Saginaw Valley State University

7400 Bay Road, University Center, MI 48710 • 800-968-9500

http://www.svsu.edu/

Technology Transfer

SVSU does not have a traditional technology transfer office, although some of the functions of IP management and protection are handled through SVRDC and CBED (see below).

Incubators

MidMichigan Innovation Center

SVSU has a close working relationship with the MidMichigan Innovation Center (MMIC), a regional incubator. Students and faculty, as well as staff from the Center for Business and Economic Development (CBED), collaborate with MMIC management and tenant companies to develop projects to solve address start-up problems if there is a match between curricular/personnel/financial resources and the client’s areas of need.

University-Industry Commercialization Programs

Center for Business and Economic Development

http://www.svsu.edu/cbed/

Under the auspices of the Center for Business and Economic Development, four programs are aimed at facilitating technology and knowledge transfer to industry, as follows:

Saginaw Valley Research & Development Corporation (SVRDC) (http://www.svsu.edu/cbed/svrdc.html
“We want to take the wonderful ideas and technology here at the University and help bring as many of them as possible to the point of commercial viability. Our vision is to see many of them positively affect the regional economy," says Harry Leaver, Executive Director of the Center for Business and Economic Development and President of SVRDC. "In addition to internally developed ideas, SVRDC also works with regional businesses and entrepreneurs assisting them in a similar fashion." Students are encouraged to take that leap in entrepreneurship and take ownership of their cutting edge ideas, taking that next step to commercial viability.
Center for Manufacturing Improvement (CMI) (http://www.svsu.edu/cbed/cmi.html) - CMI is dedicated to helping small manufacturers in the Saginaw Valley achieve their goals with leading edge training and support. As the Northeast Regional office of the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (MMTC), its charter is to offer a variety of services to help manufacturers be competitive in today's evolving and increasingly global marketplace. Services include: Executive Level and Team Leader Training, On-Site Implementation, LEAN, Six Sigma, Green and Black Belt Certification. Located in a state-of-the-art conference facility on campus, CMI brings a unique blend of academia and manufacturing experts together, working to provide specialized training in the latest cutting-edge technologies.
Independent Testing Laboratory (ITL) (http://www.svsu.edu/cbed/itl.html) - Since its founding in 1982, the Independent Testing Lab has played a vital role in improving the local economy by providing analytical services and technical support. Housed within SVSU's College of Science, Engineering and Technology, the lab's primary function is to provide regional business and industry with access to the latest laboratory equipment necessary to improve existing products and bring new products to market. It has capabilities for mechanical, chemical and biological testing and uses American Society of Testing Materials test procedures. It's also a hotbed of student participation, giving companies access to some of the brightest young minds while affording students the opportunity to experience real-world problems and real-time solutions.
Center for Rapid Prototyping and Innovation (CRPI) (http://www.svsu.edu/cbed/crpi.html) - The Center for Rapid Prototyping and Innovation (CRPI) is the first such research center in Michigan to be able to work with ferrous metals, aluminum and plastic. The special prototyping machine from the Ann Arbor-based Solidica company is able to construct parts directly out of ferrous or aluminum materials and eliminate the multi-part plastic process. Solidica will provide the Center with prototyping projects as it explores working with ferrous materials, which will be of high interest to the auto industry. The CRPI services and value include: prototypes from ferrous materials, competitive prices, state-of-the-art equipment, preparing students for the real job world, and the incubation and commercialization of ideas.

Center for Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (CEC)

http://www.svsu.edu/cbed/entrepreneurship.html

Dulcey Simpkins, Ph.D., Director, dlsimpki@svsu.edu, (989) 964-2165

The Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grant program of the US Department of Labor focuses on increasing economic development opportunities through entrepreneurship. Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) became a WIRED grant recipient in 2006, in collaboration with Michigan State University and other partners making up a larger Mid-Michigan Innovation Team. SVSU’s new Center for Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (CEC), located in the Center for Business and Economic Development (CBED), will administer nearly $3 million over three years to catalyze job and business opportunities in sectors that have high growth potential.

WIRED focuses on providing technical and business support for “high expectation” sectors, and this grant focuses on four high growth potential clusters: advanced manufacturing, medical device manufacturing, alternative energy and bio-based technologies, and advanced computing and informatics (wireless, encryption, internet security). SVSU’s WIRED territory includes Bay, Midland, Saginaw, Huron, Sanilac, and Tuscola counties. SVSU also works with the larger 13 county Mid-Michigan area that is also served by the entire group of grantees making up the Mid-Michigan Innovation Team, but less directly.

