By Kevin Fryling, news and media specialist, science, Indiana University Communications

A longstanding partnership between Indiana’s three top research universities recently got some high-profile exposure in the world of pharmaceutical chemistry through a story in PharmTech, a leading news source for professionals in the global pharmaceutical manufacturing drug-development community.

The story, “Precompetitive Research Spurs Innovation in Pharmaceutical Analysis,” published Nov. 15, highlights the Indiana Consortium for Analytical Sciences and Engineering, a joint venture between Indiana University, Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame that coordinates research activities in analytical chemistry across the three universities.

The center accomplishes its goals by leveraging relevant resources and expertise in analytical chemistry at each institution, as well as building new opportunities for collaboration with industry, government agencies, private research organizations and other academic institutions. The director of the consortium is Christopher Welch, whose appointment was announced in February.

Moreover, the PharmTech article previews the launch of a new center under the consortium whose principal point of contact at IU will be Lane Baker, the James L. Jackson Professor in the IU Bloomington College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Chemistry.

The Center for Bioanalytic Metrology, which has received a planning grant from the National Science Foundation, will focus the research capabilities of the faculty and students at IU, Purdue and Notre Dame on the “most pressing problems of industrial research relating to measurement science and instrumentation.” The center is expected to officially launch in fall 2019.

Excitingly, the article also reports that many major pharmaceutical companies — including Genentech, Agilent, Shimadzu, FLIR Systems, Sartorius, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Eli Lilly and Company — are already committed to membership, with others expected.

For more information, visit the Center for Bioanalytic Metrology’s website.

Intellectual property is playing a central role in a new program at the School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI. 

In the Engineering-Science Intellectual Property Project, a series of three classes marries intellectual property concepts with engineering and patent applications. Students create their own solution to an engineering challenge, build a prototype, and then guide it through patent and even commercialization processes. 

A news release about the program is available online.

The Indiana University Council for Regional Engagement and Economic Development, or CREED, hosted its final quarterly meeting of 2018 on Nov. 28 on the IUPUI campus.

Bill Stephan, vice president for engagement and CREED chair, shared new developments at the university: David Rubenstein is scheduled to be the winter commencement speaker at IU Bloomington, the next meeting of the IU Board of Trustees will be Dec. 6 and 7 on the IU Kokomo campus, and university representatives will visit the Electric Works site in Fort Wayne before the end of the month.

INfuze Indiana is a storytelling platform that has been used to connect entrepreneurs and venture capitalists throughout the state. Kara Kavensky, co-founder, spoke about the importance of telling the story behind regional engagement, entrepreneurship and economic development.

“Telling the story is crucial. Is there an opportunity to promote a school and its engagement, and how things are structured? The best way to share a story — what a company does or anything else — is to personalize it. What does it mean to the audience?” Kavensky said.

Future INfuze Indiana events will take place Dec. 11 in Evansville; Dec. 12 in Fort Wayne; in January 2019 in Terre Haute and Indianapolis; and on other dates in Bloomington, Lafayette and Hammond.

Trevor Foughty of the IU Office of the Vice President for Government Relations provided an overview of the 2019 legislative session, including some of the bills and budget items that will impact the university.

“Learning about what’s happening at regional campuses is very important to my colleagues and me. We have had a great trip to IU Kokomo, and we’ll soon visit Richmond, New Albany and Gary to visit the IU East, IU Southeast and IU Northwest campuses,” Foughty said. “The university needs to show that we are helping smaller towns by preparing their students for the future workforce.” (more…)

Gregory Hess, president of Wabash College; Geoffrey Mearns, president of Ball State University; and Thomas Minar, president of Franklin College will engage in a panel discussion led by Teresa Lubbers, Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education.

The discussion is part of the Economic Club of Indiana’s luncheon series. It will be Monday, Dec. 10 at the Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis.

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.

Earlier in November, Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie toured The Union 525 in downtown Indianapolis. The university has established a dedicated presence in this venue, which provides flexible space for startups and growth companies.

