Leveraging University Resources for Regional Economic Development

Anne Kaplan, Ph.D. & Lisa Freeman,D.V.M, Ph.D.Illinois Board of Higher Education

December 10, 2013

The Engagement Imperative

What does it mean to be an engaged university in a world-class, global region?

1) We are part of the region, not separate from it.2) Extraordinarily diverse – urban, suburban and rural3) Strive to embrace true engagement, with focus on

mutual benefit and reciprocity

The Region

• Top quarter of the state contains 80% of state’s population• Contains 90% of state’s industry• Recognized as one of top ten economic centers worldwide (Standard & Poor’s)

The Region

• Western half of region dotted with small, rural communities• Many very poor and skewing toward elderly as lack of opportunity drives young people away• Lack of industry = low tax base = inability to

support high-quality public schools

How do we serve this region?

• Regional economic prosperity as pursued by NIU is about health, happiness & personal satisfaction made possible by:

- meaningful employment - social/cultural affiliations - civic engagement - financial security

Assessing NIU’s Role

• Workshop with 20 regional leaders• Priorities identified:– Talent development– Business support (shared technical facilities, help

bringing innovation to market, research)– Convening & leading ongoing discussions about a

regional vision– Promoting awareness of the region– Connecting NIU to the IL Innovation Ecosystem

Built in Chicago

CECChicagoland Chamber of

ARCHIncubator

TechNexus

Private Equity

1871

Pritzker School of Medicine / BSD

Inst. for Molecular Engineering

UChicago Tech

Nanotechnology

Kellogg School of Management/Farley

Feinberg School

of Medicine

Impact Engine

.

Growth

Clean Energy Trust

ITA

Chicago Booth

Healthbox

Early

Seed

Inst. For NCSA/ Genomic Bio User Facilities

University of Chicago

Argonne

Capital

Industrial Labs Tech Transfer

Angel

Excelerate Labs/TechStars

User Facilities/ ALCF JCESR

Center for Nanoscale Materials

Chicago Innovation Mentors

Industry

Catapult

INVO

Polsky Center

Galvin Center for Electricity Innovation

IFSH - FoodTechnology

WISER

Institute of Design &Engineering

PeoriaNEXTResearch

UTP IITUniversity ofIllinoisResearch Park

CTP

Park at SIU

MaterialsResearch

University ty

ISTC

State/DCEO

Energy

Biotech and Pharma

Manufacturing

IT/ Communications

CommerceTechAmericaExpansion

Laboratory Center UIC

Innovation Center

Enterprise Works

University Park SIUE

Ag Research

Biofuels

NCAURFermilab

LoyolaUniversity

Bioinformatics

Northern Illinois

University

University of Illinois

Illinois Institute of Technology

Southern Illinois

University

Incubators, Co-

Working Spaces Accelerators

Mentorship, Community & Networking

DePaulHealth Sciences

iBIO PROPEL

Institute for Neutron Therapy

InnovationUniversitiesFederal Labs IncubationCapital & NetworksEcosystem

ISGRIC

IVCA

ISTP

ATIP

WBC

City of Chicago

Museums

Northwestern University

Computation

Illinois AcceleratorResearch Center (IARC)

Conveners

Public Sector

Performing Arts Amenities

Culture

IL GA

Chicago Innovation Awards

Computing & Digital MediaFinancial Services

Founder’s Institute

Rush University Hospital

Philanthropy

Tech. Entrepreneurship

Illinois Medical District

Research Parks

InnovationInvention

ProtonComputed

Tomography

EntrepreneurialSupport

CollaborativeResearch

NIU Technology Transfer

Office

NIU Venture Grants

Chicago Innovation

Mentors

IndustryPartnership

Connecting the Dots- pCT

FNL

ANL

CDH

IARC at FNL

?

Award Winning Engagement

• Three examples used in NIU’s application for designation as an APLU “Innovation and Economic Prosperity University”:

- Broadband development - P-20 (pre-school through graduate school) - Rockford engagement

Broadband Development• Began in early 2000s as effort to connect NIU main campus to satellite locations• Initially leased unused fiber along interstate highways; later obtained grants for new fiber installation • Quickly realized potential for partnering with

municipalities and institutions

Broadband Development

How important is broadband to the economic health of a region?• 2012 survey of 7,253 Illinois businesses: - 75% said broadband infrastructure essential to remaining in current locations - 55% said high-speed Internet a key factor in deciding where to locate new business

Broadband Development

Broadband project grew through commitment to regional engagement and $120 million in federal, state and local grants:NIUNet: 175-mile fiber optic loop throughout western suburbs & NIU service region iFiber: 900-mile network spanning 9 countiesDATA Network: DeKalb County Illinois Rural Health Network: connecting 88 hospitals & clinics throughout the state

Broadband Development

• Broadband speeds increased by 1,000 times in region looking for competitive advantages to attract new business

• 750 community anchor institutions connected (schools, hospitals, municipal governments, public safety departments, libraries and museums)

• Total of 2,200 miles of fiber optics installed

Rockford Engagement

• NIU has long history of engagement with Rockford

• A former manufacturing giant, Rockford now suffers from high unemployment and low educational attainment

• In 2009, NIU established the Office of Regional Engagement in Rockford to bring focus to multiple efforts there

Rockford Engagement

• Primary Rockford asset is a strong aerospace cluster (9th largest in U.S. in terms of jobs)

• NIU helped create the Rockford Area Aerospace Accelerator Project (RAAAP)

• Regional aerospace growth system focused on four key goals:

Workforce development Product innovation

Hi-tech entrepreneurshipBranding

Rockford Engagement

• In 2011, RAAAP was awarded a $2.4M federal grant (ETA, EDA, SBA) from the Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge (JIAC) program

• Partners include: NIU, Rockford College, RAEDC, EIGERlab and the WorkForce Connection

Collaborative, systematic approach to strengthening the aerospace cluster

Aerospace Growth System

Brand Promise

Workforce Pipeline

Product Innovation

Entrepreneur Support

Rockford Engagement

• Joint Institute for Engineering and Technology – Aerospace gets more students in the pipeline • Engineer in Residence program places faculty-

supervised students in industry as research, development, test and evaluation engineers.

Innovation from EIRs

• Accelerated machine design & engineering• Process analysis to reduce costs• Streamlined work instructions to increase

production efficiency• Manufacturing simulations to reduce cost and

increase productivity• Recommendations for new facility layout and

streamlined inventory and tracking processes

Seminars for area manufacturers

Taught by NIU Engineering faculty:• Laser-based additive manufacturing - technical assistance on fast, high-quality repair options that give refurbished parts longer service life than original • Lean Six Sigma - process innovation that reduces cost, eliminates waste & improves customer satisfaction

Rockford Engagement

Outcomes – Year One:• 25 internships established (100 applicants accepted

into JiET-A)• 5 Engineers in Residence placed with regional

aerospace companies• 9 companies assisted with prototype fabrication using

EIGERLab’s 3D additive manufacturing equipment• Leading aerospace company cites project as key

reason for $300 million expansion in Rockford (estimated 1,600 new jobs)

Recognition

Designated APLUInnovation and Economic ProsperityUniversity (one of 16nationwide)

Won APLU’s inauguralaward for outstanding service to a region