Program Overview
The Business Acceleration and Technology Out-licensing Network (BATON) program is an infrastructure of life science professionals that supports the creation of sustainable life sciences companies in North Carolina based on commercially promising technologies developed at universities and research institutions around the world.
The BATON program defines a partnership between the NCBC, technology transfer offices, providers of professional services and entrepreneurs to:
- Identify inventions with commercial potential;
- Create sustainable NC companies to capture these commercial opportunities;
- Establish a community support network willing to contribute professional services;
- Leverage NCBC loan funding for crucial inception-stage business activities; and
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Identify and recruit an entrepreneur, as needed, to take each opportunity forward.
Eligibility
Eligible technologies are supported by protectable intellectual property that is unlicensed at the time of application, although a company may be formed prior to BATON participation. Each BATON candidate is evaluated on the degree to which it supports the creation of a sustainable start up company to aggressively commercialize the cornerstone technology. Therefore, "lifestyle" or "vanity" company opportunities without significant commitment to commercialization and growth will not be considered.