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K-State Today

June 15, 2017

KSU-IC staff present at University-Industry Interaction Conference

Submitted by Sarah Hancock

Kent Glasscock, president of the Kansas State University Institute for Commercialization, or KSU-IC, and Rebecca Robinson, KSU-IC director of economic development, traveled to Dublin, Ireland, June 7-9 to present "Enabling Successful University-Business Collaborations: Working with Industry Training for Faculty" at the University-Industry Interaction Conference. Their talk was part of a panel titled "Teaching and Incentives for University Staff."

Glasscock and Robinson addressed the development of the K-State Working with Industry Boot Camp and Research Showcase as a method of providing faculty with tools to help establish industry collaborations and develop strategic partnerships. They outlined the development of the training and event series, feedback from faculty and other lessons learned, and future plans with an eye toward providing faculty with new opportunities and showing industry how K-State innovations can help solve problems. Such efforts will result in economic growth and job creation.

"Our series has been successful, and we see new places for it to go in the next few years. While some other international universities offer limited training for faculty and staff, the audience at the conference was interested in the breadth and quality of K-State's Working with Industry programs," Robinson said.

Robinson also moderated a "Next Practice Pitches" panel that explored innovative approaches to economic engagement.

"Hearing from and interacting with colleagues from over 60 countries, the other conference presentations were insightful in learning about new approaches for collaborations between academia and industry," she said.

Working with Industry Boot Camp sessions are available on the KSU-IC website. Customizable workshops are also available for departments or other faculty groups.