Innovation Ecosystem Research Articles

FDI, Technology Transfer and Economic Growth, What’s the connection? The case of Morocco

Foreign direct investment (FDI) has grown significantly in developing countries over recent decades, and governments in these countries now regard FDI as a key component of their development strategy. The potential benefits of FDI include the provision of financial resources, job creation, increased economic growth and spillover effects on local businesses. In addition, the development effectiveness of FDI depends on the ability of host countries to absorb technology and innovation from foreign companies. Technology transfer (TT) is therefore a major issue in the context of FDI. Political institutions and economic players need to work together to encourage effective and sustainable technology transfer. Technology transfer is therefore an essential process in enabling companies to remain competitive and innovate in a constantly changing economic environment. Technology transfer centers play a crucial role in this process, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and technology between the various players in the innovation ecosystem. After examining the two variables, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and TT on economic growth, the results indicate that both variables have a positive impact on economic growth

Organizational resilience factors in Bogotá-based businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic

This article reports on descriptive case studies, and researched the factors of improvisation in organizational resilience in the context of the Covid-19 health emergency. A total of 23 businesses in the city of Bogotá, from different economic activities, participated in this study. Participants were managers, owners, legal representatives, or executives from those businesses. The research type is descriptive with a qualitative approach, aimed at identifying qualitative attributes based on responses or ratings using the Likert scale. A Likert-type questionnaire was used, rating seven resilience factors, whose indicators were defined by reviewing the literature on the subject. It was found that among the resilience factors, those with the lowest performance were the components of sustainability, corporate culture, and innovative ecosystem; the determinants of coping skills and leadership were the best performing; meanwhile, human talent and the elements of flexibility and adaptation played an intermediate role in sustaining the business amid the health emergency. The study corroborates the previously existing theory and shows the possible variation in the influence of improvisation factors depending on the size of the company, its structure and organization. This study may serve as an input for future research related to the determining factors in organizational resilience and the behavior of companies in the face of different types of crises.

Responsible research and innovation transfer: The perspective of universities

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to answer the research question: Which issues play crucial roles in universities’ responsible research and the innovation transfer process? The tool used to achieve the aim of the study was analysis of the specific role of the concept of responsible research and innovation transfer from universities to the economy.
 THE RESEARCH PROBLEMS AND METHODS: The research results can generate innovations that can be transferred to the economy. Considering all stakeholders of innovations transferred from universities to the economy, the criteria of evaluating innovations in terms of responsibility should be studied. The research method is based on literature analysis.
 THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The article begins with a literature review in the area of research and responsible innovation. Then, an attempt is made to synthetically analyze the dimensions of responsible innovation in order to formulate a basis for further inference. In the next part of the study, we used six dimensions of responsibility to explore the process of innovation transfer from universities to the economy.
 RESEARCH RESULTS: The article shows that on the basis of the assumptions of the concept of responsible research and technology transfer, it is possible to create a framework that is the basis for evaluating the activity of a university in relation to the economic environment. Moreover, the Quadruple Helix framework of innovation is the most relevant tool to analyze actors and their interactions in an innovation ecosystem.
 CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Responsible innovation dimensions such as inclusion, anticipation, responsiveness, reflexivity, sustainability, care could be considered as a basis for evaluating universities’ technology transfer process.

The role of trust in open innovation collaboration: the experience of polish medium-high-tech SMEs

This paper contributes to an emerging debate on open innovation ecosystems and knowledge sharing in the innovation environment, by sharing insights on the role of trust in open innovation collaboration. Systematization of the state of art literature on the innovation networks show that trust is crucial for improving competition among Polish companies, yet its seems to have not an important place in the innovation environment. The main purpose of the research is to determine the role of personal traits, including trust, in the initiation of the potential open innovation collaboration. The study applies the qualitative survey method and shares up-to-date empirical evidence from Polish high- and high-mid-tech small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The study was conducted using the computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) method, in collaboration with the ARC Rynek i Opinia company, from January to April 2021. The study covers 100 SMEs active in advanced technology industries. The results reflect the opinions of middle- to high level managers. The study findings show that there is a need for a deeper understanding of the factors behind trust-embedded open innovation collaboration, and the perception of open innovation as a win-win game for all the partners. Better understanding of these factors will ensure more effective communication in developing an open innovation environment in Polish SMEs. The study findings also indicate the need for an active role of key stakeholders and intermediary agents in facilitating formal and informal networks stimulating mutual trust, as well as the importance to build the educational system enabling the strengthening of the creativity, and the diffusion of innovations.

