National Expansion
In mid-2004, the Mid-America Commercialization Corporation's (MACC's) name was changed to NISTAC as a signal that the reach of MACC's programs was being broadened beyond Kansas to include regions throughout the nation. This expansion primarily is being done through the creation of a national network of cooperating not for profit entities with complementary missions. Such entities include universities, research institutions and regional economic development organizations.
Underpinning NISTAC's national expansion emphasis is recognition that most regions of the nation are technology-deficient, that is, they do not generate internally adequate levels of new technologies to enable them to prosper in the future technology- and innovation- driven economy. NISTAC's underlying principle is that technologies acquired by donation or other means must be matched with the resources needed to maximize prospects for ultimate commercial success -- regardless of the regional location of these resources. By facilitating the acquisition and transfer of technologies into such regions, wherein adequate support infrastructure and resources exist to enable successful commercialization of these technologies, NISTAC can provide an invaluable service not just for the regions, but also the nation.