Leveraging University Resources for Regional Economic Development

1. 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

2. 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. • Extraordinarily diverse – urban, suburban and rural • Strive to embrace true engagement, with focus on mutual benefit and reciprocity

3. 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)

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Materials Tech. Entrepreneurship Biofuels Inst.For NCSA/GenomicBio UserFacilities IllinoisAccelerator ResearchCenter(IARC) ATIP Research Loyola University IFSH-Food Technology LaboratoryCenterUIC Innovation Center NCAUR Institute for NeutronTherapy Polsky Center Fermilab Enterprise Works Bioinformatics GalvinCenter forElectricity Innovation ChicagoBooth Northern Illinois University User Facilities/ ALCF Computation Illinois InstituteofTechnology Centerfor Nanoscale Materials UniversityofIllinois JCESR Pritzker School of Medicine / BSD Institute of Design& Universityof Chicago Inst.for Molecular Engineering Engineering . Illinois Medical District Rush University Hospital Argonne WISER UChicagoTech Nanotechnology KelloggSchoolof Management/Farley FeinbergSchool ofMedicine UTPIIT CTP Northwestern University INVO Universityof Innovation Universities FederalLabs Incubation Capital& Networks Ecosystem ISGRIC IVCA Illinois ResearchPark PeoriaNEXT Research Health Sciences DePaul Research Parks University Park SIUE AgResearch Parkat SIU Universityty Computing&Digital Media FinancialServices ISTP IndustrialLabs TechTransfer Angel Energy Biotechand Pharma Southern Illinois University Industry Conveners Manufacturing IT/ Communications WBC Incubators, Co-Working Spaces Mentorship, Community& Networking ISTC Seed CleanEnergy Trust ITA Philanthropy PublicSector IL GA iBIO PROPEL State /DCEO Accelerators Early ARCH Incubator CityofChicago Museums Built in Chicago CEC ChicagolandChamberof 1871 Founder’s Institute TechNexus Private Equity Chicago Innovation Awards Chicago Innovation Mentors Capital Culture Performing Arts Amenities Impact Engine Excelerate Labs/TechStars Catapult Healthbox Commerce Growth Expansion TechAmerica

8. Connecting the Dots- pCT • Industry • Partnership EntrepreneurialSupport Innovation Invention Collaborative Research ProtonComputed Tomography FNL IARC at FNL NIU Technology Transfer Office NIU Venture Grants Chicago Innovation Mentors ? ANL CDH

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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 counties DATA Network: DeKalb County Illinois Rural Health Network: connecting 88 hospitals & clinics throughout the state

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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 entrepreneurship Branding

16. 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

17. Collaborative, systematic approach to strengthening the aerospace cluster

18. 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.

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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)

22. Recognition Designated APLU Innovation and Economic Prosperity University (one of 16 nationwide) Won APLU’s inaugural award for outstanding service to a region