Pres. McRobbie was joined on the tour by Vice President for Engagement Bill Stephan, IUPUI professor Lou Lenzi, Assistant Vice President for Economic Engagement David Gard and IURTC Manager of Strategic Partnerships Jason Whitney. Katie Birge of The Union 525 led the tour.

The university’s dedicated presence at The Union 525 strengthens its ability to support innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development by university researchers, staff, students and graduates throughout the state. This goal is outlined in the university’s Bicentennial Strategic Plan as priority seven: Building a Prosperous and Innovative Indiana.

The university also has a dedicated presence to support innovators and entrepreneurs at Dimension Mill in Bloomington, Launch Fishers in Fishers and WestGate@Crane Technology Park in Odon. The university also is committed to a space in 16 Tech in Indianapolis when it opens.

The Indiana University Council for Regional Engagement and Economic Development, or CREED, addresses regional economic concerns and identifies ways that IU can use its resources to advance economic development efforts in the state. Each IU campus has a CREED representative, appointed by that campus’s chancellor or provost.

Jason Troutwine has represented IU East since 2018. He is the vice chancellor for external affairs. He was kind enough to answer questions for Crimson Catalyst.

Crimson Catalyst: Why is community engagement important to IU East?

Jason Troutwine: Community engagement is a core value for the regional campuses. Our campus’s ability to provide leadership in our communities — a continual pipeline of educated, well-trained problem-solvers into our workforce and faculty members who can help provide strategic thinking and solutions to grow the area economy — is vital to our region’s success. In turn, our region provides a supportive environment and countless opportunities for our students to learn, grow and thrive.

CC: Why is regional economic development important to your campus?

JT: Regional economic development is critical to IU East. Economic development directly links to job creation and quality of life, which impact our region’s ability to retain graduates, recruit qualified professionals and create a culture of place. As a campus, we develop academic programs and initiatives that support economic development as well producing graduates that are prepared for positions in leadership, business or civic engagement. The School of Business and Economics offers four centers focused on developing the economy, collection of data, and enhances entrepreneurial or leadership skills for students and other community leaders. The centers and academic programs provide resources to improve the economy and workforce.

CC: What vision or priorities does your chancellor have regarding regional engagement and economic development?

JT: Chancellor Kathryn Cruz-Uribe is dedicated to our region and places a high priority on regional engagement and economic development. She serves on several area boards, including the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce board, the Reid Health board and several nonprofits aimed at improving the region’s quality of life. The chancellor is a champion of being a “steward of place,” recognizing that regional campuses have a responsibility to serve the area by providing leadership and access to education and training and being an active participant in the region’s planning. The campus supports economic development by providing employment. Additionally, faculty, staff and students give their time, talent and donations to local organizations and their communities, furthering the efforts led by Chancellor Cruz-Uribe.

CC: How has the region benefited from IU East’s involvement and leadership?

JT: IU East supports the region in many ways. For example, over 80 percent of our graduates stay in the region after they graduate. A recent study reported that more than 425 alumni of IU East’s School of Education are teachers in school systems within the region. We find similar statics in nursing: The IU East School of Nursing and Health Sciences is the primary pipeline for nurses to area health care providers such as Reid Health. Many of the region’s business leaders are also IU East alumni and hold positions such as bank CEOs, executive directors and vice presidents. In addition to providing training and a continued pipeline of well-educated graduates, the campus also contributes to the area’s quality of life through its arts programs, academic lectures, youth camps, athletic events and community collaborations.

CC: What potential opportunities exist for IU East and the region?

JT: There is always more to do. The campus is exploring more ways to integrate with area employers to strengthen internships, build better employment pipelines, increase innovation and entrepreneurial investment in our communities, retain and attract young professionals to the area, and continue to be advocates for the idea of “stewards of place.”

The public is welcome to attend the Nov. 15 launch party of Dimension Mill, 642 N. Madison St., Bloomington. The Mill is a 103-year-old building that has been transformed into a 19,000-square-foot coworking and business incubator space in Bloomington’s Trades District.

Mary-Rachel Redman of Inside Indiana Business will emcee the event. Keynote speaker Mark Solon of TechStars will be joined by Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton; Pat East, executive director of Dimension Mill; and New York Times bestselling author Jay Baer.

