OLATHE, Kan. — Bioscience and technology entrepreneurs have a new expert partner as they work to commercialize innovative products and create jobs in Kansas.
As part of a partnership launched last fall between the Kansas Bioscience Authority (KBA) and the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (KTEC), Don Colbert, Ph.D., has joined the Kansas team and will use his extensive experience in federal commercialization funding to help area companies compete for more than $3 billion in federal grants annually.
“It’s often difficult for researchers and early stage companies to navigate the world of federal tech development financing, yet programs such as the Small Business Innovation Research program can be essential to catapulting companies to the next level of success,” said KBA president Tom Thornton. “Don Colbert will provide tangible expert assistance so our companies have a roadmap to these resources — and continue to thrive in Kansas.”
KTEC CEO Kevin Carr said, “We view this as outstanding opportunity to strengthen the innovation ecosystem in Kansas by utilizing Don’s expertise to help attract federal funds for promising entrepreneurs and high-potential startups. This early stage funding is critical to the success of these Kansas companies.”
KTEC and the KBA have tasked Dr. Colbert with providing promising Kansas entrepreneurs with in-depth assistance in writing winning proposals for federal funding. In this role, he will provide professional management counseling and technical business assistance, which will result in a greater share of competitive funding being awarded to companies in the state.
Dr. Colbert brings to the position more than 30 years of professional experience in academic, government, and industrial sectors involving research, business, education, training, and management responsibilities. He has worked on all aspects of science and technology development, transfer, regulation and commercialization. In the process, he has played a key role in the establishment of more than 25 new for-profit and non-profit organizations and has secured more than $35 million in funding from a variety of sources to support these efforts.
Dr. Colbert received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Irvine and his doctorate from Brown University. He completed postdoctoral training at the UCLA Molecular Biology Institute and Baylor College of Medicine’s Department of Cell Biology.