How Higher Ed Partnerships Are Driving Economic Advancement in North Carolina
“NC in DC: Purposeful Partnerships to Grow the North Carolina Innovation Ecosystem” is part of Duke’s ongoing effort to drive progress in our home state through partnerships with government, for-profit, and non-profit entities. Projects range from gene editing and therapy to quantum computing, all aimed at solving pressing issues in North Carolina and beyond.
NC is 7th
In the Nation
for academic research expenditures
Panelists touched on several topics critical to the future of NC's innovation ecosystem, including the importance of recruiting and retaining CEO leadership of university spinouts located in the state and increased federal support and collaboration in HBCU research. Panelists also highlighted how NC's strong universities, both public and private, set the state apart and make NC ripe for potential.
[Sustained funding] is really going to create more innovation hubs
John Hardin, executive director of the North Carolina Board of Science, Technology & Innovation
One of the panelists, John Hardin, stressed the influential role the state’s university systems could play in creating incentives to advance federal funding in the region and build innovation hubs across the U.S. more broadly.
“What’s different this time is the amount of money … and the fact that it is requiring a large consortium to come together,” said John Hardin, executive director of the North Carolina Board of Science, Technology & Innovation, and a panelist at the event. Hardin noted a shift in the government’s role in driving advancements.
Support from the federal government is crucial for research universities to advance innovation and bring value to their local and regional communities.
Numbers below are FY 2022
Duke surpassed $1.2
Billion
in research expenditures
Duke brought in $50
Million
in direct support for North Carolina vendors
Speakers included:
Charles Gersbach(John W. Strohbehn Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Duke)
Speaker
Eric Muth(vice chancellor for the for the Division of Research and Economic Development at North Carolina A&T)
Speaker
John Hardin(executive director of the North Carolina Board of Science, Technology & Innovation)
Speaker
Robin Rasor(associate vice president for translation & commercialization at Duke)
Moderator
Rasor’s office assists with the transfer of Duke inventions from lab to market and assists in creating new startups through its New Ventures group. Learn more about the impact of Duke’s Office for Translation and Commercialization in their 2022 Annual Report.