The iBridge Network Announces International Expansion, Increased Focus on the Global Economy and Collaboration

Addition of Singapore's Nanyang Technological University as the 100th Member Organization Marks the Next Phase of the Network's Planned Growth Strategy

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The iBridge(SM) Network, a program of the not-for-profit Kauffman Innovation Network, Inc., today announced that it has expanded internationally by signing the acclaimed Nanyang Technological University (NTU) as its 100th member organization. The addition of Singapore's leading science and technology university clearly demonstrates the Network's commitment to providing industry leaders battling the global economic downturn with access to university-developed innovations, leading to further advances and next-generation products and services.

"We are extremely excited to welcome NTU as the 100th member of the iBridge Network," said Lesa Mitchell, director of the iBridge Network. "As evidenced by the recent recession, we live in a global economy, and we must focus on international collaboration when trying to accelerate the rate of innovation."

With more than 10,000 innovations now posted on the site, the iBridge Network is the destination of choice for university researchers, entrepreneurs and industry to share and discover best practices and research across a variety of topic areas.

"NTU is proud to join the iBridge Network as its 100th member and first university outside the United States," said Dr. Alex Yu, Director of NTU's Innovation & Technology Transfer Office. "NTU researchers and budding entrepreneurs will be able to tap the Network for the latest research findings and innovations that may spark further advances in innovation and promote new and exciting collaboration. The Network is also a platform where we could increase awareness of our research and innovations and attract collaborators from the U.S. and beyond."

The iBridge Network Web site is designed to encourage open and efficient communities with unique profiles, advanced navigation, search capabilities and personalized services such as the iBNewsfeed, which notifies users of new developments tailored to their interests. Universities and non-profit organizations use the site to distribute and license a variety of items, including software, research tools, databases, teaching materials, surveys, reference materials and patent-protected technologies.

"We have reached a tipping point with the amount of innovations we have on the site and the caliber of member organizations that are contributing them," added Mitchell. "With 49 percent of our online traffic coming from places around the globe like Singapore and Hyderabad, India, opening the Network to international organizations was a very logical progression for us."

A research-intensive university with globally acknowledged strengths in science and engineering, NTU provides a global education to more than 21,700 undergraduates and 9,400 graduate students. The student body includes top scholars and international Olympiad medalists from the region and beyond. Hailing from 55 countries, the university's 2,700-strong teaching and research staff will bring dynamic international perspectives to the iBridge Network.

Unlike IP portals and other Web sites, the iBridge Network was created for the sole purpose of providing researchers with a place to promote ideas, connect with other experts and share existing tools, while providing industry experts a place to find the newest innovations with endless potential. Whether high profile research topics or lesser known niche areas of expertise, the iBridge Network provides equal opportunity for all research with no emphasis on transaction values or dollar amounts. The iBridge Network does not profit from any member transactions.

Other universities to recently join the iBridge Network include New York University, University of Minnesota, and University of Michigan. The announcement of the Network's international expansion comes just weeks before the Kauffman Foundation's Global Entrepreneurship Week, taking place November 16-22, 2009. In 2008, its inaugural year, Global Entrepreneurship Week involved more than 3 million participants, 100 countries, 25,000 activities, and 8,800 partners.

About the iBridge(SM) Network
The iBridge(SM) Network is an innovation catalyst with a vibrant, online community enabling universities, companies and entrepreneurs to connect, collaborate and license tomorrow's research, products and services. Many of the nation's leading research institutions utilize the iBridge(SM) Network regularly to promote, share and advance their innovations and identify appropriate partners. The iBridge(SM) Network is a program of the Kauffman Innovation Network, Inc., an initiative of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. To learn more, please visit www.iBridgeNetwork.org, e-mail us at info@iBridgeNetwork.org, or call 800-573-5136.

About Nanyang Technological University
A research-intensive university ranked among the world's top 100 universities, NTU has four colleges comprising 12 schools in the field of Engineering, Science, Business and Humanities. As Singapore's main science and technology university, NTU makes significant contributions to the nation's renewed drive for research and innovation. The Earth Observatory of Singapore, established in 2009 with S$150 million in state funding, is dedicated to hazards-related earth science. NTU has a strong and broad international reach covering academic and research partnerships with top institutions in the U.S., Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.ntu.edu.sg.