Indiana University is one of The Mill’s Cornerstone Partners. So why is it important to support innovation and entrepreneurship in Bloomington, at IU and in Monroe County? What makes Dimension Mill a good resource in the effort to support them? We asked a few experts.

Pat East, executive director, Dimension Mill

“The Mill has been a highly anticipated project that has been in the works for over a decade. In order for Bloomington to grow and for The Mill’s mission to be fully realized, we can’t do it without IU. An undertaking like The Mill requires that we all pull together as a community. We’re delighted to be working with an institution like IU. It says to our community that we are dedicated to investing in Bloomington’s vibrant entrepreneurial and innovation communities, and that Bloomington’s major institutions are committed to making it a 21st-century, future-forward city that can adapt to a rapidly changing world.”

Bill Stephan, vice president for engagement, Indiana University

“Fostering and supporting creativity and innovation hastens advances across disciplines and serves as a springboard for a wide range of entrepreneurial activity, including the growth of startup companies. These enterprises, in turn, can attract new investment and foment job creation that benefit the entire community. Indeed, it is typically growth among small businesses that contributes most significantly to the economic life and vibrancy of all communities.

“IU’s support for Dimension Mill and direct engagement with our friends and colleagues within this innovation space provides an unequaled off-campus, but proximate, resource for our students, faculty and staff who seek to explore and pursue varied creative interests while benefiting from interaction with other innovators.”

Alexandra Sejdinaj, co-founder, South Bend Code School

“Innovators dive into the unknown to find ways to solve problems for people and organizations. With so much uncertainty, support networks and resources are invaluable to entrepreneurs because they help reduce risk throughout the process, ultimately increasing the chance of a venture’s success.

“We selected The Mill for our Bloomington South Bend Code School location because we wanted to teach our students in an environment that helps foster creativity and innovation. We are so thrilled to be able to offer our programs in a place that supports our mission and work, and allows our business to build community with other Bloomington entrepreneurs.”

Jane Martin, venture capitalist

“An IU-Dimension Mill partnership enhances the university’s mission — not just to create well-rounded, critical thinkers, but to train the nation’s young professionals to excel in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors of our knowledge economy. The Mill’s 100-plus tenants, entrepreneurs, innovators and remote tech workers offer an important enhancement to the classroom through student internships, real-world class projects, and intense career and professional development opportunities through weekly programming and events. This partnership between IU and The Mill takes town-and-gown collaboration to a new level.”

Tony Armstrong, president and CEO, IU Research and Technology Corp.

“Supporting innovation and entrepreneurship is critical, as they are what truly drive economic growth. We’ll also be able to better retain students in Bloomington, and hopefully attract back IU graduates, with great companies or ideas for companies that we can help grow right here. Innovation makes all of our lives better, and the research being done at IU has the ability to change the world in positive ways. It’s incumbent upon us to make that process less burdensome. The companies formed provide tax revenues to the community and careers to local citizens. Part of IU’s mission is to move the research being done on our campuses out into the world, and the way to do that is through entrepreneurship.

“Dimension Mill will give entrepreneurs a place to land when they visit Bloomington to get connected. The Mill will also give local leaders and entrepreneurs the chance to interact on a regular basis. The space will incubate companies that will then grow and need to build and occupy larger spaces in and around Bloomington. The real estate is only one part of the impact of The Mill. The programming that will be offered will help educate and inform entrepreneurs here in Bloomington and hopefully accelerate the growth of their companies. The Mill also serves as an anchor for the Trades District and will be a central location for activity.”

Teri Willey, manager, IU Philanthropic Venture Fund

“Entrepreneurs start companies and can solve problems not only in business, but also address community challenges. Innovation and entrepreneurship are foundations of a healthy economy and positive social change.

“Dimension Mill provides a place to work, collaborate and learn, serving as a bridge with Indiana University and the larger community. In this age of electronic communications, tangible physical proximity not only still matters, it is critical to well-being as well as building business relationships.”

