A new council created last month combines Oregon’s academic and industrial efforts to aid the state’s economic development.
Senate Bill 838 created the Oregon Innovation Council, a board of industry, education and government leaders charged with advising the governor and state Legislature on how to make the state more competitive in research and business.
University Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies Rich Linton and Lundquist College of Business Dean Jim Bean serve as technical advisers to the council. Oregon State University, Portland State University, Oregon Institute of Technology and the Oregon Health and Science University also have representatives serving as technical advisers.
“I think it’s another opportunity to connect government, university and industry interests and economic development,” Linton said.
The bill also granted $7 million to the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute, a collaboration that coordinates scientific research efforts at Oregon universities, private companies and government labs.
“My vision for Oregon is to be the Innovation State, and the bills I’m signing today mark a new commitment and strengthened partnership between the state and private partners to move us forward in achieving that goal,” Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski said in a Sept. 26 statement.
Some of the private companies represented on the council are Pixelworks, YoCream International, LSI Logic and OVP Venture Partners.
Linton said students benefit from arrangements like the council and ONAMI because they get to use enhanced research facilities and equipment and are eligible for internships.
“It’s hard to think of legitimate concerns,” Linton said. “I don’t see it as competing with or replacing any of our traditional missions.”
Linton explained that money coming into signature research centers is not taken out of pre-existing University funds but is granted separately, creating new funding opportunities.
“Any time there’s a connection beyond just a pure academic role, some faculty would think that’s less attractive, but I think in this society, we need to find ways to support the basic research of the University,” Linton said. “If we’re going to sustain any support for the University from the state, I think that’s part of the equation we need to satisfy.”
Linton said the partnerships and collaborations strengthen the state by reducing the duplication of services.
The Oregon Innovation Council continues the mission of the Oregon Council for Knowledge and Economic Development, which the Oregon State Legislature established in 2001. OCKED’s charge expired, Bean said, but because it had been successful, it was refocused and restructured to exist in a new form.
OCKED established ONAMI as its first – and, so far, only – signature research center, building on Oregon’s industrial and university research strengths in nanotechnology and microtechnology, Linton said.
The council might establish more signature research centers in the future, possibly in subjects such as sustainability, digital medicine, neuroscience and behavioral science. Linton said it is not clear at the moment what the next priority or strategy will be.
ONAMI and the council share many personnel; Dave Chen of OVP Venture Partners is chairman of both groups.
The Lundquist College of Business is already involved with ONAMI through the Lundquist Center for Entrepreneurship and the Technology Entrepreneurship Program, which gives Masters of Business Administration students and law students experience marketing technology from the University and from ONAMI partner Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Bean added that the business schools at Oregon State and Portland State universities are also involved with ONAMI, and he expressed hope that the new council will increase the business schools’ level of involvement.
Bean said OCKED discussions, which will be continued in the new council, also helped coordinate the Oregon Business Institute, a collaboration between business schools at the University, OSU and PSU. The institute, which offers M.B.A. degrees to working executives, is scheduled to get new headquarters in downtown Portland in January.
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