The Role of Science and Technology in Vikshit Bharat: Building a New Paradigm for India’s Growth

Visit Bharat, the vision of a developed India by 2047, hinges on a transformative role for science and technology (S&T). This paper explores the critical areas where S&T can act as a catalyst for progress, addressing challenges and unlocking opportunities across various sectors. It examines the current S&T landscape in India, identifies strengths and weaknesses, and proposes a roadmap for fostering a robust and inclusive innovation ecosystem. By analyzing successful case studies and international best practices, the paper outlines key strategies for promoting research, development, and deployment of cutting-edge technologies, emphasizing affordability, accessibility, and sustainability. Finally, it underscores the importance of building human capital, fostering public-private partnerships, and strengthening the overall S&T governance framework to realize the full potential of S&T in shaping Viksit Bharat.

Exaptationary Industry 4.0: Graphene as pathfinder?

This paper seeks to answer the puzzling question whether Industry 4.0 inevitably triggers a sociogenesis that results in new attitudes toward the nature of the socio-economic innovation ecosystem. It asks whether Industry 4.0, as a shifter of techno-economic paradigm, may carry higher exaptation potential, and if so, which technology could catalyse this effect. Prevailing literature suggests that graphene technology can easily become a pathfinder in this respect. The paper does not only consider why and how a graphene-based unfolding of Industry 4.0 can fulfil this function (i.e., making exaptations easier in a broader scale), but it also takes into account the wider context for exaptations by asking whether the current configuration of the real economy, the financial universe and the public sector offers a supportive ground for innovation and exaptation seeker behaviours.

THE ROLE OF STARTUP ACCELERATORS IN THE FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The research is dedicated to exploring the significant impact that startup accelerators have on the growth and development of innovative entrepreneurship. It examines how these accelerators support emerging businesses, particularly in the areas of technology and innovation. The study aims to critically analyse and articulate the integral role of startup accelerators in fostering AI-driven entrepreneurship, thereby contributing to a broader understanding of their impact on the innovation ecosystem. The research findings indicate that accelerator programs are instrumental in the growth of AI startups, contributing more than just financial aid. They offer crucial strategic advice, mentorship, and access to broad networks. A notable example is the success of AI startups like OpenAI, which have flourished under these programs, gaining substantial funding and high market valuations. This underscores the role of accelerator programs in fostering industry innovation and growth. AI-focused entrepreneurial ventures are expected to have a significant impact on the global economy and technological progress. By 2030, they are expected to contribute around 16 trillion USD to global GDP, primarily driven by productivity gains, personalisation and quality improvements. Innovation development policies, particularly in AI, have a profound impact on the global redistribution of human capital, particularly in terms of talent acquisition and innovation. Initiatives aimed at strengthening AI talent and facilitating visa processes are critical to attracting global talent, thereby boosting the innovative capabilities of these startups. The race for intellectual capital is predominantly among major players such as the US, China and the UK. The study provides valuable insights for entrepreneurs and investors, highlighting how accelerator programmes can effectively support startup growth and innovation, especially in emerging technology areas such as AI.

The “CELL” initiative as an instrument for integrated care in Limburg (Flanders): a provincial living lab approach

