KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The iBridge(SM) Network, a program of the not-for-profit Kauffman Innovation Network, Inc., today announced its collaboration with the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center (MTTC), an organization that promotes the efficient and effective transfer of knowledge and technology developed at academic institutions in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Under terms of the agreement, twenty MTTC universities and organizations will immediately join the more than 50 other research institutions across the United States already using the iBridge Network ( www.ibridgenetwork.org) to connect, collaborate and license their work. Additional MTTC organizations will have the opportunity to join the iBridge Network in the coming months.

"Massachusetts is one of the leaders of academic research and technological advances in the country and for the last three years, the MTTC has showcased the pioneering, early-stage innovations being developed at academic institutions in the state on our own web portal site," stated Abigail Barrow, director, the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center. "We'll now be co-listing our 3,000 innovations on the iBridge Network which will provide us with additional exposure and allow MTTC researchers to work with other professionals across the country to further their efforts."

With 76 organizations supplying over 6,500 innovations on the iBridge Network, it is fast becoming the destination of choice for university researchers and technology transfer officers, as well as industry to share and discover best practices and research across a variety of leading institutions and topic areas. The iBridge Network Web site is designed to encourage open and efficient communities with unique profiles, advanced navigation, search capabilities and personalized services such as the iBNewsfeed, which notifies users of new developments tailored to their interests. Presently, five of the top six and 15 of the top 25 research universities in the United States utilize the iBridge Network.

"Like the iBridge Network, the MTTC strives to transform today's ideas and discoveries into tomorrow's research, products and services," said Laura Paglione, director, iBridge Network. "We look forward to incorporating the passionate people and breakthrough thinking that these Massachusetts organizations will be contributing to our network and to helping them take advantage of the resources and opportunities available in our vibrant community."

Universities and non-profits use the iBridge Web site to distribute and license a variety of items, including software, research tools, databases, teaching materials, surveys, reference materials and patent-protected technologies.

The Massachusetts universities and organizations joining the iBridge Network through MTTC include:

    --  Baystate Health, Inc.
    --  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
    --  Boston Biomedical Research Institute
    --  Boston College
    --  Brigham and Women's Hospital
    --  Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center
    --  Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
    --  Joslin Diabetes Center, Inc
    --  Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
    --  Massachusetts General Hospital
    --  McLean Hospital
    --  Northeastern University
    --  Schepens Eye Research Institute
    --  Tufts University
    --  Tufts-New England Medical Center
    --  University of Massachusetts Medical School
    --  University of Massachusetts - Amherst
    --  University of Massachusetts - Boston
    --  University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth


    --  University of Massachusetts - Lowell

About the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center

The Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center (MTTC) was created in 2004 as a program in the Massachusetts Economic Stimulus Bill. Its goal is to support technology transfer activities from public and private research institutions to companies in Massachusetts. To achieve this goal, the Center works with technology transfer offices at more than 30 Massachusetts research institutions; faculty, researchers, and students who have commercially promising ideas; successful entrepreneurs; venture capitalists and companies across the Commonwealth. The MTTC is housed in the University of Massachusetts President's Office. More information is available at www.MaTTCenter.org.

About the iBridge(SM) Network

The iBridge(SM) Network is an innovation catalyst with a vibrant, online community enabling universities, companies and entrepreneurs to connect, collaborate and license tomorrow's research, products and services. Many of the nation's leading research institutions utilize the iBridge(SM) Network regularly to promote, share and advance their innovations and identify appropriate partners. The iBridge(SM) Network is a program of the Kauffman Innovation Network, Inc., an initiative of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. To learn more, please visit www.iBridgeNetwork.org, e-mail us at Email Contact, or call 800-573-5136.

Web site: http://www.ibridgenetwork.org/