FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 2, 2003
UNC Mobilizes to Support Economic Development Statewide
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Seeking additional ways to help stimulate the state's economy, The University of North Carolina has signaled a new strategic focus on using its resources to promote economic development, from expanding efforts to promote technology transfer from its 16 campuses to the pending development of an electronic economic development portal.
"For more than 200 years, the University has played an important role in the state's development, providing an educated workforce and conducting research that fuels discovery and innovation," says UNC Senior Vice President J.B. Milliken. "That role is now more critical than ever. Economic development is a high priority throughout the University, from the Board of Governors and president to every one of our 16 campuses."
In March, UNC President Molly Corbett Broad tapped Milliken to lead a restructured Division of University Affairs, which integrated existing external responsibilities with University-wide economic development activities, policy analysis and strategy development. The University's Small Business and Technology Development Center, led by Executive Director Scott Daugherty, is a key element of the expanded division. The overarching goal is to strengthen the University's effectiveness in serving pressing state needs.
The engagement of the University is key to North Carolina's success in the knowledge economy, says Milliken. UNC's Technology Development Initiative, for example, is identifying research strengths, promoting commercialization, and building greater capacity for technology transfer University-wide. Supported by the National Science Foundation and implemented in collaboration with RTI International and others, this effort is resulting in new and innovative ways of conducting business on UNC campuses, particularly on smaller and medium-sized campuses.
UNC's planned Economic Development Portal - an initiative embraced by the Economic Development Board and the Research Triangle Region's Future Clusters Competitiveness Initiative in their strategic planning - has generated excitement from state and regional economic developers, as well as the private sector. Now in the early development stages, the portal is a Web-based system that will organize communities of interest, improve access to research and technology, advance best business and commercialization practices, and leverage University, state and private-sector resources. The needs of various user communities are being assessed to ensure the value and use of the portal.
These recent UNC initiatives are part of an overall economic development agenda focused on:
- Enhancing technology development and transfer.
- Establishing a 16-campus economic development alliance.
- Supporting state economic policy research.
- Strengthening ties with the private sector, the N.C. Department of Commerce and the regional economic development partnerships.
- Developing additional "millennial campuses" to foster public-private partners.
- Building public understanding and support for science and technology.
These initiatives and others are providing practical ways for the University to stimulate the state's economy while fulfilling its historic three-part mission of teaching, research and outreach, says Milliken. "While these missions remain constant, their execution must constantly evolve to meet the changing needs of the state," he says. Regional examples of this new emphasis include efforts to develop new sources of investment capital at UNC-Chapel Hill, a new Economic Development Partnership at N.C. State University and an increased emphasis on science and technology at N.C. Central University.
These and other campus and University-wide initiatives reflect tangible ways the University is continuing its centuries-old tradition of providing critical support in the state's ongoing development.
###
RTRP Report | News Releases | Announcements | Accolades
|