Ellie Symes, CEO, The Bee Corp.

“The Bee Corp is very excited to be a part of The Mill. When we started our company, IU gave us our first office space in the Hoosier Hatchery. We loved the space, but were looking to get closer to the larger Bloomington tech community. When we were looking for office space to lease, we had a difficult time finding one that would give us a shorter-term lease. We were lucky that an office opened up next to Cowork, and the landlords were flexible with our startup needs. Once we became Cowork members and neighbors, we fell in love with having a larger community at our workplace. The Mill has brought that community to an incredible space and created a hub around our tech ecosystem. We look forward to being a space for IU entrepreneurs to get involved in the Bloomington tech ecosystem by taking a short trip down the 10th Street corridor from the Shoemakers Space in Luddy Hall to The Mill.”

Jason Whitney, manager of strategic partnerships, IU Research and Technology Corp.

“The launch of The Mill creates a space that will help serve as a common ground for engaging the entrepreneurial spirit not only in Bloomington residents but in Indiana University faculty and students as well. By having a space that works daily to create a community atmosphere and provides interesting and engaging programming for entrepreneurs of all ages, we are going to be able to create new, exciting and scalable ventures in the Bloomington area that will not just provide exciting careers for its founders and employees, but will provide great lifetime community members to add value to community organizations, local schools and events. The university itself has many interesting spaces on campus, but this provides us an additional resource to better connect with the amazing community of entrepreneurs in Bloomington who also have connections statewide — which we hope encourages the creation and growth of entrepreneurial ventures right here in south-central Indiana.”

Tony Armstrong and Teri Willey have been named to the inaugural 2018 Global University Venturing Powerlist, which recognizes the top 100 leaders of university venture funds.

Armstrong, the president and CEO of the Indiana University Research and Technology Corp., is fourth on the list. Willey, IURTC’s managing director and manager of the IU Philanthropic Venture Fund, was included in an alphabetical listing of people ranked 26-100.

IURTC catalyzes entrepreneurial activities at the university and provides support for IU innovation-based startup companies. It advises and connects IU startups to capital and commercialization partners, industry mentors, and leadership talent. It also develops appropriate programming and startup space to accelerate company growth.

IU Philanthropic Venture Fund invests in new ventures founded or lead by IU faculty, students, alumni or staff.

Armstrong’s and Willey’s profiles featured on the list are available online. Congratulations to both on this global recognition.

Technology invented by IUPUI researchers to improve the conversion from alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) signals and from DC signals to AC signals has been awarded a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Many devices operated by electricity receive power either as AC or DC signals, but some can be operated by both. However, the complexity of traditional separate electrical circuits that perform AC-to-DC and DC-to-AC conversion decreases the reliability of devices that use both signals.

IUPUI researchers have developed an invention that can convert DC voltage to any desired waveform using a single switch inverter. The same circuit can be used to convert the time-varying voltage to a controllable DC voltage. They disclosed their invention to the Indiana University Innovation and Commercialization Office, which protects, markets and licenses intellectual property developed at Indiana University so it can be commercialized by industry.

More information about disclosing inventions to IU ICO and how to license them for commercial applications is available online.

A method invented by IUPUI researchers to reliably produce graphene materials with a high surface area has been awarded a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Graphene is a single-atom-thick sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb pattern. As a two-dimensional nanosheet, its high surface area and high in-plane electronic conductivity make it an attractive candidate for applications in electronic devices and composite materials. The primary method to make graphene, however, usually encourages single graphene sheets to stack together in a haphazard fashion, which leads to the loss of effective surface area. This affects the use of graphene in batteries and supercapacitors, where high surface area is desired.

IUPUI researchers have developed a method that can effectively prevent the restacking of graphene sheets by incorporating functionalized nanocarbon particles. This leads to excellent battery cycle life, i.e. >500 cycles with less than two percent capacity loss. They disclosed their invention to the Indiana University Innovation and Commercialization Office, which protects, markets and licenses intellectual property developed at Indiana University so it can be commercialized by industry.

More information about disclosing inventions to IU ICO and how to license them for commercial applications is available online.