Increasing competitiveness in world markets puts a higher premium than ever on efficiency and innovation. Yet, small manufacturers often do not have the ability to apply innovative technology at levels competitive with larger corporations or foreign countries. Technology transfer between industry and universities allows the pooling of the best technology, and enables companies to take on projects beyond their individual risk threshold or resource capability. Cooperative ventures between industry and the university are advantageous to everyone involved, bringing an exchange of views, new perspectives, and a broader vision to the solution of problems.
The UW-Stout Technology Transfer Institute (STTI) was established to promote technology transfer between UW-Stout and industry. The Institute, part of UW-Stout's Discovery Center, draws on Stout's impressive technical resources, including the expertise of its faculty, staff, and students and its well-equipped and diversified laboratories. These resources are made accessible to industry through STTI's technical centers.