INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Application period is currently closed.

Please check back in Summer 2025 for more info.

Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV) is a public-private partnership that unites Kentucky’s higher education institutions to extend access to commercialization, tech transfer and intellectual property support. Our interns get a valuable introduction to the fields of intellectual property, technology commercialization, business development, marketing, transactional law and more. Read the full job description.

Internships are tailored to your career goals and interests. Students pursuing innovation-driven careers in any field of study are eligible, including:

Business
Law
STEM
Marketing and Communications
And more!

“The KCV Internship allowed me to directly apply concepts of intellectual property and patent law to real-life inventions. I was able to immediately gain opportunities in patent drafting and prosecution, as well as connections to the Intellectual Property Field. The Internship, along with my classes, have helped to cement my path forward following law school.”

– Lindsay Dunn, KCV Intern

Learn more about Lindsay

Why is KYNETIC different from other grant programs?

The KYNETIC program is not a traditional grant program; it is product-focused, milestone driven and requires business-case project management. Applicants who are invited to submit a full application will work with KYNETIC staff and/or mentors to develop a product development plan and timeline with specified milestones.
What benchmarks will I have to meet in the program?

Receipt of funding for selected projects will be milestone-driven and KYNETIC staff will monitor development progress. There will be a continuation evaluation (go/no-go decision) every six months and non-progressing projects may be terminated and replaced with new projects.
Who is eligible for the KYNETIC program?

This RFA is open to all faculty, staff, trainees, and students at participating Kentucky state universities and community colleges. Non-faculty applicants must identify a faculty member who is willing to sponsor their application. Applications must focus on developing products that have the potential to improve patient care or enhance human health. All types of products (e.g. therapeutic, preventative, device, test, software) are eligible.
Does my institution participate the KYNETIC program?

The following institutions participate in the KYNETIC network: University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, Eastern Kentucky University, Kentucky State University, Morehead State University, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University and Western Kentucky University. The network also includes the 16 colleges in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.
Does my product have to treat one specific disease?

There is no disease-specific requirement, but it must be related to human health.
What's the policy on intellectual property?

Applications should involve ideas that originate from within a participating institution (making them potentially eligible for patent protection, copyright or some other mechanism) or university-derived technologies with pending/issued patents or copyright. Technologies that are already licensed to a company are not eligible.
What's the budget?

Requests for up to $33,333.33 per project, over a period of 6 months, will be considered. Projects are eligible for competitive renewal every 6 months, until a maximum of $200,000 per technology is reached.

Job Decripto