Introduction: The primary care system in Flanders (Belgium) was substantially reoriented and restructured. At local level Primary Care Zones (PCZs) were installed to support better coordination and connect care and welfare organizations with local authorities. The province of Limburg counts 8 active PCZs and is one of the five provinces of Flanders. The province boasts an interesting mining history, forests and historic towns. Collaboration and exchange between primary care actors and knowledge institutions (universities of applied sciences and universities) offers opportunities to translate and implement evidence-based concepts and innovations in the sector. Vice versa, the sector's practical knowledge feeds scientific research and education in the knowledge institutions.
 Description: Limburg has a well-established tradition of collaboration between the healthcare and welfare sector and the knowledge institutions (Hasselt University and University Colleges PXL and UCLL). The PCZs and knowledge institutions aim to further strengthen this existing collaboration and embed it in the Health Campus Limburg (as a tangible meeting ground for primary care in Limburg). This creates a unique partnership between practice (healthcare & welfare), knowledge (research and education) and campus development (innovation ecosystem). The initiative - called 'CELL' was launched on October 5th of 2022 in Hasselt. A charter was signed by 17 Limburg organizations. In addition to 6 PCZs, the 3 knowledge institutions and Health Campus Limburg, the 2 Limburg hospital networks (South-West and North-East Limburg), the 3 mental healthcare networks (Reling, Noolim, Ligant), the palliative care network (Pallion) and the Logo Limburg (prevention network) also joined. The 3 knowledge institutes will collaborate intensively within the CELL initiative in the coming years to strengthen primary care in Limburg. CELL aims to facilitate integrated care at a regional level through innovation processes and projects. Limburg can act as a testing ground (Living Lab) for Flanders to test, monitor and implement innovations in the fields of population management, digitization, community-oriented care, etc.
 Discussion: The CELL initiative is embedded in the Hasselt University Fund and together with the partner organizations the first 2 years of funding is insured. At this point the governance structure is realized and the PCZs performed a needs assessment to establish their annual action plan. CELL will identify the main common denominators in order to accomplish joint initiatives. CELL will not operate parallel to the PZCs, but act as a supportive and academic umbrella. CELL is open to work with all organizations in- and outside the region, that share the same goals. It strives towards a good cooperation and exchange with the Flemish government and its organizations (including the Flemish Institute for Primary Care, VIVEL).
 Conclusion: The interaction between the PCZs themselves and the collaboration with knowledge institutions thus contribute to the further development of high-quality integrated care and welfare and offers opportunities to translate and implement new concepts and (digital) innovations in the sector. This directly benefits citizens and patients in the province of Limburg.

The New Business Model for the State Scientific and Technical Library of Ukraine Enhancing New Digital Tools for Researchers

Objective. The research activities play a significant role in the transformation of libraries, helping them to develop new business models that better suit the changing needs of their users and new services that are responsive to those needs. The new challenges introduced by the Law of Ukraine "On Scientific and Scientific-Technical Activities" 2016 aim to promote a more innovative and competitive scientific and technical ecosystem in Ukraine, and to encourage greater collaboration between researchers, businesses, and the government as well the EU approach to the research data. In this regard, the State Scientific and Technical Library of Ukraine (SSTL of Ukraine) has to redirect its main activities and begin using fundamentally new means and methods of research and science management. This research aims to study the transformation of the SSTL of Ukraine under the influence of changes in scientific data management and the usage of scientific information. These factors play a vital role in the transformation of SSTL of Ukraine by providing a foundation for understanding user needs, developing new models and services, enhancing information literacy, promoting collaboration, and informing policy. By incorporating these insights, SSTL of Ukraine remains relevant in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Methods. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques. A comprehensive review of existing literature on digital tools in research libraries was conducted, followed by surveys and interviews with library stakeholders, researchers, and patrons. The data obtained were analyzed using statistical methods and thematic analysis to derive meaningful insights. Results. The new tools facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, enabling researchers to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and engage in collaborative projects. Such networking opportunities have proven invaluable in promoting innovation and fostering a vibrant research community. Conclusions. The successful implementation of the new business model for the State Scientific and Technical Library of Ukraine, focusing on enhancing research through the utilization of new digital tools, has yielded significant benefits. Researchers now enjoy improved accessibility to research materials, enhanced collaboration opportunities, and advanced data analysis capabilities. These outcomes have positively impacted the research ecosystem in Ukraine by facilitating knowledge dissemination, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, and accelerating the pace of scientific discoveries. The results of this study emphasize the importance of embracing digital transformation in research libraries and provide valuable insights for other institutions seeking to enhance their support for researchers through the integration of digital tools.

Kharkiv Living Lab: from an open innovation ecosystem to a participatory system of food sustainability during wartime

Since its establishment, the main idea of the Kharkiv Living Lab has centered around the co-creation and dissemination of knowledge and innovative values related to children food. In the aftermath of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Kharkiv Children's Living Lab has been transformed to adapt to the exigencies of wartime, and the primary focus shifted towards ensuring food sustainability during the war. The Kharkiv Living Lab reformulated its key principles, prioritizing transnationality, reactivity, and volunteerism. The activities undertaken by the Kharkiv Living Lab during the war time constitute a distinctive and unprecedented experience of implementing a Living Lab during war time, illustrating how «locality» and «globality» are cooperating to tackle food-related challenges during the war, and how a new quality of social ties emerges among diverse local actors, thereby contributing to the strengthening of social cohesion in the face of profound adversity. The activities of the Kharkiv Living Lab are a unique, if not the first, experience of the implementation of the Living Lab during the war, which demonstrated how «locality» and «globality» cooperate in the context of food support tasks, and how a new quality of social ties is created between different by local actors, which strengthens social cohesion in difficult times of trial. In this context, the Kharkiv Living Lab is an example of building a small integration system based on the principles of social interaction and cohesion. After all, the main task of the Kharkiv Living Lab is the joint and mutual creation, distribution and exchange of knowledge, innovative values, established social practices regarding children's nutrition. The involvement of students of Kharkiv secondary education institutions, their parents, teaching staff and the administration made it possible to create an innovative and permanent platform for the exchange of knowledge with their further integration into a common «knowledge bank», which is formed and supported by a consortium of partners of the international research project FUSILLI, which is focused on building food stability.