The CEC’s overarching mission is to promote entrepreneurship in the region, including to students on SVSU’s campus. Students work with businesses in the CEC programs, and are encouraged to take that leap into entrepreneurship and take ownership of their cutting edge ideas, taking that next step to commercial viability. There is also an education component to help cultivate fiscal and entrepreneurial skills in the K-12 system.

Utilizing the Mid-Michigan WIRED grant, the CEC and its eighteen partner organizations have funding and information/data networks to provide many services to entrepreneurs, especially in the sectors of advanced manufacturing, medical device manufacturing, alternative energy, bio-based technologies, and advanced computing and informatics (wireless, encryption, Internet security). The CEC also provides support to start-ups and small-businesses that approach the center for assistance – both university stakeholders such as faculty or students as well as community members. The CBED, CEC, and WIRED partners are already involved in the following:

increasing regional business exposure to alternative energy manufacturing opportunities
providing incubation services to biobased product and computing ventures;
supporting the Saginaw Bay Sustainable Business Forum
organizing trainings in technology business development fundamentals
providing consulting services to help diversify manufacturer’s internal and external client base
partially subsidizing testing and business development for bioeconomy and manufacturing innovations
developing on-campus partnerships with science or business experts to develop testing protocols, prototypes, and marketing plans for high-growth ventures.
The CEC coordinates services and matches entrepreneurs to organizations that can be of assistance. For example, the CEC subcontracts to local incubators for physical housing, networking, and other services needed by start-ups. Partners like Michigan Works! and Delta College have established skilled worker training programs, so the CEC also works to match these organizations with local entrepreneurs. The CEC leverages the existing infrastructure and resources of SVSU as well.

Clients are referred to the CEC from a variety of sources, including community references, campus departments, and marketing/networking efforts (e.g., the opening of SVSU’s new science building). Project-based learning is an important part of SVSU’s curriculum, so students may develop ideas in the classroom that lend themselves to the CEC’s services. Since the center was created, approximately 20 small businesses and start-ups have received assistance from the CEC.

Entrepreneurship Education related to Economic Development

College of Business & Management Entrepreneurship Program

http://www.svsu.edu/acadprog/departments/entrepreneurship.html

Entrepreneur-in-Residence. In Fall 2007, the College of Business & Management’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence partnered with the Center for Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (CEC) to provide funding for and sponsor a campus presentation by the “Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour”. This program encourages students to think entrepreneurially and pursue their dreams and includes a keynote speaker, workshop, speed networking, panel discussion, and after-event community.

Entrepreneurship Institute

Internships. The College of Business and Management works with over 30 regional businesses (from small family businesses to Fortune 500 companies) to create internships for its students.

Family Business Program. The Family Business Program provides the opportunity for select students to interact with regional business owners.

Economic Development/Outreach

Project-Based Learning
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SVSU’s primary form of outreach contributing to economic development comes in the form of project-based learning, which often occurs through senior capstone courses where students must address a scientific/technological principal through problem-solving—sometimes with a local business partner.

Independent Testing Lab

SVSU’s project intake system often directs business clients through its Independent Testing Lab (ITL), which is ISO certified. Through the ITL, the project manager calls upon his own materials science experience, faculty expertise, and the creative powers of students to assist businesses in testing new products or processes to bring ideas to market.

As CBED is the home of the ITL, other CBED departments often identify businesses with testing or experimental R&D needs that can be channeled through the ITL. CMI, CEC and CBED often help with “matchmaking” between businesses, students, faculty, and testing resources. The ITL is a fee-for-service organization, but prices are reasonable; since testing for new products is often non-routine or unique, the ITL does not compete with standard testing labs but instead fits a unique market niche. Student workers on such projects have also been funded by the WIRED grant through the CEC, as they are obtaining invaluable training in materials science, analytical chemistry, and other technical fields that can lead to high-income jobs in our region (sometimes even with the companies for which they did research).

The ITL is ideally suited to help emerging companies in these fields work out processes and prototypes of new products. Such companies often do not have their own research and development labs, or have only basic testing facilities, yet need more advanced or customized testing services that the ITL can provide. The ITL can also help larger businesses who need specialized testing on a fast timeline, which is often not possible in large corporate R&D settings. Thus, the target audience for the ITL includes not only larger companies needing specialized non-routine services (about 25% of the time) but also small and mid-sized businesses that lack their own R&D labs or sufficient equipment but have promising intellectual property or other assets and ideas that nevertheless can lead to investment and job creation in the area.