The Larger Role of the University in Economic Development

 

The Larger Role of the University in Economic Development 

University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

April 22 - 24, 2009

There is no argument that universities and other institutions of higher education contribute to economic development. The discussion in recent years is dominated by a focus on formal technology transfer. Attention has shifted towards easily quantified metrics such as the number of patents issued, licenses signed, licensing revenues received, and the formation of new companies based on university technologies. This focus ignores the larger contribution of universities to the economy as agents of economic and social development. The purpose of this conference is to broaden considerations of the role of the university in economic development, analyzing the contribution to higher education to specifically state and local economies and begin a dialogue on the types of metrics that capture this broader influence.

Conference Organizers:
Maryann Feldman - UNC - Chapel Hill (maryann.feldman@unc.edu)
Shiri Breznitz - Georgia Institute of Technology (shiri.breznitz@pubpolicy.gatech.edu)
Anne Cavitt - UNC - Chapel Hill (cavitt@email.unc.edu)

Conference Venue - April 22, 23 at Carolina Club & April 24 at Hyde Hall, University Room

Lodging - Carolina Inn  (room reservations will be made for invited participants/discussants/chairs)

Transportation - Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) is a 20 minute drive, taxis are available at airport

UNC-Chapel Hill Campus Map

 

(Please click on highlighted items below for personal websites or abstracts.)

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM   Lunch  Carolina Club, Alumni Room

2:15 PM              Welcome Pete Andrews, Chair of UNC-CH Department of Public Policy

2:30- 4:30 PM     The Engaged University
Many studies adopt the model that confines universities to be partners with industry, and government oriented towards active technology transfer. The purpose of the introductory session is to present new theoretical models that can more completely consider the role of the university in today's economy.

Maryann Feldman, UNC-Chapel Hill, The Larger Role of the University in Economic Development

Lesa Mitchell, Kauffman Foundation

Roger L. Geiger, Pennsylvania State University
Corporate-sponsored University Research: Ambiguous Trends, Multiple Modes, and Reconciling Supply and Demand

Chancellor Holden Thorp, UNC Chapel Hill

Chair - John D. Kasarda, The Kenan Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill
 

7:00 PM - Dinner  Carolina Club, Alumni Room

 

Thursday, April 23, 2009

7:30 - 8:30 AM      Breakfast  Carolina Club, Almuni Room

8:30 - 12:30PM   Anchors for Economic Development
Universities are part of communities, often the largest employers. This session will explore the role of universities as an anchor in local communities and consider the variety of policies, practices that universities employ to foster community stability and vitality, create economic opportunity through local procurement and employment practices, and more generally increase the quality of civil society.

Carlos Martinez-Vela, John Adams Innovation
The Duality of Innovation: Implications for the Role of the University in Economic Development

Harvey Goldstein, UNC Chapel-Hill
Universities as Partners in Regional and Local Governance 

Tara Vinodrai, University of Waterloo
The University as an 'anchor' in regional economies: Evidence from Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada

Coffee Break - 30 minutes

Sean Safford, University of Chicago
The government as entrepreneur. 

Jesse White, UNC Office of Economic and Business Development
Asset Mapping: Matching Institutional Assets to Community Economic Development Needs

Anne Miner, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Vicarious learning by universities and university start ups.

Chair - Ted Abernathy, Southern Growth Policies Board
Discussant - Albert Link, UNC Greensboro

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM       Lunch  Carolina Club, Alumni Room

1:30 - 5:30 PM        Improving Technology Transfer Mechanisms
Today universities' contribution to economic development is analyzed through technology transfer. In particular technology transfer offices are measured by their output of patents, licenses and spinoffs. In this session we would like to review how universities can improve technology transfer mechanisms and better understand how technology transfer offices can contribute to local economic growth.

Bob Cook-Deegan, Sanford Institute of Public Policy, Duke University
Universities in the Genomic Innovation Ecosystem

Arvids Ziedonis, University of Michigan and David Mowery, UC Berkeley
The geographic reach of markets and non markets channels of technology transfer.

Don Patton, UC Davis and Martin Kenney, UC Davis
Reconsidering the Bayh-Dole Act and the Current University Technology Licensing Regime 

Coffee Break - 30 minutes

Janet Bercovitz, University of Illinois,  Urbana-Champaign, Maryann Feldman, UNC Chapel-Hill, and Shiri Breznitz, Georgia Institute of Technology
Understanding the Organization of Technology Transfer

Jeannette Colyvas, Northwestern University and April Faith-Slaker
The university, intellectual property, and the law: unintended consequences of academic entrepreneurship.

Don Siegel, School of Business, University of Albany, SUNY
Universites and the Success of Entrepreneurial Ventures: Evidence from the Small Business Innovation Research Program

Chair & Discussant - Stephen A. Merrill, The National Academies

6:30 PM                  Dinner  Carolina Inn, Old Well Room

 

Friday, April 24, 2009

7:30 - 8:30 AM     Breakfast  University Room, Hyde Hall

8:30 - 11:00 AM    New Roles: The Office of the Vice President for Economic Development
The expanded role for universities is implemented through a new office, the Vice President for Economic Development. Several practitioners will discuss their mandate, role within the university and interactions with the community.

Tim McNulty, Associate Vice President for Government Relations, Carnegie Mellon University

Robert Lann, Director, CPRS, Enterprise Innovation Institute Georgia Tech

Tony Waldrop, Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development, UNC-Chapel Hill

Chair - Shiri Breznitz, Georgia Institute of Technology, The Engaged University
Discussant - Leslie Boney, UNC-Chapel Hill

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.

Thank you to the following organizations for their help in sponsoring this workshop:

Kauffman Foundation

Kenan Institute for Private Enterprise

UNC-Chapel Hill College of Arts & Sciences

UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Public Policy