Business Engagement Center

2015

URI’s Front Door for Industry

The Business Engagement Center

What can we do for your business?• Find fresh talent• Bring great ideas to market• Partner on sponsored research• Plan professional conferences• Provide access to URI’s facilities

and meeting spaces

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The Business Engagement Center (BEC) serves as a front door for companies and businesses looking to engage with the University for any purpose, including finding students for internships, sponsoring research, taking advantage of conference planning services, and fostering workforce development. The BEC is all about being accessible to the business community and providing resources to help strengthen Rhode Island’s economy.

From technology transfer and the creation of new companies to workforce training that ensures robust employment opportunities, the BEC is carrying out the University’s economic development agenda in real time, with real businesses, for real growth.

In 2014, leaders in a variety of fields including bioscience, defense and marine trades, composites research, pharmacokinetics, and manufacturing came to campus to meet with faculty, students, and administrators, tour facilities, and learn more about ways to partner with the University.

Connecting large and small businesses with URI resources.

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Business Engagement Center Success Stories

Navatek, a leader in the design of advanced ship hulls for the Navy, as well as wind turbine technologies, wave energy conversion, and utility-scale energy storage, moved its headquarters to Rhode Island to be close to URI and a pipeline of engineers. In addition to hiring graduates and launching a paid internship program, Navatek sends engineers into URI classrooms as mentors in the Capstone Design Program (see page 5).

Biotechnology pioneer Amgen, another Capstone participant, continues to collaborate with URI on workforce development and training, research and development, and policy issues, and hires URI interns. In turn, the University provides Amgen employees with training in OSHA, hazmat, cybersecurity, and cross-cultural competencies, as well as assistance with energy management planning.

Shimadzu Scientific Instruments made a $1.2 million in-kind donation to URI’s new Center for Chemical and Forensic Sciences. Discounted state-of-the-art scientific instruments and a five-year service plan will ensure that the University’s chemistry program is on the leading edge.

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We’re looking for partners who can Think Big with us.

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Maximizing the economic impact of URI’s intellectual property portfolio.

The University of Rhode Island Research Foundation (URIRF) works with businesses to find real-world applications for University inventions. Faculty and staff launch companies with licensed technology.

The Polaris Manufacturing Extension Program (MEP) offers on-site training and facilitations, one-on-one consulting, and public workshops as it helps Rhode Island’s small and mid-sized manufacturers achieve operational excellence and to incorporate University innovations. In collaboration with the Rhode Island Manufacturers’ Association, Polaris MEP also works to identify skills gaps and facilitates the development of solutions to identify and train a qualified manufacturing workforce.

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) operates out of URI’s Division of Research and Economic Development. Providing in-depth business counseling and advanced business skills, the SBDC works with Polaris MEP, and is part of a network of 63 centers across the United States and its territories.

The BEC has many University partners focused on helping your company make the most of URI’s resources.

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Corporate Affiliates ProgramsThe Graduate School of Oceanography and College of Pharmacy Corporate Affiliates Programs give business leaders immediate access to leading faculty, scientists, students, innovative research, and exciting new research developments.

Collaborative Clinical Placement Team (CCP)URI educates students across eight healthcare disciplines, more than any other institution in Rhode Island. Hospitals, clinics, healthcare companies and others benefit from the education and experience URI offers in pharmacy, nursing, dietetics, kinesiology, psychology, speech pathology, physical therapy, and human development and family studies. Our team will help you find talented students with the experience to meet your organization’s needs.

College of Engineering Capstone Design ProgramURI’s senior engineering students complete a yearlong capstone project with a local business. The projects are a win-win partnership—companies receive an extra boost in R&D and students get valuable experience. For example, URI engineering students helped Toray Plastics (America) boost productivity and worked with Neptune-Benson to create a better water filter.

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In the BEC’s first year alone, we have helped more than 90 companies connect with resources at URI, the state’s only public research institution. As your partners, we offer wonderful opportunities to take advantage of exciting discoveries, new technologies, high-tech facilities, faculty expertise, and practical continuing education programs. When our students intern with you, they apply valuable classroom learning to real problems, and in turn you benefit from their fresh ideas, innovative thinking and energy. Through the BEC, we are collaborating on many levels with businesses that Think Big with us — to build a stronger economy, to grow their organizations, and to enhance learning at URI.

David M. Dooley President, University of Rhode Island

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URI is a vital partner in building Rhode Island’s economy.

“We have hired student interns and utilized the Engineering Capstone Program with great success. The students are full of new ideas and have helped us solve critical problems. We can access all of URI’s resources with one phone call to the BEC. Hats off to URI for establishing this strong business link.”

Cheryl Merchant, President and CEO, Hope Global

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Katharine Hazard Flynn is the Center’s executive director. A Brown University graduate with decades of experience in economic development, finance, and philanthropy, she also serves as URI’s director of corporate and foundation relations. Katharine will help your business take advantage of URI’s resources in technology, research, engineering and other critical areas.

The BEC is located on the first floor of the Alumni Center on the Kingston campus. Email Katharine 24/7 at khflynn@uri.edu, or visit us at uri.edu/bec.

“Companies contact us thinking they need one resource, such as interns, and realize quickly that URI has a great deal more to offer.”

Katharine Hazard Flynn, BEC Executive Director

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We will connect your business to a world of resources at URI, 24/7.

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URI is an equal opportunity employer committed to the principles of affirmative action.

2/2015 50/BEC PHOTOS: JOE GIBLIN, NORA LEWIS, ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

Corporate Partners

Alex and Ani Amgen, Inc. Amica Amtrol, Inc.

Astro-Med, Inc. Cox Communications CVS Health

Electro Standards Laboratories FM Global

Fidelity General Dynamics Electric Boat

Gilbane Building Co. GTECH Corporation Hasbro

Hexagon Metrology Hope Global Lifespan

Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC)

Navatek Neptune Benson

Ocean State Job Lot Raytheon Company

Sensata Schneider Electric Shimadzu

Taco, Inc. Teknor Apex Company Textron

Toray Plastics (America), Inc. Verizon

BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT

CENTERKatharine Hazard Flynn, Executive Director

Alumni Center, 73 Upper College Road

Kingston, RI 02881

khflynn@uri.edu | 401.874.7084 | uri.edu/bec

@URI_BEC