BOZEMAN, Mont. -­ The TechLink Center at Montana State University helps companies throughout the Northwest to establish productive technology development and commercialization partnerships with NASA, the Department of Defense (DOD), and other federal agencies.

TechLink's primary focus is to match the technology-related needs and strengths of Northwest industries with those in NASA, DOD, and other federal laboratories. TechLink offers a range of services, free of charge, to qualified client companies. These services include partnering with federal labs for joint technology development, providing access to specialized government research facilities, assisting with licensing technology from the federal government, and assisting with commercializing new technology.

TechLink is expanding its presence in the Northwest, serving more client companies in Oregon and Washington. Prospective clients will have an opportunity to meet with TechLink's executive director and seven industry focus area directors at the NASA-sponsored Technology 2000 annual conference at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Wash., October 31-November 2. TechLink will have an exhibit in the Technology 2000 Pavilion, Hall B, booth 416. Exhibit hall hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Tues., Oct. 31 and Wed., Nov. 1, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thurs., Nov. 2. Individual appointments may be made in advance by calling the MSU TechLink Center, (406) 994-7700.

In three years, TechLink has established more than 45 partnerships-the majority for joint technology development projects between Northwest companies and NASA or DOD laboratories. "Partnerships with the federal labs help companies in multiple ways," said Will Swearingen, executive director of TechLink. "Some of the benefits of these partnerships include expedited research and development, open doors to government evaluation of new company technologies, access to world-class experts and facilities, added product visibility, and productive, long-term business relationships."

TechLink provides specialized assistance in nine industry areas: advanced materials, aerospace, agricultural technologies, biomedicine and biotechnology, electronics and telecommunications, photonics and sensors, forest and wood products, software and information technologies, and environmental technologies. TechLink is strongly positioned to assist its clients in moving their technologies to market.

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