ECU joins partnership to boost innovation in NC

Thanks in part to university research, North Carolina has great potential for research and development but trails other states in commercializing that research, according to NCInnovation, a nonprofit formed to encourage innovation throughout the state.

ECU will play a leading role in the effort as one of four UNC System “anchor universities” serving as regional innovation hubs, and ECU Chancellor Philip Rogers has been named a member of the nonprofit’s advisory board. Western Carolina University, UNC Charlotte and N.C. A&T State University will serve as the other regional hubs. Their chancellors, along with UNC System President Peter Hans, also serve on the board.

“NCInnovation has partnered with ECU to help orient applied research toward industry needs, and then support researchers in commercializing the results of their work,” said Kelly King ’70, NCInnovation board chair. “Chancellor Rogers shares our bold vision to center economic development around universities, especially in more rural parts of the state. I’m proud to call him a partner.”

In September, the group named four regional directors. ECU’s hub will be led by Derrick Welch, who has been program director of RISE29 at ECU, a program that partners entrepreneurially inclined students with small businesses throughout eastern North Carolina in an effort to support the economy by helping businesses begin, navigate a challenge or expand. He has a master’s degree in public administration, and previously served as chief of staff at the New Mexico Department of Education and staff director at the N.C. Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations.

NCInnovation is working to address key challenges to the commercialization of research ideas, including a lack of resources and mentors for researchers and entrepreneurs, especially outside the state’s major cities; insufficient funding for commercialization efforts; and a lack of collaboration among academic, industrial and capital networks.

“The innovation concept is that to be competitive with other states, North Carolina is going to have to invest in the translation of research into new entrepreneurial activities,” Rogers said. “This partnership will bolster ongoing efforts at ECU to leverage new ideas and technologies developed at the university to create lasting positive change in our region.”

NCInnovation has raised more than $23 million from donors, and state lawmakers appropriated $500 million to the organization over the next two years in its latest budget, passed in September.