Technology Commercialization and Investment
RTI has a strong history of technical innovation and success. From our founding in 1958, the RTI timeline highlights the variety and value of our achievements and the foundation of our reputation as a premier research institute for government-, academic-, and business-sponsored study.
Everyday our scientists and technicians are engaged in leading-edge research in emerging markets and technologies such as drug discovery and delivery, electronic materials, virtual reality, aerospace, environmental remediation, software algorithms, and clean energy. RTI currently holds over 200 patents across a broad spectrum of research disciplines. Many of these patents are being used in industrial, commercial, and life-saving medical applications, such as
- Thermoelectric materials
- Coal gas desulfurization and clean fuels
- Cancer-killing compounds Taxol® and camptothecin™
Turning Knowledge into Practice
RTI is uniquely positioned to address the challenge of moving very early stage innovations from research, where the technologies are primarily of scientific interest, to commercial success, where the technologies can provide both social and economic value. All of the research conducted at RTI is more than just knowledge gained; it is knowledge transformed into practice, driven by our mission to improve the human condition.
RTI understands taking technology from basic research to commercial viability, shown by the successful incubation and launch in 1996 of Data Communications Technologies from our electronics and systems research programs. We are particularly adept at developing and applying new, cutting-edge technologies to solve difficult problems, and are currently expanding that competence to include the ability to initiate commercial ventures based on our technology platform.
In October 2000, RTI spun off a company -- Ziptronix™, Inc. -- to commercialize a revolutionary semiconductor bonding technology that allows faster, simpler integration of semiconductor chips into products. Ziptronix was honored by the North Carolina Electronics and Information Technologies Association (NCEITA) as the 2001 Early Stage Company of the Year and as Spinout of the Year by North Carolina's Council for Entrepreneurial Development.
In January 2005, RTI spun off Nextreme Thermal Solutions™ to commercialize a revolutionary thermoelectric material developed over 10 years of research at RTI. The inventor was inspired to improve thermoelectric materials because relatively little improvement had been made in the industry over the previous 40 years. Nextreme has won various awards including a 2002 R&D 100 award and the 2005 Technology of the Year Award from the Council for Entrepreneurial Development.
Expanding our Role
Based on our unique competencies and expanding capabilities, we are taking on a role that goes beyond government-funded contract research to a model that supports the critical step of making new technologies available to the public as valuable products or services. Such a transition requires coordinated teaming between technical and management talent, external networks, funding agencies, and the financial community.
RTI, already in the business of contract research and with demonstrated success in managing government-funded research programs, is well suited as a platform for such teaming activities. Currently, we are developing a diversified portfolio of commercially attractive opportunities, ranging from very early stage research to commercial start-up activity.
In addition to investment opportunities within our core technology centers, RTI is engaged in a variety of commercial activities that include the sale of advanced research software, consultation services, intellectual asset management services, chemical analyses, cleanroom evaluations, pharmaceutical reviews, and much more.
RTI's Acquisition Strategy
At the same time that Technology Ventures is setting the foundation for commercial activities at RTI, our executive council is pursuing a strategy of acquiring companies that further support and augment RTI's multidisciplinary research organization. In February 2002, RTI acquired Health Economics Research of Waltham, MA, and in June 2002, RTI acquired Midwest Research Institute's Cary, NC office to add to our strength in environmental engineering. In February 2005, RTI acquired Integrated Safety Systems, Inc., a Cary-based pharmaceutical safety and surveillance consulting company.
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