Along with his duties as a technology manager with the Indiana University Research and Technology Corp., Wes Pennington recently added Discovery Scientist to his title — a nod toward increased efforts to encourage and assist more startup business activity among researchers and innovators at the IU Bloomington campus.
Enabled through the Lilly Endowment, Pennington’s new duties in Bloomington are an extension of what he already he has done with researchers and innovators at IU’s Indianapolis campus — specifically with portfolios related to information technology (IT), software, health IT and copyrights, as well as developments from the Regenstrief Institute.
While many past projects often centered on computer science or informatics, Pennington said ideas from all departments, schools and innovators ranging from “endowed chairs to assistant professors” are being encouraged.
Last fall, IU President Michael McRobbie emphasized the need for IU and its many institutions to establish “a culture of building and making” throughout the state as part of IU’s Bicentennial Plan.
“We’re looking to formalize what we’ve done within the Indianapolis ecosystem and take it to Bloomington. Just as in Indy, we’re looking to help bridge the gap between discovery and commercialization. We want to minimize obstacles and maximize opportunities.
— Wesley Pennington, IURTC technology manager and Discovery Scientist for IU Bloomington
“We act as business consultants. We look for opportunities to get startups going and figure out ways to push them forward. We play matchmaker a bit by putting startups in contact with the kind of people they need to help improve the business. Of course, it’s about economic development as well — creating jobs and retaining talent.”
Read more about Pennington and his past work with IURTC here:
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