NSF- Partnerships for Innova4on "Cultural Chasms": Challenges and Successes for 11 Small Colleges/Universi4es and Business Connec4ons

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1 NSF- Partnerships for Innova4on "Cultural Chasms": Challenges and Successes for 11 Small Colleges/Universi4es and Business Connec4ons Marian R. Walters, Ph.D. Associate Dean for Research and Outreach Penn State Harrisburg

2 THANKS TO National Science Foundation Partnerships for Innovation Grant Award Sept Aug $ 600,000 PI: Marian R. Walters, Ph.D.

3 Vision Overcome industry/university cultural chasms For new partnerships for innovation In South Central Pennsylvania

4 Vision Overcome industry/university cultural chasms For new partnerships for innovation In South Central Pennsylvania

5 Vision Overcome industry/university cultural chasms For new partnerships for innovation In South Central Pennsylvania Structured to Enhance Existing Innovation Transfer Network, but without providing direct support

6 Innovation Transfer Network (ITN) -- Connects businesses to faculty and students at colleges/universities in Central PA -- To stimulate applied research, -- Leverage innovation in the marketplace, -- Accelerate commercialization of technology Funded in part by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (since 2005)

7 PFI: Dis4nguishing Features: Academic Diversity: two year, four year, undergraduate, graduate and HBCU ins4tu4ons. Industrial Networking: One major industrial partner (Ganne[ Fleming, Inc.) and nine different economic development organiza4ons.

8 Academic Ins4tu4ons Penn State Harrisburg (Lead) Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Dickinson College Elizabethtown College Franklin & Marshall College Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg University of Science & Technology Lebanon Valley College Messiah College Millersville University Shippensburg University

9 NSF-PFI: Cultural Chasms 11 SMALL Colleges and Universities with > 3,000 Faculty > 55,000 students

10 Economic Development Innova4on Transfer Network Harrisburg Market Keystone Innova4on Zone Lancaster Keystone Innova4on Zone Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern PA Ben Franklin Venture Investment Forum Capital Region Economic Development Corpora4on James Street Improvement District Life Sciences Greenhouse of Central PA Technology Council of Central PA

11 Proposed Approach -- Foster cross-institutional communications -- Increase faculty receptivity to corporate partnerships -- Expand access to economic development partners -- Share faculty expertise across colleges and to industrial partners

12 Proposed Activities -- Gather/share information re faculty research interests/resources -- Collaborative Programs & Symposia -- Partnership Training -- Seed Funding (academic/corporate) -- Comprehensive intellectual property infrastructure support

13 NSF-PFI Anticipated Chasms University-Industry Cultural Chasms, Due to Differences in -- Structure: Profit vs Nonprofit -- Knowledge: Applied vs Basic Research -- Process: Practical Production vs Lengthy Rigorous Investigative Approach -- Rewards: Sales/Profit vs Scholarship

14 Unanticipated CHASMS Chasms Chasms and More Chasms!!!

15 Unanticipated CHASMS: Among Academic Institutions All SMALL Colleges/Universities, close geographical Area o Compete For Students o Compete For Resources o Varied Missions (education vs research)

16 Unanticipated CHASMS: Among Academic Institutions All SMALL Colleges/Universities, close geographical Area Challenge: Establishing Trust

17 Unanticipated CHASMS: Among Academic Institutions All SMALL Colleges/Universities, close geographical Area Challenge: Establishing Trust Penn State Harrisburg (Masters 1 equivalent + PSU affiliation) seen as not-so-benevolent Step-Parent

18 Unanticipated CHASMS: Economic Development Partners Key Role in Developing ITN at Penn State Harrisburg Challenge: Understanding Costs

19 Unanticipated CHASMS: Economic Development Partners Challenge: Understanding Costs -- Prefer that PSH/PSU administer ITN funding -- No understanding of the costs of grant admin -- Dismayed by NSF OVERHEAD $

20 Unanticipated CHASMS: Economic Development Partners Challenge: Understanding Costs -- Prefer that PSH/PSU Administer ITN funding -- No understanding of the costs of grant admin -- Dismayed by OVERHEAD $ Ditto Academic Partners!!!

21 Unanticipated CHASMS: Economic Development Partners Challenge: Personnel -- ITN Personnel Took Ownership of ITN -- Feared Encroachment by NSF-PFI activities/hires

22 Unanticipated CHASMS: Economic Development Partners Challenge: Technical Differences -- Scientist-Faculty: Scientific/Technical Presentations -- Econ Dev or Corporate Partners: Lay -Level Presentations

23 Other Unanticipated Challenges SENIOR Academic Leaders: -- Time Constraints -- Crossed Over, so less trust and rapport with junior faculty -- Illnesses and Retirements -- Traditional Views of Research Commercialization

24 Other Unanticipated Challenges Small Academic Institutions: -- Limited Research Office expertise -- Expected: Need for IP info -- Unexpected: Lack of IRB Processes -- Unexpected: Difficulty Processing Grant Proposals

25 Other Unanticipated Challenges Small Business Seed Grant Partners: -- Small Business = Limited Capital -- Difficulties meeting seed grant match $ -- Difficulties justifying in kind match (especially personnel time) -- Difficulty embracing the concept of research as hypothesis

26 NSF-PFI RESULTS Identifying Unanticipated Chasms **Overcoming Chasms!!**

27 NSF-PFI RESULTS -- Faculty Resource Inventory From Most Academic Partners -- Faculty Perception Survey -- Funded 11 competitive Seed Grants at 6 academic institutions o 8 Academic-Corporate Partnerships o 2 very early stage projects

28 NSF-PFI RESULTS -- Frequent Programs and Symposia spread across all institutions Ex. ITN/PFI Seed Grant Symposium -- Expanding communication across partnering institutions -- Enhanced research (and education) partnerships Ex. NSF-ADVANCE Award

29 NSF-PFI RESULTS -- ITN Maturation o At PFI Inception: 1.5 FTE, weak leadership o Currently: 4 (new) FTE, strong Exec Director -- ITN Growth/Stability o Added 5 + institutions in adjacent Berks Co o Funded to self replicate in two additional areas of PA

30 Questions?