The gate swung open a little wider Wednesday for Northeast Ohio companies itching to get their hands on some home-grown space technology.

NASA Glenn Research Center, Battelle Memorial Institute and the Ohio Aerospace Institute announced a partnership that they hope will boost the region’s economy by helping local companies turn NASA technologies into private-sector products.

The joint effort is called the Glenn Alliance for Technology Exchange, or GATE.

“A gate is a very nice concept of an open door, and we plan to keep it open very wide,” said Pierrette Woodford, a technology commercialization manager for Battelle.

OAI, of Brook Park, and Battelle, of Columbus, have worked separately with NASA Glenn for years to find commercialization opportunities for the power, propulsion, microgravity and communications technologies developed in Cleveland. Battelle’s involvement has been through its Cleveland branch, the Great Lakes Industrial Technology Center.

Now, they and NASA will all work together to match Glenn technologies with Ohio companies, primarily those located in this part of the state.

A study of NASA Glenn’s potential as an engine for regional economic development recommended creation of a collaborative technology exchange program. NorTech, an umbrella group promoting technology in the region, also will be involved.

OAI and Battelle each bring different skills and strengths to the partnership, said Donald Majcher, vice president of Technology and Innovation Partnerships at OAI.

“You put the two powerhouses together and you really get one plus one equals two and a half,” he said.

One goal of GATE is to increase by 25 percent the economic impact in Ohio of NASA Glenn’s technology transfer program, said Priscilla Diem, executive director of Battelle’s local branch.

A recent Battelle survey of companies found the impact to be $29 million over three years, she said.

But taking technology commercial requires money. GATE is starting with $500,000 in seed money, mostly from NASA, and hopes to raise $800,000 more from industry members. GATE also has submitted a proposal for a Third Frontier technology grant from the state.

“We think there’s value in having state funding come into this program as well,” Majcher said.

Later, venture capital might come into play as well, said Chris Varley, associate director of Nortech, but not until technologies are fully developed and proven to be marketable.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: rmezger@plaind.com, 216-999-4446