Traditionally, WTC's Research and Technology Development (RTD) funding awards have been extended to state universities. The program has been opened to include nonprofit research institutions such as the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center as well as private colleges and universities that have technology research programs, personnel and facilities.

"WTC's RTD program was designed to help companies and researchers bring science out of the laboratory and into the marketplace. Our role is to encourage the evolution of a great idea from concept to credible to commerce," says Laura Dorsey, Technical Services Manager for WTC. Laura oversees the organization's Research and Technology Development awards program.

"Often companies think they are limited to partnerships with the state's two most prominent institutions: University of Washington and Washington State University," Ms. Dorsey explained. "While many of the proposals do originate from these universities, as well as from Central, Western and Eastern, there are a number of other institutions throughout the state that may qualify as research partners for this program," she added. "We hope that the new eligibility requirements will spark more statewide participation in the RTD grant program and open doors to increased partnerships between commercial and research operations in technology development."