Crimson CatalystEngaging strategic partners. Connecting IU resources. Advancing Indiana’s economy.

NSWC Crane outlines priorities at annual briefing

Posted on by IU Communications

By Kirk White, assistant vice president for strategic partnerships, Indiana University

More than 400 business and academic leaders attended the annual Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Advanced Planning Briefing for Industry on April 10 at the WestGate@Crane Technology Park. The theme of the meeting was “Partnering to Expand the Advantage.” Leaders from Crane presented the center’s strategic vision and acquisition plans, detailed technical mission area descriptions and explained the new Other Transactional Authority, or OTA, acquisition consortium.

Kirk White
Kirk White

The Navy installation, just 45 minutes southwest of Bloomington on I-69, has three mission areas that support the Department of Defense: strategic missions, electronic/spectrum warfare and expeditionary warfare. NSWC Crane employs 3,500 people, of whom 67 percent are scientists, engineers and technicians, and has an annual business base of $1.4 billion. Crane Army Ammunition Activity employs another 800 staffers.

Main priorities in the Crane product mix during the coming years include cybersecurity, hypersonics, trusted electronics, threat modeling, predictive analytics, human systems engineering, artificial intelligence, and modeling and simulation. Indiana University is supporting these initiatives through departments at several campuses including Bloomington, South Bend and IUPUI.

Crane’s first OTA has been awarded and is in project development. The OTA uses a consortium partnering approach to identify solutions for DoD projects. Interested businesses should visit the Strategic and Spectrum Mission Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems website.

Impacting the state: IU’s engagement includes supporting economic development, innovation, education

Posted on by IU Communications

During the April meeting of the Indiana University Board of Trustees, IU Vice President for Engagement Bill Stephan summarized how the university impacts the state with economic development and innovation strategies.

Bill Stephan

“Indiana University’s engagement efforts support our mission to connect with all regions of the state and further develop the statewide economy and workforce,” Stephan said. “Throughout the state, we have advanced campus initiatives and engaged partners and organizations to strengthen and expand our positive influence, and it is inspiring to see the direct impact of IU on Hoosiers’ daily lives.”

Stephan also introduced the launch of the Statewide Impact website, which shows the university’s influence throughout the state’s 92 counties. The website also includes stories about graduates who are making an impact in their communities.

A news story about Stephan’s presentation to the IU Board of Trustees is online.

Tyson Rugenstein joins IU ICO, will manage portfolio of life sciences inventions

Posted on by Steve Martin

The Indiana University Innovation and Commercialization Office, which protects, markets and licenses intellectual property developed at IU so it can be commercialized by industry, has hired Tyson Rugenstein as senior technology commercialization manager.

Bill Brizzard

Bill Brizzard, executive director, said Rugenstein strengthens the roster of the IU Innovation and Commercialization Office.

“Tyson’s extensive experience in business development is a great addition to the IU ICO, and it will serve to enhance our commercialization efforts,” Brizzard said. “We are excited to have Tyson on our team.”

Rugenstein will work with inventors across all IU campuses and regional academic centers who disclose life sciences innovations to IU ICO. Previously, he had worked at Cook Medical in sales, product management and business development.

“In my business development role at Cook Medical, I reached out to university technology transfer offices, and became passionate about the potential of research coming from universities,” Rugenstein said. “The skills that I learned from 20 years in the medical device space from sales, product development and business development will add a different background to our strong group at IU ICO.”

 

IU at the 2019 TechPoint Mira Awards: Indiana University Philanthropic Venture Fund

Posted on by Steve Martin

The 2019 TechPoint Mira Awards will celebrate the state’s success stories in the technology sector. Winners will be announced at a black-tie awards ceremony and gala featuring a reception and three-course seated dinner Saturday, April 13, at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis.

We congratulate the Indiana University Philanthropic Venture Fund. It is one of five finalists in the Investor of the Year category.

TechPoint is the nonprofit, industry-led growth initiative for Indiana’s technology companies and overall tech ecosystem. The team is focused on attracting talent, accelerating scale-up companies, activating the community and amplifying stories of success.

IU at the 2019 TechPoint Mira Awards: Andy Harris

Posted on by Steve Martin

The 2019 TechPoint Mira Awards will celebrate the state’s success stories in the technology sector. Winners will be announced at a black-tie awards ceremony and gala featuring a reception and three-course seated dinner Saturday, April 13, at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis.

Andy Harris
Andy Harris

We congratulate Andy Harris, senior lecturer, Department of Computer and Information Science, Purdue School of Science, IUPUI. He is one of 11 finalists in the Tech Educator of the Year category.

TechPoint is the nonprofit, industry-led growth initiative for Indiana’s technology companies and overall tech ecosystem. The team is focused on attracting talent, accelerating scale-up companies, activating the community, and amplifying stories of success.

Brookings Institution senior fellow and Center on Children and Families co-director to speak at the Economic Club of Indiana’s April 16 luncheon

Posted on by Steve Martin

Richard Reeves, senior fellow at Brookings Institution and co-director of the Center on Children and Families, will speak at the Economic Club of Indiana’s luncheon on Tuesday, April 16. The luncheon will be held at the Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Ave.

Richard Reeves

Tickets for members of the Economic Club of Indiana are $30; tickets for nonmembers are $35. They can be purchased online.

Indiana University and IUPUI are platinum sponsors of the Economic Club of Indiana’s luncheon season. IUPUI Chancellor Nasser H. Paydar is president of the club’s Board of Governors.

