Transcript Leveraging University Resources for Regional Economic Development Anne Kaplan, Ph.D. & Lisa Freeman,D.V.M, Ph.D. Illinois Board of Higher Education December 10, 2013

Leveraging University Resources for
Regional Economic Development
Anne Kaplan, Ph.D. & Lisa Freeman,D.V.M, Ph.D.
Illinois Board of Higher Education
December 10, 2013
The Engagement Imperative
What does it mean to be an engaged
university in a world-class, global region?
1) We are part of the region, not separate from it.
2) Extraordinarily diverse – urban, suburban and rural
3) Strive to embrace true engagement, with focus on
mutual benefit and reciprocity
The Region
• Top quarter of
the state contains
80% of state’s
population
• Contains 90% of
state’s industry
• Recognized as one of top ten economic
centers worldwide (Standard & Poor’s)
The Region
• Western half of region
dotted with small, rural
communities
• Many very poor and
skewing toward elderly
as lack of opportunity drives young people away
• Lack of industry = low tax base = inability to
support high-quality public schools
How do we serve this region?
• Regional economic prosperity as pursued by
NIU is about health, happiness & personal
satisfaction made possible by:
- meaningful employment
- social/cultural affiliations
- civic engagement
- financial security
Assessing NIU’s Role
• Workshop with 20 regional leaders
• Priorities identified:
– Talent development
– Business support (shared technical facilities, help
bringing innovation to market, research)
– Convening & leading ongoing discussions about a
regional vision
– Promoting awareness of the region
– Connecting NIU to the IL Innovation Ecosystem
Enterprise
Works
Galvin Center
for Electricity
Innovation
Illinois
Institute of
Technology
Institute of
Design &
Engineering
.
Illinois
Medical
District
WISER
Materials Tech.
Research Entrepreneurship
Laboratory Center UIC
Innovation
Center
Inst. For
NCSA/ Genomic Bio
User Facilities
IFSH - Food
Technology
UTP IIT
University of
Illinois
Research Park
CTP
Loyola
University
Fermilab
Bioinformatics
Center for
Nanoscale
Materials
User
Facilities/
JCESR
ALCF
Angel
University of
Chicago
Northwestern
University
Universities
Federal Labs
Incubation
Capital &
Networks
Research
Parks
Southern
Illinois
University
DePaul
University ty
Health
Sciences
Philanthropy
Early
ARCH
Incubator
Capital
Growth
Incubators,
Co-Working
Spaces
Private
Equity
Expansion
Catapult
Kellogg School of
Management/Farley
Feinberg School
of Medicine
Computing & Digital Media
Financial Services
Industry
Conveners
Mentorship,
Community &
Networking
1871
TechNexus
Nanotechnology
Biotech and
Pharma
Manufacturing
Clean Energy
Trust
ITA
UChicago Tech
Energy
Ecosystem
ISGRIC
INVO
IVCA
Seed
Pritzker
School of
Medicine /
BSD
Argonne
Innovation
Industrial Labs
Tech Transfer
Chicago Booth
Computation
Inst. for
Molecular
Engineering
Rush
University
Hospital
PeoriaNEXT
Research
University Park at SIU
Park SIUE
ISTP
Ag Research
Illinois Accelerator
Research Center (IARC)
Institute for
Polsky Center
Neutron Therapy
NCAUR
Northern
Illinois
University
University
of Illinois
Biofuels
ATIP
Chicago
Chicago
Innovation Innovation
Awards
Mentors
TechAmerica
ISTC
iBIO
PROPEL
WBC
Accelerators
Built in
Chicago
CEC
Chicagoland
Chamber of Excelerate
Impact
Commerce Labs/TechStars Engine
IT/
Communications
IL GA
State
/DCEO
City of Chicago
Public
Sector
Museums
Founder’s
Institute
Healthbox
Culture
Performing
Arts
Amenities
Connecting the Dots- pCT
Innovation
Invention
Collaborative
Research
Entrepreneurial Industry
Partnership
Support
Proton
Computed
Tomography
FNL
IARC at FNL
NIU Technology
Transfer
Office
NIU Venture Grants
ANL
CDH
Chicago
Innovation
Mentors
?