Outlines of the Science and Technology System: A Look into the Past for Forming Policy for the Development of the Next Generation Ecosystem. Part 1

Overcoming stagnation in the scientific and technological system or, more broadly, in the national innovation ecosystem, which can be described as “the right researchers in a faulty system”, implies, as a start, an analysis of the existing structure, status and roles of its key elements. Strategic and framework planning as a way to allocate resources and determine actions to achieve national or regional goals can be undermined if national policies on the legal and regulatory environment, improvements in physical and institutional infrastructure, support programs and funding mechanisms do not provide a push in the right direction or, moreover, it does not develop and implement a comprehensive framework for innovation. By analyzing the traditional aspects of the state and recent changes in the country’s scientific and educational system and relying on independent opinions and a survey of primary sources conducted in 2022, in the context of international experience, we identify its current values and the models that produce these values in a mixed economy.

Innovation as erasure: Palestine and the new regional alliances of technology

AbstractThis article explores the growing connections between the Persian Gulf states and the heavily militarised Israeli innovation ecosystem. The Gulf actors now play an increasing role in support of Israel as a globally expanding ‘Start‐up Nation’, and are involved in transforming Palestinian land into a regional frontier of technology in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israeli‐Gulf cooperation and its impact on Palestinians, however, has not been thoroughly researched. Drawing from fieldwork among Palestinian and Israeli innovation elites, we map these growing connections between Gulf state actors and Israel and analyse how the occupied Palestinian territories are further enmeshed in complex networks of financial capitalist and settler colonial security interests. Theoretically, the paper advances the critique of the contemporary settler colonial frontier, venturing beyond its usual Eurocentric and binary geographies. We conclude that ‘innovation’ is both (a) the terrain of expanding structures of Israeli colonisation and (b) the site of productive ambivalences and novel forms of resistance in an evolving regional and global reality.

Enabling product development partnerships to bring forward the next generation of health technologies.

Over the past quarter century, product development partnerships (PDPs) have importantly brought health technologies, particularly for neglected diseases, to market for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). With public sector financing, PDPs de-risk the gulf between where the global burden of disease falls and where paying markets exist. From fighting COVID-19 to developing novel antibiotics, the work of PDPs now extends beyond these traditional bounds. As PDPs have shepherded more health technologies to market, they are also confronting new access challenges. This article lays out 5 areas to strategically leverage the PDP model for better access to new health technologies. Making the case for enhanced support of the PDP approach will require greater transparency, as well as recognition of the contributions made by both public and private sector partners. The governance and funding of PDPs must be accountable to meeting the needs and building capacity of target beneficiaries in LMICs. To take an end-to-end approach, PDPs must work in tandem with other public sector institutions as well as local manufacturers as part of a larger innovation ecosystem. PDPs will need to keep pace with both the dynamics of diseases and markets in delivering the next generation of much needed health technologies.

Stakeholders of Cardiovascular Innovation Ecosystems in Germany

This paper aims to provide a first attempt towards analysis innovation ecosystems for cardiovascular pathologies in Germany through the use of a stakeholder model. We present essential stakeholders for the development and deployment of innovations in the field of cardiovascular research and medicine, and the primary functions they fulfill in the context of these innovation ecosystems. The adopted approach consists of the implementation of a multilevel system model for analyzing stakeholders in this particular field. Data acquisition transpired through systematic literature review of multiple articles and studies. Data analysis phases were executed until reaching a point at which the considerable amount of data was discovered, ensuring consistency across various sources. We demonstrate that innovation ecosystems in cardiovascular medicine involve interconnected networks of stakeholders across different fields. Moreover, through an investigation of innovation ecosystems of cardiovascular pathologies particularly in Germany, we present the functions undertaken by each stakeholder, which are essential for the participation in the innovation ecosystems. The findings presented in this paper hold the potential to bring better understanding of cardiovascular pathology innovation ecosystems in Germany. This assertion is substantiated through a comprehensive examination of relevant scientific literature.

