The newly formed Kansas State University Innovation Partners is committed to collaborating with university, industry and communities to deliver a streamlined mission of corporate engagement, technology commercialization and economic development. Driven by innovation, our nationally unique organizational structure will serve K-State, community partners and industry in one comprehensive unit, allowing for more efficient intellectual property protection, economic opportunities and a consistent experience for partners. As a service unit and partner, we are dedicated to continuing our collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to identify common goals and shared initiatives. In doing so, we will accomplish more for the benefit of K-State, communities and the state of Kansas. Our core functions include: o Corporate Engagement: These efforts are focused on leveraging K-State’s innovation, talent and professional development capabilities to establish and expand strategic partnerships with companies. o Technology Commercialization: The protection and management of K-State’s university-developed intellectual property portfolio and commercial deployment of that technology through licensing or start-up company formation. o Economic Development: In partnership with university and community entities, this function includes the attraction, retention and expasion of knowledge-based companies in Kansas, as well as the improvement of the regional ecosystem to support economic growth. In 2018 the board of directors and executive committees of the Kansas State University Research Foundation (KSURF) and the Institute for Commercialization (KSU-IC) recognized that by merging the two entities into one unit, resources can be better leveraged, and collaboration improved, ultimately resulting in a clearer, more consistent message in delivering on K-State’s economic mission.