Award Winning Engagement
• Three examples used in NIU’s application for
designation as an APLU “Innovation and
Economic Prosperity University”:
- Broadband development
- P-20 (pre-school through graduate school)
- Rockford engagement
Broadband Development
• Began in early 2000s as
effort to connect NIU
main campus to satellite
locations
• Initially leased unused fiber
along interstate highways;
later obtained grants for
new fiber installation
• Quickly realized potential for partnering with
municipalities and institutions
Broadband Development
How important is broadband to the economic
health of a region?
• 2012 survey of 7,253 Illinois businesses:
- 75% said broadband infrastructure essential
to remaining in current locations
- 55% said high-speed Internet a key factor in
deciding where to locate new business
Broadband Development
Broadband project grew through commitment to
regional engagement and $120 million in federal,
state and local grants:
NIUNet: 175-mile fiber optic loop
throughout western suburbs &
NIU service region
iFiber: 900-mile network spanning
9 counties
DATA Network: DeKalb County
Illinois Rural Health Network:
connecting 88 hospitals & clinics
throughout the state
Broadband Development
• Broadband speeds increased by 1,000 times in
region looking for competitive advantages to
attract new business
• 750 community anchor institutions connected
(schools, hospitals, municipal governments,
public safety departments, libraries and
museums)
• Total of 2,200 miles of fiber optics installed
Rockford Engagement
• NIU has long history of engagement with
Rockford
• A former manufacturing giant, Rockford now
suffers from high unemployment and low
educational attainment
• In 2009, NIU established the Office of Regional
Engagement in Rockford to bring focus to
multiple efforts there
Rockford Engagement
• Primary Rockford asset is a strong aerospace
cluster (9th largest in U.S. in terms of jobs)
• NIU helped create the Rockford Area
Aerospace Accelerator Project (RAAAP)
• Regional aerospace growth system focused on
four key goals:
Workforce development
Product innovation
Hi-tech entrepreneurship
Branding
Rockford Engagement
• In 2011, RAAAP was awarded a $2.4M federal grant
(ETA, EDA, SBA) from the Jobs and Innovation
Accelerator Challenge (JIAC) program
• Partners include: NIU, Rockford College, RAEDC,
EIGERlab and the WorkForce Connection
Collaborative, systematic approach to
strengthening the aerospace cluster
Brand
Promise
Entrepreneur
Support
Aerospace
Growth
System
Product
Innovation
Workforce
Pipeline
Rockford Engagement
• Joint Institute for
Engineering and
Technology –
Aerospace gets
more students in
the pipeline
• Engineer in Residence program places facultysupervised students in industry as research,
development, test and evaluation engineers.
Innovation from EIRs
• Accelerated machine design & engineering
• Process analysis to reduce costs
• Streamlined work instructions to increase
production efficiency
• Manufacturing simulations to reduce cost and
increase productivity
• Recommendations for new facility layout and
streamlined inventory and tracking processes
Seminars for area manufacturers
Taught by NIU Engineering faculty:
• Laser-based additive manufacturing
- technical assistance on fast, high-quality
repair options that give refurbished parts
longer service life than original
• Lean Six Sigma
- process innovation that reduces cost,
eliminates waste & improves customer
satisfaction
Rockford Engagement
Outcomes – Year One:
• 25 internships established (100 applicants accepted
into JiET-A)
• 5 Engineers in Residence placed with regional
aerospace companies
• 9 companies assisted with prototype fabrication
using EIGERLab’s 3D additive manufacturing
equipment
• Leading aerospace company cites project as key
reason for $300 million expansion in Rockford
(estimated 1,600 new jobs)
Recognition
Designated APLU
Innovation and
Economic Prosperity
University (one of 16
nationwide)
Won APLU’s inaugural
award for outstanding
service to a region