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Regional Innovation: Higher Education Roles - 7 Dec 2010

Wayne H. WatkinsAssociate Vice President for Research University of Akron

Past President University Economic Development Association

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Assessed opportunities,resources, & challenges in

region

Created appropriate structure tofacilitate university innovationsupport

Wide range of universityprovided innovation services

Focused on strategic assets:polymers

Case Study University of Akron

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Regional & GlobalInitiatives

Host Industry Retirees asSenior Fellows &

Entrepreneurship Support

University

TechnologyStart-ups

Industry-CentricInitiatives

UARF For-Profits

Strategic Reallocationof Regional Assets

TraditionalLicensing

StudentDevelopment

Community Start-ups

IndustrySponsored

Research

Share resourcesLibraries

Buildings & labsEquipment

People

Patents

Ohio ResearchFoundation as multi-

institutional innovationservice provider

International traininginitiatives

Local & regional

economic development

Joint researchTesting services

Executive & innovationservices

Open innovation

13 start-ups notbased on UAtechnology

24 start-ups basedon UA technology37 active licenses

115 projects

Mentoring & networkingStrategy & initiatives

Executive supportCorporate partnersIncubator servicesIncubator facilities

Akron Innovation CampusUniversity Innovation

VenturesAkron Academy

InternshipsIndustrial assistantships

EntrepreneurshipStudent venture fund

IP Management Course

CapitalDevelopment

ARCHAngel InvestorNetwork

Lorain Innovation FundARCHAngel Venture Fund

UARF Innovation Services (to date)

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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 Akron4. 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

Recent Examples of Higher Education Roles Limited only by Imagination!