Partnerships and Technology Transfer

PacTrans serves as a collaborative platform for the consortium universities and transportation agencies in Region 10 to address regional transportation issues, envision future transportation needs, and develop sustainable solutions. As the Region 10 think tank, research engine, and training base for tomorrow’s transportation leaders, PacTrans ensures desired collaboration on important regional transportation issues, including research, education, and workforce development, through problem identification, proposal solicitation and review, project selection, funding tracking and outcome evaluation.

 

 

Over the years, participating research programs have developed strong relationships with transportation agencies, private industry, and research institutes. This is important for two reasons:

  1. PacTrans is primarily funded through USDOT via RITA to operate as the Region 10 University Transportation Center (UTC). Matching funds are regularly provided by these strong partners.

  2. The Center best ensures its continued utility by researching current issues of interest to practitioners in the real-world. These partnerships allow outside entities to regularly offer research topics and opportunities and help shape the direction of research and technology development.

Further, a key component in capitalizing quality research and technology development is making sure the results get to real-world practitioners. This is done through a process called Technology Transfer. PacTrans is committed to disseminating research results for real-world implementation. A monitoring panel involving many of our partners has been set up for each multi-institutional project to ensure potential practical value and facilitate technology transfer. PacTrans also offers additional funding for completed research projects deemed “Success Stories” to make sure the fruits discovered in those projects come to bear. Finally, PacTrans is committed to providing a breadth of opportunities for consortium researchers to present their works to other participants of the greater transportation industry.

 

There are a number of very practical ways potential partners can get involved:

  • partner on a research project
  • serve on an advisory board or review board
  • fund match on a research project
  • sponsor/help facilitate events (i.e. seminars, conferences, and workshops)
  • offer graduate student internship opportunities
  • take part in technology transfer

If any of these opportunities seem of interest to you or your company, or if you would like to discuss your research needs/our strengths and abilities, please contact us here.