Sloss Women’s Center joins YWCA in supporting women through the years

Mindy Daniels
October 7, 1996

@TITLE Special to the Daily

Iowa State University’s Center for Advanced Technology Development is generating benefits nationwide and some success is evident here in Ames.

According to a recent report written by the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, a significant proportion of success would not have occurred without this center. The report stated that clients are satisfied with the center and see it as a “significant influence on intra-firm technology commercialization and problem solving.”

The Interim Director of CATD, Robert Harris, said, “I think our biggest success is Engineering Animation Inc. located at ISU’s Research Park. It started through CATD in 1989 and now employs many people. It most recently went public in the stock exchange.”

Jeff Ignaszak, director of Corporate Communications at Engineering Animation Inc., said, “CATD gave a very welcome support role in the early stages of development of the company.”

IPRT Assistant Director Sandra McJimsey said, “CATD is particularly effective in the startup of new companies.” She said several others have had help from CATD and are located at ISU’s Research Park.

One company, Full Spectrum, is using research developed at ISU to market optical fibers for use in laser surgery. Another example is Amtak Inc. which started in 1995. This company is developing instruments in the area of nondestructive evaluation. McJimsey said this is “the developing of instruments to test products without destroying them.”

The report also stated that clients are satisfied with the center and most firms say a good portion of their technological advancement or business expansion is the result of CATD efforts.

CATD was established in 1987 under the program at ISU called Institute for Physical Research and Technology (IPRT).

The center takes promising research performed at ISU and funds additional market-driven development to make it more appealing to an industry.

“The CATD answers questions from client’s about their products and new technology. It is an extremely valuable service,” Harris said.

The goal of CATD is to bring a technology far enough along so a company will make it a commercial product or process. The center also provides ISU expertise to assist companies with a new product idea or problem.

Women’s Week-1996

Tuesday, October 8 Denette Perry, ACCESS

Domestic Violence and Prevention

noon to 1 p.m. Women’s Center

Lisa Tiger

Don’t Let AIDS Make Us Vanishing Americans

8 p.m. Sun Room, MU

Wednesday, October 9 Paige Thompson, Betsy Wentzel,

Kathryn Zimmerman, Carey Ryan

Taking our Bodies Back: The Women’s Health Movement

8 p.m. Sun Room, MU

Thursday, October 10 Shawn Phipps, Su Walker, Janet Peterson,