IU leaders envision student career pathways during E2E luncheon

Posted on by Steve Martin

Representatives from Indiana University campuses convened at the IUPUI Campus Center in early March for 2019 Education-to-Employment Convergence, the fifth annual E2E event hosted by IU. E2E Convergence was created as an ongoing forum to discuss the challenges, opportunities and strategies associated with strengthening sustainable pathways for students and graduates to secure meaningful work experiences and career opportunities in Indiana.

Jim Woodell, former vice president for economic development and community engagement at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, served as keynote speaker and facilitator. In his presentation, “Catalyzing Education to Employment Impact: Ecosystems, Engagement, and Agility,” he promoted three principles to strengthen the impact universities have on talent and workforce development: developing the ecosystem, engaging stakeholders and staying agile.

Spurred by discussion led by Woodell and the sharing of leading talent development practices from IU campuses and peer universities, the group examined various ways of inventorying internal assets, developing a practice of listening to external stakeholders, co-designing solutions with stakeholders, convening diverse resources and assets, and taking action.  Examples included an internship program for traditionally underrepresented students, a program for international students seeking to return to their home country for jobs, and extended student externships with technology companies in Indianapolis.

During E2E Convergence, participants initiated planning discussions around ways to enhance delivery of career services to students through sharing data, creating technology pathways and engaging regional employers. Through feedback provided after the event, participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity to collaborate directly with colleagues from around the state in developing innovative new frameworks. Responses also advocated for creating tangible action items from the collaborative efforts as a next step.

Through this important learning and networking event, IU campuses will be better positioned to make advancements benefiting talent development and retention in Indiana.

Birch Bayh and his impact on technology transfer at American universities

Posted on by IU Communications

By Bill Brizzard, executive director, Indiana University Innovation and Commercialization Office

Indiana University mourns the passing of former U.S. senator and IU alumnus Birch Bayh. Among Sen. Bayh’s many achievements was his co-sponsorship of the Bayh-Dole Act with Sen. Bob Dole. Enacted in 1980, the Bayh-Dole Act allows universities, nonprofits and small businesses to elect to pursue ownership of inventions that result from federally funded research.

Bill Brizzard

Following the passage of the Bayh-Dole Act, research universities throughout the United States created technology transfer offices to manage and commercialize inventions. Technology transfer offices file and prosecute patent applications, seek out and license patent rights to commercial partners, and assist with the formation of startup companies based on university inventions.

Technology commercialization at IU is managed by its Innovation and Commercialization Office, which is under the Office of the Vice President for Research. The ICO has 18 full-time staff, with offices located in Indianapolis and Bloomington. IU is a longtime leader in technology transfer activities and has contributed to the disclosure of more than 2,900 inventions by IU researchers over the last 20 years. Additionally, IU’s support has led to the filing of more than 4,300 global patent applications and the issuing of nearly 1,100 global patents over the last two decades.

Since 1986, federal funding at IU has resulted in more than 1,500 inventions, 1,800 patent applications and 250 license agreements. Moreover, IU has launched 42 startup companies from federally funded research. These accomplishments resulted directly from the Bayh-Dole Act and serve to demonstrate its significance to Indiana and the nation.

[Editor’s Note: A news release from Indiana University Communications further details Birch Bayh’s life, his connections to the university and his many career accomplishments.]

Radius Indiana celebrates 10 years of economic development

Posted on by IU Communications

By Kirk White, assistant vice president for strategic partnerships, Indiana University

Radius Indiana, the regional economic development organization that operates in eight southwest-Indiana counties, celebrated 10 years of achievements at its annual stakeholders meeting Feb. 27. Although Indiana University does not have a campus in the Radius counties, I have represented the university to Radius since its inauguration in our efforts to connect IU’s expertise to the communities in the region. Our IU Center for Rural Engagement is perfectly suited to fulfill this mission.

Kirk White
Kirk White

The roster of new organizations and facilities in the region that Radius has supported over the past 10 years is impressive: WestGate@Crane Technology Park; the Battery Innovation Center; East Gate Business and Technology Center; Vincennes University Center for Technology, Innovation, and Manufacturing in Jasper; the growth of the French Lick Resort, the largest privately owned convention center in Indiana; I-69 from Evansville to Martinsville; a $42 million grant from the Lilly Endowment for the Rural Opportunities Initiative; Indiana Innovation Institute; and the IU Center for Rural Engagement have been significant drivers that guided the region’s success. IU has partnered to assist many of these initiatives.

Radius Indiana is a close partner with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, which transfers funds from the French Lick Wagering Tax to support Radius initiatives. Since 2016, Radius has also helped identify projects for $3.1 million of Indiana Regional Impact funding, which is the “state’s only deal-closing fund,” according to Jeff Quyle, Radius Indiana CEO. All of this has translated to a 34 percent wage increase in the region since 2009.

The IU Office of the Vice President for Engagement was established in 2007 and opened an office at WestGate@Crane in 2018. Our staff looks forward to continuing to support economic and rural engagement projects in close association with Radius Indiana during the years to come.

TIAA economist and CEO to speak at the Economic Club of Indiana’s March 11 luncheon

Posted on by Steve Martin

Roger Ferguson, economist and CEO of TIAA, will speak at the Economic Club of Indiana’s luncheon on Monday, March 11. The luncheon will be held at the Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Ave.

Roger Ferguson

Tickets for members of the Economic Club of Indiana are $30; tickets for nonmembers are $35. They can be purchased online.

Indiana University and IUPUI are platinum sponsors of the Economic Club of Indiana’s luncheon season. IUPUI Chancellor Nasser H. Paydar is president of the club’s Board of Governors.