Regional Innovation: Higher Education Roles - 7 Dec 2010

Wayne H. Watkins
Associate Vice President for Research University of Akron
Past President University Economic Development Association
Case Study – University of Akron

• Assessed opportunities,
resources, & challenges in
region

• Created appropriate structure to

facilitate university innovation
support

• Wide range of university

provided innovation services

• Focused on strategic assets:

polymers
 UARF Innovation Services (to date)
24 start-ups based
Share resources 115 projects 37 active licenses on UA technology
Libraries 13 start-ups not
Buildings & labs Industry Traditional based on UA
Equipment Sponsored University technology
People
Licensing
Patents Research Technology Community Start-
Start-ups ups
Strategic Reallocation
of Regional Assets
Host Industry Retirees as
Senior Fellows &
Regional & Global Entrepreneurship Support
Initiatives
Ohio Research Mentoring & networking
Foundation as multi- Strategy & initiatives
institutional innovation Executive support
service provider Corporate partners
Incubator services
International training
initiatives Incubator facilities
Student
Local & regional
economic development Development Industry-Centric UARF For-Profits
Capital
Internships Initiatives Development Akron Innovation Campus
Industrial assistantships University Innovation
Entrepreneurship ARCHAngel Investor Ventures
Student venture fund Network Akron Academy
Joint research Lorain Innovation Fund
IP Management Course
Testing services ARCHAngel Venture Fund
Executive & innovation
services
Open innovation
 Recent Examples of Higher Education Roles – Limited only by Imagination!
1. Provide and/or consolidate regional IT and HR services – U Akron, Lorain Community College, Cities
2. University affiliated corporate education provider – Univ Akron
3. Merge corporate research division with university research team – Univ Akron
4. Corporate business unit spin-out to university/industry joint venture to improve returns – Univ Akron
5. Manufacturing of Military Vehicles at the Navistar Defense Plant - Mississippi State University
6. Technology Innovation Infusion into Industry – Penn State University
7. Pennsylvania Mountains Healthcare Alliance (PMHA) Broadband Network – Penn State University
8. Technical Assistance Partnership for Environmentally Sustainable Business & Energy Conservation - PSU
9. Student operated university services - Port of Subs Franchise - University Nevada Reno
10. A Cross-Border Application of the Community Business Matching Model – UNR
11. Peace Corps Fellows Program in Community Development - Western Illinois University
12. Organization of Latino Entrepreneurs (Ole) New York State Small Business Development Center
13. College of Design outreach initiative in Sioux City to rehab blighted buildings- Iowa State University
14. Entrepreneurship services network provider – “MyEntreNet” University No Iowa
15. Business plan services and specific studies
a) Evaluation of the State Agencies - Kansas Department of Commerce – Univ Kansas
b) North Carolina Equine Industry Study - East Carolina University
c) Retail-Sales Forecasting – U So Maine
d) Municipal Technical Advisory Services Review – Univ Tennessee
e) Reelfoot Lake Study - Regional Importance of Specific Assets - Univ Tennessee
f) Cluster studies - The Greater Lansing Bio-Manufacturing Study - MSU