(Invited) Hydrogen Consortium: Technical Progress on Renewable Hydrogen Production R&D

HydroGEN Energy Materials Network (EMN) is an U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) EERE Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO)-funded consortium that aims to accelerate the discovery and development of advanced water splitting materials (AWSM) for clean, low-cost hydrogen production. This is in line with the H2@Scale initiative, with the goal to meet U.S. DOE’s Hydrogen Shot production cost target of $1/kg H2 within 1 decade (1 1 1). Materials innovations are key to enhancing performance, durability, and cost of hydrogen generation technologies. Large scale, low cost hydrogen from diverse domestic resources can enable an economically competitive and environmentally beneficial future energy system across multiple sectors.HydroGEN is focused on low technology readiness level AWS technologies, including low- (alkaline exchanged membrane electrolysis) and high-temperature electrolysis (proton-conducting solid oxide electrolysis), photoelectrochecmical (PEC) and solar thermochemical (STCH) water splitting. This presentation will provide an overview of the HydroGEN EMN and technical highlights of a few lab-led and FOA-awarded R&D projects. HydroGEN continues to grow its community of industry, university, and national laboratories, forming a national innovation ecosystem focused on renewable hydrogen production.

Development of Multi-Nozzle Electrospray Device for Fabrication of Cathode Catalyst Layer on Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

We have been researching manufacturing methods of catalyst layers to improve the effective utilization rate of Pt in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. In our previous research1-3, we demonstrated experimentally that an electrospray (ES) method was able to make great progress in the interface formation between the electrolyte polymer ionomer and the Pt supported on carbon1,3 or conductive ceramics2, and that the immediate drying of the catalyst layer ink also greatly contributes to the improvement of Pt effectiveness. Since the ink droplets had already dried when these were deposited on the membrane, we proposed that the ink drying process can be reduced and that the cost of producing the catalyst layer is also greatly reduced. However, since the amount of catalyst applied is very small with a single nozzle, we also proposed that a multi-nozzle system is indispensable in order to adapt to the actual catalyst layer formation process.Therefore, we are jointly developing the ES manufacturing system with a multi-nozzle device (Fig. 1a) in a collaboration between the University of Yamanashi and Meiko Co., Ltd. We developed the first prototype machine, MES-Lab.α, for R & D, which features options such as nozzle material, multi-nozzle structure, coating treatment of nozzle tip, nozzle fixing adhesive, suck-back method, and ink energization method, among others. We have completed a new design for a basic 72-nozzle block (Fig. 1b), which incorporates all the above new materials and new structures and is compatible with the production of industry-standard electrodes (5 cm x 5 cm).We have developed a new system to control and maintain the shape of the Taylor cone, which is essential for stable coating. This is a device that precisely controls the internal pressure of the ink tank above the nozzle (Fig. 1b). We are also developing a multi-nozzle to increase the coating rate. With conventional methods, the quantity of spray depends on the nozzle diameter, but with the ES method it does not. To increase the ejected quantity for ES, the number of nozzles must be increased. We developed a 72-pin multi-nozzle, for which the coating rate is enough for research devices but not for mass production. It is estimated that more than 1000 pins are required for a mass-production multi-nozzle device. However, it is very inefficient to develop a nozzle device with 1000 pins by trial and error. It was found that the results of an electric field simulation show similarity to the actual distribution of the catalyst layer after coating (Fig. 2). We have introduced this simulation technique for the optimization of the multi-nozzle design. We believe that the design of the nozzle model using simulation will greatly contribute to the development of efficient, low-cost mass production equipment. Acknowledgement This work was partially supported by funds for the SPer-FC, the ECCEED’30-FC, and the ECCEED_ES projects from NEDO and the FCyFINE project from the Regional Innovation Ecosystems Program of MEXT. References K. Takahashi, K. Kakinuma, and M. Uchida, J. Electrochem. Soc., 163, F1182-F1188 (2016).K. Takahashi, R. Koda, K. Kakinuma, and M. Uchida, J. Electrochem. Soc., 164, F235-F242 (2017).S. Cho, K. Tamoto, and M. Uchida, Energy Fuels, 34, 14853−14863 (2020). Figure 1

Toward a better understanding of collaborative research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) - exploring virtual, physical, and cognitive structures

Objective of the study: The research in this paper contributes to the understanding of how physical, virtual, and cognitive structures support innovation ecosystems’ multi-actor research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) collaboration in its different phases. Methodology/Approach: The research’s methodological approach is based on a qualitative case study research strategy. It is done by exploring three innovation ecosystem cases. The case data comprises the case ecosystems’ existing documentation that was supplemented with five semi-structured interviews. Originality/Relevance: Based on the findings of this research, it was possible to explore how industry and academy partners are collaborating through virtual, physical, and cognitive structures. Our cases also provide empirical evidence on how physical industrial sites can be used as environments for collaborative industry-academy R&D&I work. Main Results: As a result, the paper presents lessons learned from three different innovation ecosystem cases that involve industrial, technology, and academy partners to tackle industrial use cases through virtual, physical, and cognitive structures. An example of such lessons learned is assembling dynamic teams to solve industrial problems. Theoretical/Methodological Contributions: This article builds an understanding of how virtual, physical, and cognitive structures support collaboration between different participants in their joint R&D&I work covering industry-academy collaboration. The article also explains practical examples of this using innovation ecosystem cases. Management/Social Contributions: The findings of this study may benefit professionals and managers who have an interest in understanding collaborative R&D&I and how physical, virtual, and cognitive structures can support it. Furthermore, the results provide means and experiences for innovation ecosystem managers to facilitate the definition of operational models suitable for the context of their innovation ecosystems.

Spatiotemporal distribution and dynamics evolution of artificial intelligence development in China

The quantified measurement and comprehensive analysis of artificial intelligence development (AIDEV) are vital for countries to form AI industrial ecology and promote the long-term development of regional AI technology. Based on the innovation ecosystems (IE) theory, this paper constructs an evaluation system to measure and analyze the spatiotemporal distribution and dynamic evolution of the AIDEV in China from 2011 to 2020. The results show that the AIDEV of China presents an overall upward trend and an obvious unbalance in the spatial distribution which is “eastern > central > western”. Meanwhile, the provinces of low-level AIDEV are catching up with the high-level provinces, which leads to the regional difference of AIDEV narrowing. Moreover, the concentration and polarization phenomenon of AIDEV in China has been weakening and the AIDEV will continue to increase in the next three years. Further, there is a significantly positive spatial autocorrelation of AIDEV. Finally, high AIDEV provinces will increase the probability of surrounding provinces’ AIDEV to develop. This paper expands the research stream in the field of AI research, extends the application scenarios of IE theory, and puts forward some relevant policy recommendations.

Inventing for Tomorrow: The State of the National Academy of Inventors

The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) held the Eleventh Annual Meeting of the NAI in Phoenix, AZ, in June 2022. The event, whose theme was "Defining the Future: Inventing for Tomorrow," consisted of keynotes, panel discussions, induction ceremonies for Senior Members and new Fellows, and a student showcase, all of which honored and empowered the world's brightest innovators and professionals by creating powerful connections between them and by generating the momentum that will enhance and transform our innovation ecosystem. In his State of the Academy address, Paul R. Sanberg, president of the NAI, discussed the year's advances, including a new diversity initiative undertaken in partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. He also provided updates on existing programs, such as the NAI Fellows program and the Chapter program, as well as exciting new ventures like the new Sentinel Award.

Keys to Building an Innovative and Entrepreneurial Campus Ecosystem: Practices to Policies

More than 40 years after the Bayh-Dole Act empowered universities to capitalize on their research discovery and invention, significant opportunities remain in the vast potential for translating this intellectual property (IP) for the benefit of society. In the meantime, corporations have shrunk their basic research laboratories and sought further-developed, less-risky product ideas while the need for new problem-solving knowledge and innovation, from health and energy to technology and ecology, expands. Colleges and universities, regardless of their Carnegie classification, can seize this opportunity to leverage the expertise, creativity, and passion for making a difference in their faculty, students, and staff by developing entrepreneurial ecosystems of discovery, development, and commercialization. This article identifies experiences, opportunities, infrastructure, policies, and practices to stimulate such an ecosystem drawing on the author's experiences and observations at three diverse institutions over two decades. Those stimulants include increased creative and entrepreneurial activity; integration of curricular and co-curricular activities beginning with undergraduates; focus on entrepreneurship career options; more opportunities to advance IP; transdisciplinary collaboration; collaborative spaces; streamlined, supported translation and licensing processes; and impact on faculty and staff evaluation. This approach advances higher education's mission to serve students and society and opens the potential for new solutions that elevate well-being.