August 30, 2016
Video showcases university-industry collaboration
Successful collaborations produce positive results for all involved. A new video jointly produced by K-State's Office of Corporate Engagement, the University Industry Demonstration Partnership and Monsanto discusses the mutual benefits of partnerships between universities and corporate organizations.
"University-industry partnerships can be complicated, especially in terms of confidentiality and intellectual property," said Richard Potter, director of the Office of Corporate Engagement. "The video tells a great story of K-State's expertise in working with industry, from both sides of the equation."
The video features Allan Fritz, professor of agronomy; Gary Pierzynski, head of the agronomy department; Guorong Zhang, assistant professor of agronomy; Isaya Kisekka, assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering; and Sarah Battenfield and Emily Delorean, both postdoctoral fellows, along with personnel from Monsanto and Tony Boccanfuso, president of the University Industry Demonstration Partnership, or UDIP.
In the video, Boccanfuso notes that many universities partner with industry to complete their research ecosystem, and says land-grant institutions in particular find value in such collaborations.
Wheat breeding is an excellent example of a field that has moved forward because of the success of public-private partnerships. The postdoctoral fellows add that K-State's record of successful industry collaboration helped draw them to work at the university.
"Solid partnerships advance our research agenda and help recruit and retain high-caliber research faculty and grad students, and at the same time help companies achieve their recruiting and innovation objectives," Potter said.
K-State is an active member of the University Industry Demonstration Partnership, which helps members maximize the potential of existing research collaborations and partnerships, build new networks and opportunities for collaboration and remove barriers to joint research project success.
"The UIDP's membership comprises some of the finest innovation companies and best research universities in the world: organizations, like K-State and Monsanto, that are committed to creating lasting research partnerships to solve some of society's biggest challenges," Boccanfuso said. "It's critical we tell the stories of these relationships to illustrate the social and economic importance of ongoing public-private research partnerships and their potential to change the world we live in."
UIDP features the video on its website, and the Office of the Vice President for Research and the Office of Corporate Engagement will use it to promote K-State's partnering expertise. Tom Hallaq, assistant professor of journalism and mass communications, served as producer/director for the project.
For more information on industry partnerships, contact Potter at rmpotter@k-state.edu or 785-532-1840 or request a Working With Industry Workshop customized to your department or unit.
For help with agreements and contracts, contact PreAward Services at research@k-state.edu or 785-532-6804, or visit the Faculty Resources website.