institutions around the Commonwealth, working with them to accelerate economic development and the commercialization of technologies that could save lives and improve the way we live and work.”

Aaron Thompson, president of the Council on Postsecondary Education, commended everyone involved for creating the partnership.

“Kentucky colleges and universities are some of the largest economic engines in the Commonwealth, and campuses are eager to unite their resources and expertise in support of entrepreneurs,” he said. “While this partnership will focus on developing and commercializing new products and services, it will also galvanize our state’s economy by encouraging some of our best and brightest to remain here as they build businesses. I want to thank Governor Beshear, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development Secretary Larry Hayes and the many leaders from education, business and technology who are spearheading this project with vision and innovation.”

Visit KYInnovation.com/KCV for more information about KCV and www.CED.ky.gov for more information about Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs.