Description
Within this criteria in relation to creation and entrepreneurship the university of iowa.
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The University of Iowa
FY 2013 Annual Economic Development Report
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Throughout FY 2013, the UI economic development team met with business, economic development and community
college leaders across Iowa to better understand the economic development challenges and opportunities in their
respective regions. The findings were consistent across communities:
1. Workforce development – the need to ensure a sufficient, highly-skilled workforce to capitalize on technology
advances and global opportunities.
2. Economic and job growth – the need to strengthen and diversify the Iowa economy through existing business
expansion and new venture creation.
3. University/business collaboration – the need to better connect businesses with university resources to solve real-
world problems, connect students to Iowa companies, and stimulate collaborative innovation.
The UI is implementing a new economic development strategy focused on: 1) increasing hands-on engagement with Iowa
companies; 2) improving integration and coordination of UI resources and programs to support economic growth, job
creation and entrepreneurship; and 3) fostering faculty/company collaborations to stimulate discovery, innovation and
commercialization. A critical component to this effort is forging new partnerships and expanding existing collaborations
to create an integrated, statewide economic development ecosystem.
Beginning in FY 2014, the UI is:
• implementing new on-campus programs to engage UI faculty in forging business partnerships to drive discovery
and technology innovation.
• expanding strategic business consulting and technology services delivered to Iowa companies by UI faculty, staff
and students.
• developing IT boot camps to provide hands-on, intensive training programs in software as well as IT tools to
provide new skill development and skill refresh for existing workforce.
• launching new entrepreneurial training programs that incorporate the lean business model with direct support for
technology development and new venture formation.
• enhancing UI faculty entrepreneurship education and technology commercialization services to stimulate
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licensing of technology to Iowa companies and creation of new startups through the Ventures @ Iowa program.
• expanding student experiential learning and internship opportunities with small to medium-sized Iowa companies
This new approach is already yielding important economic development impact as highlighted below.
• Through J PEC’s Entrepreneurship: Business Consulting course, a total of 58 Iowa small to medium-sized
businesses received strategic business consulting services provided by UI faculty and undergraduate student
teams. The program is designed to provide high quality assistance to Iowa companies while providing real-world
experience and connectivity to the Iowa business community for UI students.
o Market research and analysis conducted for an Algona, IA area entrepreneur who has invented a fence-
post hole digging device.
o Competitive and SWOT analysis performed for SpendSmart, a Clive, IA company that has developed a
secure payment system that helps to teach teens responsible spending habits.
• Forty-eight student businesses were under development through the J ohn Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center’s
(J PEC) student incubator program housed at the Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning Laboratory.
o Tutor Universe is a social networking-based market for online tutoring services. It was formed out of the
Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning Laboratory in 2011 by UI graduate students in Computer Science
Thomas Hornbeck and Hung Tran.. The company has raised in excess of $500,000 in investment and was
named the UI Student Startup of the Year at the inaugural Hawkeye Innovation Summit in FY 2013.
o TranslaCare is a UI student startup that has recently been awarded $100,000 from the Iowa Economic
Development Authority. Ryan Ries, a UI Neurobiology and Linguistics major, started the company in
2011 from the Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning Laboratory. TranslaCare is developing a software
application for individuals with speech disabilities; the company plans to begin beta testing during the fall
of 2013 with a product release scheduled for 2014.
• Two new companies located at the University of Iowa Research Park added over 160 jobs to the region;
o MediRevv, a revenue cycle management company, opened their new facility on the research park in
August 2012. MediRevv currently employees approximately 130 people. Plans are underway to
expand their presence on the park by building an addition to their current facility in FY 2014.
o Leepfrog Technologies, a custom computer software development company for higher learning,
located on the park in FY 2013. The company currently employs 32 people.
• Kirkwood Community College and the University of Iowa announced a joint partnership to build a regional
STEM education center on the UI Research Park. The center will focus on enhancing technical education and
examining new models to stimulate additional student interest in STEM careers and four-year degrees. The
location will provide students unique learning opportunities to interact with the State Hygienic Laboratory and
other technology companies and UI research facilities located there. It is scheduled to open in fall 2015.
• The University of Iowa Research Foundation (UIRF) executed 8 option and license agreements to startups based
on UI intellectual property in FY 2013. In the past 6 years, UIRF has executed a total of 31 licenses and options
with 21 startups based on UI technologies. Of those 21 companies, 19 are still in operation. Over the last two
years, the UIRF has increased efforts to increase the rate of technology disclosures; over this two year period, the
UIRF received 200 disclosures compared to the prior three year total of 208.
• In partnership with several regional and statewide organizations, the UI co-sponsored and/or hosted several
entrepreneurial and business development programs including the Innovation Expo (600+attendees), Pitch and
Grow (14 company presenters) and multiple community lectures (350+attendees each).
o This October, the University will be hosting the UP America Summit—an event bringing 150-200
entrepreneurs and community leaders to the region to discuss strategies for enhancing community
entrepreneurial and business ecosystems.
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Economic Development Team
The University of Iowa
Research drives innovation at the University of Iowa. In FY 2013, The University of Iowa generated extramural support
totaling $424 million. This places the UI among the nation's elite public research universities and is especially significant
in the face of challenging economic and research funding conditions in the U.S. This robust research enterprise coupled
with integrated economic development activities plays an important role in supporting economic development in Iowa.
UI economic development activities are directed by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic
Development. The IOWA Centers for Enterprise (ICE), an alliance of several UI organizations identified below,
provides infrastructure and services to enhance technology transfer and commercialization of UI technologies, new
company formation, support of Iowa companies and workforce development. ICE currently includes the following
elements:
The following sections of this report will directly respond to specific areas as requested by the Board of Regents. These
include: the impact of University of Iowa activities on the economic growth in Iowa, institutional activities and services
that indirectly promote economic development, quantitative information regarding economic development activities in
FY 2013, a summary of outreach and service activities, direct economic development assistance to Iowa communities, a
summary of RIF expenditures, and emerging trends in the area of economic development.
IMPACT OF UI ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES ON ECONOMIC GROWTH IN IOWA
Job Creation and Wealth in Iowa
University of Iowa Research Park (UIRP)
The University of Iowa Research Park (UIRP) is a blended campus consisting of a multitude of commercial ventures
and a variety of university academic programs and infrastructure assets. As of J une 2013, nine established companies,
23 startup companies and six University anchor laboratories were located in the park. These companies have access to
university research infrastructure including high-speed internet, access to UI libraries and research facilities (i.e. core
research facilities to support chemistry, biology, computation and instrumentation), faculty for joint collaboration,
business support centers (i.e. J PEC, SBDC and UIRF) and students as interns or employees. In FY 2013, the
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companies affiliated with UI Research Park and Technology Innovation Center
reported over 1,700 employees.
BioVentures Center (BVC)
The UI BioVentures Center located at the UI Research Park opened in November 2008. This 35,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-
art biosciences incubator and office facility offers entrepreneurs and early-stage technology companies high-quality wet
laboratories, a shared laboratory, a large multi-purpose room, multiple executive conference rooms and general shared
space to meet their various business needs. Currently there are 13 companies located in the BVC employing 67 people.
Twelve of the 20 wet labs have been leased to startup companies, seven of which were formed from technology created
by UI faculty. Past economic development (GIVF) funding was critical in enabling the design and construction of this
facility.
Thirteen companies (ASL Analytical, Bio::Neos, Inc., Cellular Engineering Technologies, CQM Systems, Exemplar
Genetics, Hennepin Life Science, KemPharm, Inc., Memcine, NanoMedTrix, Redox BioCat, Terpenoid Therapeutics,
Inc, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and VIDA Diagnostics) occupy 12 laboratories and 23 offices in BVC. Two floors of the
west wing of the BioVentures Center have been fit out for UI units previously housed in Oakdale Hall. The 3
rd
floor of
the West side was recently occupied by the Iowa Lions Eye Bank, a new tenant in FY 2013.
Technology Innovation Center (TIC)
The Technology Innovation Center provides office space and a nurturing business environment to new technology-
based ventures that do not require wet laboratories. In FY13, the TIC reported a total of 10 companies and 31
employees. Since TIC opened in 1984, 111 companies have been in residence in the UI incubation program; of those
companies, 52 are still in business--41 of which are in Iowa.
Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning Laboratory (BELL)
The Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning Laboratory is the University of Iowa’s student business incubator. The 10,000
sq. ft. facility, which has 17 furnished offices and several conference rooms, offers a campus wide program open to
students from any major or college. The students receive intense mentoring and support as they launch or expand their
businesses. The program, one of the first of its kind in the nation, has incubated over 200 businesses since opening in
2004. In FY 2013, 48 student businesses were being incubated at the BELL.
Institutional Activities and Services that Indirectly Promote Economic Development
University of Iowa Research Park, BioVentures Center and Technology Innovation Center
A variety of educational and training programs were offered for UIRP/BVC/TIC tenants in FY 2013. These included:
Lunch and Learns, quarterly roundtables and mixers, a service industry speaker series providing guidance on legal
issues, human resources and financial management, Iowa Innovation Council programs, etc.
UI Research Park hosts quarterly roundtable meetings for company executives representing all park companies. The
BVC multi-purpose room was utilized by over 50 outside groups for, including but not limited to, legislative and
state agency meetings, vendor shows, Pitch and Grow competitions, Chamber events, Iowa City Area Development
forums, STEM education meetings, and the bi-monthly meetings of the Corridor Business Alliance. The state-of-the
art meeting and executive conference rooms at the BVC have become a vital meeting hub for both regional and state
organizations.
Additionally, a Regents Innovation Development Fund Proposal competition was held for our BVC and TIC tenants
with $100,000 awarded to seven companies to provide critical capital for growth. Award winners were:
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• ASL Analytical, developing chemical monitors for the bio-manufacturing market - $20,000
• Memcine , which is developing a needle-free vaccine platform technology - $20,000
• KemPharm, Inc. a pharmaceutical discovery and development company - $15,000
• Exemplar Genetics, which has developed innovative models of human disease - $15,000
• Bio::Neos, a bioinformatics software technology company - $10,000
• NanoMedTrix, developing novel multimodal, targeted contrast agents for use across a range of disciplines,
including regenerative technology and targeted radiology - $10,000
• Higher Learning Technologies, creates digital test prep programs for nursing and dental students - $10,000
John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC)
J PEC offers one of the most comprehensive entrepreneurial education and business support programs in the
nation. Featured programs supporting economic development include:
• Providing business consulting services to small companies located across Iowa through its faculty/student field
study program (58 companies assisted in FY 2013)
• Hosting/sponsoring elevator pitch and business plan competitions to support innovation and new venture creation
(14 competitions held)
• Supporting the creation and launch of student-based businesses at the Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning
Laboratory (BELL) located on the UI central campus; student entrepreneurs receive office equipment, computers
and access to high speed internet.
o In FY 2013, total of 48 businesses participated in the BELL. Since its opening in 2004, a total of 363
students from nearly every UI college have been impacted by the facility and associated programs.
• J PEC delivers campus-wide and online undergraduate entrepreneurial education and technology innovation
coursework in the MBA program.
o In FY 2013, there were 3,738 total student enrollments in 145 sections of courses and 323 students
graduated from one of the Certificate or BBA programs offered by J PEC.
• The J acobson Institute for Youth Entrepreneurship is a comprehensive program that enriches K-12 students’ lives
through classroom and practical educational experiences.
o During FY 2013, the J acobson Institute impacted 3,252 youth and worked with 387 high school teachers
in Iowa who are using the Institute’s YouthBiz Central online curriculum. In addition, 145 youth
participated in summer camps held across Iowa.
University of Iowa
The IOWA Centers’ senior staff participated in a large number of economic development organizations in FY 2013.
Statewide:
• Iowa Innovation Council
• Iowa Innovation Corporation
• Iowa Biotechnology Association, Board of Directors
• Technology Association of Iowa, Board of Directors
• Technology Association of Iowa, Panelist Reviewer for TAI annual awards
• BEST of Iowa
• STEM Advisory Board
Local and Regional:
• Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance Economic Development Committee
• Corridor Business Alliance
• East Central Iowa Council of Governments, Loan Review Committee
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• Economic Development Center (EDC), Board Member
• Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, Member
• Iowa City Area Development Group, Board of Directors and Executive Committee
• Midwest Engineering Entrepreneurship Network (MEEN)
National:
• Small Business Administration (SBA)
• Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Center (GCEC), Leadership Circle
• University Economic Development Association (UEDA)
• United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE)
• Colligate Entrepreneurship Organization (CEO)
• Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE)
• National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA)
• National Science Foundation (NSF) SBIR program, Mentor for Phase I-II awarded startups
• NSF SBIR program, Panelist for Proposal Reviews
• NBIA National Business Incubator Association
• AURP Association of University Research Park and Association of University Midwest
Research Park Directors
• NCIIA – National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance
METRICS DESCRIBING UI ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY FY13 & FY12
FY13 FY12
a. Number of disclosures of intellectual property 98 102
b. Number of patent applications filed
• U.S. Applications
• National Applications
• Patent Cooperation
• Total Applications
85
28
29
142
72
27
17
116
c. Number of patents issued 74 59
d. Number of license and option agreements executed on institutional intellectual
property (The 29 license/option agreements were for a total of 44 different UIRF
disclosures)
• In Iowa
29
8
21
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e. Number of license and option agreement yielding income 92 94
f. Revenue to Iowa companies as a result of licensed technology $2.38MM $2.2MM
g. Number of startup companies executing licenses or options for UI technologies
• In Iowa (Redox BioCat, Exemplar, Terpenoid, IDx, ViewPoint Molecular, Iowa
Approach and NanoMedTrix)
8 2
h. Number of companies in research parks, incubators and graduates located in Iowa 47 41
i. Number of new companies in research parks and incubators 4 2
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j. Number of employees in companies in research parks/affiliates and incubators 1,707 1,812
k. Royalties and license fee income $1.38MM $7.05MM
l. Total sponsored funding $424.1MM $438.1MM
m. Corporate sponsored funding for research and economic development
• In total
• In Iowa
$62.0MM
$ 1.5MM
$52.9MM
$ 1.1MM
n. Iowa special appropriations for economic development in the following categories
• Annual state appropriations for ongoing programs (TIC, ORP and CADD)
• RIF appropriations
$209,279
$1,050,000
$209,279
$576,000
o. Estimated jobs created by SBDC clients 111 114
DIRECT AND HANDS-ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO BUSINESSES, FACULTY
INVENTORS & ENTREPRENEURS
John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC)
• Assistance to Businesses: J PEC faculty and staff provide one-on-one and faculty/student team-based consulting
services to technology-based entrepreneurial companies located at the UI Research Park, the BELL and throughout
Iowa’s Creative Corridor.
o J PEC staff provided consulting services to over 100 regional entrepreneurs and business startups, totaling
over 700 hours of assistance.
o An estimated 6,000+hours of research, analysis and strategic planning services were performed for 58 Iowa
companies assisted through the J PEC faculty/student team consulting courses.
o MBA students completed six technology commercialization feasibility studies for nascent technologies
being developed by UI faculty.
• Six-Week Start-Up – J PEC delivers this intense entrepreneurial training program for start-up and growing
businesses. The initiative prepares aspiring entrepreneurs to launch new ventures and existing companies to grow
their businesses. Two classes were held in Iowa City in FY 2013.
• Seminars/Workshops/Lecture Series – J PEC hosted 12 different opportunities last year for students, faculty and
persons from the community. In FY 2013, over 2,700 attendees came to learn from experienced entrepreneurs on
a variety of topics including: the Technology Export Roundtable, various tax workshops, Entrepreneurial Boot
Camps and lecture series.
• Wellmark Venture Capital Fund – J PEC is the regional administrator of the $5M Wellmark Venture Capital
Fund that supports the creation and growth of new businesses throughout the state. J PEC screens applicants,
performs due diligence, evaluates business concepts, and assists applicants with their business plans. J PEC
partners with area angel investors, equity fund managers, lenders, the Iowa Economic Development Authority,
and the Small Business Administration to help business owners secure additional venture funding.
• Elevator Pitch Competitions – Two Elevator Pitch Competitions were held with $44,000 in cash prizes
awarded. One contest was open to any current UI faculty, staff, or graduate student; 38 teams participated in the
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competition and 14 winners received $27,000 in funds. A separate competition was held for UI students in which
$17,000 was awarded to 9 undergraduate student teams; 40 undergraduate teams competed.
• UI Business Model Competition – J PEC and UIRF hosted the Spring 2013 Business Model Competition. This
competition was open to all UI students, faculty and staff, as well as startup companies with a principal address at
UI-affiliated incubators. Over 35 teams competed for $65,000 in total cash prizes. The top student team received
an additional $5,000 and the opportunity to participate in the International Business Model Competition held at
Harvard University.
• Iowa Medical Innovation Group – This unique student led program focuses on identification of solutions to
clinical problems through collaborations between the Colleges of Medicine, Engineering, Business and Law.
Students work on creating medical devices and/or Health IT solutions with the assistance of staff from J PEC and
UIRF; to date, over 40 interesting technologies have been identified and reviewed and two are currently moving
forward in advanced phases of development in anticipation of forming startup companies.
UI Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
• In FY 2013, the UI SBDC, which provides small business counseling services and training in Cedar,
J ohnson, Iowa, Poweshiek and Washington counties, served 269 entrepreneurs and small businesses,
resulting in 21 new business starts.
• SBDC clients raised over $5.5 million in external financing and created an estimated 111 jobs.
• The SBDC also sponsored 12 entrepreneurial training workshops and provided over 800 hours of one-on-
one counseling.
University of Iowa Research Foundation (UIRF)
The UIRF aspires to maximize public benefit through commercial use of UI technologies, excellence in
commercialization and long term sustainability. In pursuit of this vision, UIRF’s primary functions are:
• Licensing - finding suitable partners for commercializing UI technologies and inventions
• The Ventures@UI Program - identifying and developing new high growth UI technology spinout companies
suitable for venture capital financing. The Ventures program includes:
1. An active discovery program to seek out and identify entrepreneurial faculty and staff, and new
discoveries
2. A pro-active process to develop new ventures based on UI technologies
3. Education of inventors/founders, one-on-one, through volunteer business mentors
4. Support from UIRF staff and student teams to evaluate market potential, and develop Go-to-Market plans,
business plans, and investor presentations
5. Manage a GAP Fund to prepare high potential IP for licensing and spinout
6. Assist new ventures in raising external public and private funding
• Intellectual property services which include protecting UI inventions through patents and copyrights, advising on
intellectual property terms for Clinical Trials and Sponsored Research and executing outgoing material transfers
• UIRF’s economic development emphasis is heavily focused on startup formation. Working directly with UI
faculty, entrepreneurs, and investors in selecting, evaluating and developing new companies, these activities
include: IP analysis for viability of proposed company products and IP protection strategies and execution; UIRF
fronts the cost of IP protection
• Due diligence on the viability of UI spinout companies
• Business model development for UI spinout companies
• Provide mentors for high new priority UI companies
• Provide gap funding for highest priority projects
• Licensing to UI spinout companies
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• Extensive mentoring and education of faculty in new company formation
UIRF, in collaboration with the ICE and outside experts, worked to vet new projects, and provide proof of concept funds
for projects that could lead to new company formation. A summary of projects evaluated in FY 2013 is listed in the first
table below. A Historical View of GIVF Commercialization Funding that Stimulated Start Up Activity is also provided in
Appendix A
2013 Commercialization & Business Development Funding Awards
Title PI(s) Venture/License
GAP
Funding
$(K)
Additional
Funding
$(K)
Type of IP
Prototype System Development for
Interstitial Rotating Shield
Brachytherapy of Prostate Cancer
Flynn, Ryan pxAlpha $75 Medical Device
Commercialization of a Nanoparticle
Respiratory Dose Device
Peters, Thomas Licensed $72
Environmental
Engineering
Separation of a mixture of fatty acids
into individual fatty acids using a
nanofiltration membrane to increase the
value of soybean oils
Bowden, Ned Ventzuren $50 Chemistry
Rapid and Sensitive Detection of
Coliform E. coli in the field
McNamara,
J ames
License ready
1/2014.
$100
Public Health
Testing
Operationalizing the FxRedux Articular
Fracture Reduction Planning Service
Anderson, Don FxRedux Solutions $75 $202 Software
Biomedical Applications of Multimodal
Nanoparticles
Assouline, J ose NanoMedTrix $75 $175 Diagnostic Drug
Commercialization of
Electromechanical Modeling and
Simulation System
Marler, Tim &
Ozobolat,
Ibrahim
Virtual System
Engineering
$74 Software
Making Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
Safer, Faster, Easier, and Less
Expensive: The Ring of Fire Rapid
Ablation System & Prospective Trial.
Mickelsen,
Steven
Iowa Approach $75 $200 Medical Device
Iowa Clubfoot Brace Prototype
Morcuende,
J ose &
Grosland,
Nicole
Clubfoot Solutions $74 Medical Device
Percutaneously-Delivered Cellulose
Based Aortic Heart Valve Prosthesis
Raghavan,
Madhavan L
$89 Medical Device
Utilizing Immunoplexing Technology
to Develop an Intranasal Universal Flu
Vaccine
Vanden Bush,
Tony & Gail
Bishop Memcine
$100 $771
Therapeutic
vaccine
Electro-stimulation Garment Wahls, Terry
xCellerator
$70 Medical Device
Totals $929 $1348
Enabled SBIR Applications $500
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DIRECT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE TO IOWA COMMUNITIES
John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC)
• Online Education – Students who cannot come to Iowa City may still earn a BBA or Certificate in
Entrepreneurial Management online through the UI’s Division of Continuing Education. The certificate is also
accessible through J PEC’s partnership with several Iowa community colleges.
• Business Consulting Services – Through the Entrepreneurial Management Institute, J PEC offers business
consulting services to entrepreneurial and startup companies around the state. In FY 2013, 58 projects were
completed for Iowa-based companies and organizations.
Corridor Business Alliance
The Corridor Business Alliance was created in December 2009 and is composed of leaders from the Cedar Rapids Metro
Economic Alliance, the Entrepreneurial Development Center, the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, the Iowa City
Area Development Group, Kirkwood Community College, MidAmerican Energy, Kirkwood’s Small Business
Development Center, the University of Iowa’s Small Business Development Center, the Research Foundation and the
John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center. More information on this regional approach is available
athttp://corridor2020.com/2009/11/corridor-business-alliance/. The overarching goal is to identify and leverage the
region’s unique educational, business development and industrial assets to enhance recruitment of new companies,
development of innovative startup companies and retention of existing industry. The three ICE units highlighted above
have been central in the maturation of this regional philosophy and economic development success.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE RESEARCH PARKS, INCUBATORS
SIMILAR SERVICE/ UNITS
The University of Iowa Research Park, BioVentures Center and Technology Innovation Center
Corporate tenants of the Park benefit from sustained relationships with UI in the form of access to specialized research
facilities, library access, faculty consultation, research collaboration and access to students as interns and employees.
UI resources also provide smaller companies with assistance in business planning, identification of professional
service providers, introductions to local and state government agencies and the regional business community, help in
identification of potential sources of investment and other funding and communications. For a list of companies and
developers associated with the Research Park, BioVentures Center and Technology Innovation Center see Appendix
B.
University of Iowa Core Facilities
In addition to campus-based core university facilities, four specialized UI laboratories reside within the Research Park.
These facilities provide technical support services critical to the growth of startup companies as well as UI and existing
industry partners. These units provide Iowa with unique capabilities that IEDA and local economic development entities
have utilized to recruit outside companies to the Research Park, the region and the state. These facilities include:
University of Iowa Pharmaceuticals
The University of Iowa Pharmaceuticals is a division of the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy that offers
contract analytical, development, and GMP manufacturing services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology
industry. CADD, the analytical segment of UIP, is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registered and
current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) compliant laboratory that works closely with the manufacturing
groups at University of Iowa Pharmaceuticals, housed on the central University campus. The focus of CADD as
part of UI Pharmaceuticals is the development of analytical methods and testing to support the manufacture and
control of clinical supplies of new drugs entering initial clinical trials. They are particularly attractive to smaller
pharmaceutical/biotechnology companies that have new drugs moving into the clinic but have not developed
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their own analytical or manufacturing capabilities.
CADD as a part of UI Pharmaceuticals has an extensive recurrent client base of mainly smaller biotechnology
and pharmaceutical companies and a growing pool of U.S. and foreign pharmaceutical firms. CADD is
particularly well positioned to work directly with discoveries from Iowa university research laboratories, thereby
providing an opportunity to hasten technology transfer and shorten the time to market. The presence of these
FDA registered facilities along with the Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing makes UI unique among U.S.
universities to facilitate the development of new therapeutics from pharmaceutical and biotechnology-based
companies as well as serving to enhance the translational science research occurring within the University of
Iowa.
Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing (CBB)
The CBB is a microbial pilot plant facility and education center reporting to the Vice President for Research and
Economic Development. The center links university scientists from six different colleges who focus on
biocatalysis and bioprocessing. The center also performs scale-up of products ranging from ethanol to proteins,
process research and development. CBB serves industries from Iowa, U.S. and around the world for fermentation
and bioprocessing of food products, biofuels, bio-pharmaceuticals and other products of biotechnology. The
center collaborates with start-up biotechnology companies from Iowa for production of small molecules to
complex proteins, such as alcohols, vaccines, antibiotics, anticancer drugs, polymers, biochemicals, enzymes,
pharmaceutical intermediates and derivatives of bioactive compounds. In the Research Development and Process
Laboratory, they conduct extensive process research including first level production from the bench-scale to 1000
liter fermentation. For example, CBB is now developing Simulated Moving Bed Chromatography for protein and
small molecule separations. The center also has a current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) production
facility for biotherapeutics (products produced under cGMP conditions can be used in Phase I human clinical
trials) at a scale of up to 300 liters.
The CBB is central to the University’s efforts to attract Biotechnology R&D and industrial fermentation
companies to Iowa. CBB has worked with ICE, IEDA and other Iowa economic development agencies to recruit
companies to Iowa. CBB is the leading bioprocessing facility located in a U.S. university setting and the only
biopharmaceutical production facility in the State of Iowa with a state-of-the-art fermentation and bioprocessing
laboratory to produce biotherapeutics for Phase I human trials. This positions the UI on the cutting edge of
biotherapeutics production.
National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS)
The National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS) is a center for driving simulation excellence located at the
University of Iowa’s Research Park. This center has the mission of improving driving safety for everyone by
researching the connection between humans and motor vehicles. Development and research conducted at NADS
is sponsored by government, military, and industry partners, saves lives and improves quality of life for
motorists, and advances the cutting edge in driving simulation. This facility is home to the one of the world’s
most advanced research driving simulators, the NADS-1. In addition, NADS has developed an in-house portable
driving simulator, the MiniSim™, which is currently being marketed to research institutions around the country.
Recent research at NADS has focused on detection of impaired drivers, distracted driving, drowsy driving,
advanced vehicle crash warning systems, and future vehicle communication systems. In FY 2013, UIRF
executed a license with Cognitive Research Corporation for a customized mini-sim based driving simulator
developed at NADS which is used to evaluate the effects of age, trauma, neurologic disease, alcohol and fatigue
on driving performance.
State Hygienic Laboratory
The State Hygienic Laboratory (SHL) was established in Iowa law in 1904 to provide laboratory services to both
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governmental and private sector individuals and organizations concerned with the health and environment of the
state. Today SHL conducts more than 500,000 tests for clients in all of Iowa's 99 counties through disease
detection, environmental monitoring, and newborn and maternal screening. Clinical laboratory tests provided
include virology, serology, microbiology, molecular biology, blood lead screening and biological and chemical
terrorism response. State-of-the-art chemical, biologic and enzymatic analytical methods are used in this testing,
which is performed at 3 SHL facilities, the UI Research Park in Coralville, on the DMACC campus in Ankeny
and at the Board of Regents Lakeside Lab in Milford, Iowa. The SHL makes these services available to both for
profit and not for profit organizations as well as individuals on a fee for service basis. The State Hygienic
Laboratory also offers unique training facilities for companies and personnel associated with the clinical
laboratory specialties, as an experiential education site for community and four-year college students studying
laboratory chemistry. A new, state of the art training facility in Coralville is due to be completed in the Spring of
2014 which will allow for additional hands on and distance-learning for public health professionals across Iowa.
COLLABORATION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH IOWA ENTITIES
Kirkwood Regional Center at the University of Iowa - Providing solutions to the workforce needs in Iowa
Construction of the Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics center, which is a partnership between the
University of Iowa and Kirkwood Community College, began in August, 2013 with completion planned for Summer,
2015. The facility will also house the Professional Development staff of the Grant Wood Area Education Agency and
provide STEM related coursework and/or Career Academy experiences to high school students from 6 regional school
districts who elect to spend a part of their day at the center. College of Education faculty will partner with the schools and
Grant Wood AEA to also provide K-12 Professional Development for teachers and the advanced TILE-like classroom
design within the UI space of the center will serve to assess new models of teaching and learning as well as serve to train
high school and community college teachers in active learning delivery strategies. A variety of private park technology
companies and university centers and laboratories including the State Hygienic Laboratory, the National Advanced
Driving Simulator, UIHC, the Center for Computer Aided Design and the Flood Center will serve as experiential sites to
augment career academy experiences and serve to make a strong connection between STEM reform and workforce
development for a higher technology economy envisioned for Iowa. Additionally UI health science colleges will engage
in adding value to Kirkwood’s highly successful Health Science Career Academies across all health disciplines.
This unique center will also serve as a programmatic home for the Southeast Regional STEM hub created under the
Governor’s STEM taskforce.
Shovel Ready Site Initiative/Certification - Enabling companies to grow in Iowa
The Shovel Ready Site Program initiative was spearheaded by the Iowa City Area Development Group. The program
is designed to give the UI Research Park a competitive edge in the site selection marketplace. The goal of the program
is to have selected sites shovel ready, connect to utilities and other physical infrastructure, clear swift procedures for
permitting and incentive programs that can be quickly applied to a project. The UI Research Park, along with two other
area sites, was chosen as a pilot project site. Gaining shovel ready certification provides a very positive boost to
recruitment of technology based companies to UI Research Park and multiple additional sites are nearing shovel ready
classification as the interest in locating within the park continues to grow. In FY 2012 we began a roads and sewer
project in collaboration with the City of Coralville; upon completion of this project, projected for the fall of 2015, all
15 remaining lots will become Shovel Ready.
The Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC)
The Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC) is a campus-wide effort at the University of Iowa to enhance the
capacity of Iowa's communities to address the economic, environmental, and social/cultural issues faced today and to
build a more sustainable future. The IISC does this by partnering students and faculty at the University of Iowa with
Iowa's urban and rural communities to identify, design and implement sustainability-focused projects. In doing so, the
13
IISC provides significant outreach to Iowa's communities while transforming teaching and learning at the University of
Iowa. Since 2009, the IISC has put 118 University of Iowa graduate students to work on projects such as coordinating
with city managers and city councils on redeveloping comprehensive city plans, community event planning, educational
programs, planning for adaptive reuse of historic downtown buildings, market analysis and recommendations for site
planning. The communities who have benefited from these projects have been small and medium-sized communities in
Iowa, including Anamosa, Burlington, Charles City, Columbus J unction, Decorah, Oskaloosa, Wellman, and most
recently, Dubuque.
The Dubuque program is a two-year long partnership with a goal of implementing a total of 10 projects, with the help of
70+University of Iowa graduate students. These projects include:
• Dubuque County Smarter Planning Indicators
• Increasing Mobility in Dubuque: Developing Alternative Mode-sharing Opportunities
• Housing for a Vibrant Dubuque
• Schools, Neighborhoods, and Student Outcomes
• Survey of Best Practices for Redevelopment of Dubuque's South Port and Creation of a Redevelopment Plan
• Indicator and Indicator Measurements for Dubuque's 11 Sustainability Principles
o An award winning project for its Contribution of Planning to a Contemporary Issue
• Renewable Energy Asset Map and Return on Investment and Policy Analysis
• A Portrait of Poverty in Dubuque
• Local Foods and Local Institutions Guide, and Local Foods Action Plan
• Design of the Green and Healthy Homes Program
The IISC has also partnered with the Blue Zones Project and the Healthiest State Initiative to improve health and wellness
in communities across Iowa and to meet the challenge of becoming the healthiest state by 2016.
FY 2013 REGENTS INNOVATION FUNDS (RIF)
RIF Impact for the University of Iowa and the Iowa Centers for Enterprise (ICE)
In 2013, RIF provided UI critical support to build the infrastructure needed to better transform UI faculty discoveries into
new businesses and/or licensing opportunities. Funds have been used in the following general categories:
• to stimulate commercialization and provide proof of concept funding for promising UI research
• create an infrastructure through personnel and facilities to support growing startup companies
• provide comprehensive entrepreneurial education and business support programs
• lead regional economic development strategy for the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City/Coralville corridor and work closely
with existing industry in terms of science and business development
• funding to further develop UI faculty discoveries for commercialization, foster new company formation and
support existing business expansion.
Successful Technology Transfer, Commercialization and Business Startups enabled by RIF Proof of Concept
Support
Higher Learning Technologies
Higher Learning Technologies (HLT) specializes in customized test prep and educational software. This year HLT was a
winner in the Business Model Competition and received three awards in the Silicon Prairie Awards, the most out of any
company. They received the "New Startup of the Year", "Mobile App of the Year", and "Innovation of the Year" awards.
14
HLT has raised $235,000 so far and the company is talking with several investors to raise $565,000 and hopes to close the
investment round by the end of October, at which time the company will have raised just over $600,000 to date. They
were also awarded $100,000 from the State of Iowa's Demonstration Fund in J uly. Since the launch of two apps in May,
they have generated $112,000 in sales in just over three months. A nursing app has ranked in the top 10 grossing
educational apps in Apple's iStore and the #2 grossing education app in the Google Play store. Both Apple and Google
have over 100,000 educational apps available. By the end of the year Higher Learning Technologies plans to launch 10
additional apps.
HLT has recently hired Cramer Development's J osh Cramer as its Chief Technology Officer. HLT is also in discussions
to add a Silicon Valley investor to the team. Together, these two individuals will bring entrepreneurial and investment
experience to the company.
Memcine Pharmaceuticals
Professor Gail Bishop and Dr. Tony VandenBush received GIVF/RIF funding in FY11, FY12, and FY13 which led to the
formation of Memcine Pharmaceuticals. The company is based in the BioVentures Center at the University of Iowa
Research Park. Memcine has been able to use the funding to hire an experienced CEO, open their offices at BVC and to
raise an additional $650,000.
Memcine Pharmaceuticals Inc. is an early-stage biotech company focused on enhancing vaccine efficacy to improve
human and animal health globally. Their current portfolio of potential infectious disease vaccine targets includes
influenza, Hepatitis B, and Ebola. They have also conducted pre-clinical experiments in a mouse model of breast cancer,
where their vaccine technology showed considerable promise as a therapeutic treatment. Their pipeline is based on
Memcine’s Immunoplex™ technology platform, which is designed to use the body’s own naturally occurring targeting
system to deliver vaccine components to immune cells and stimulate a robust response.
The platform technology, Immunoplex™, enables a universal approach to the development of immune complex vaccine
production. Traditionally, the production of an immune complex vaccine required the identification, production, and
regulatory testing of each antibody needed for each vaccine. Despite industry interest in their development, immune
complex vaccines have yet to be commercially produced due to time and cost prohibitive hurdles of vaccine specific
antibody production and testing. Immunoplex™ circumvents these hurdles by creating a system that uses a single
antibody for all immune complex vaccines. This single antibody can be used to facilitate the formation of an immune
complex from any vaccine antigen.
ASL Analytical, Inc.
Professors Mark Arnold and Gary Small in the UI Department of Chemistry were able to use proof of concept funds to
translate and commercialize their research by creating ASL Analytical, Inc. in 2005. ASL is housed in the UIRP
Bioventures Center, currently has eight full-time employees including a full-time CEO and recently hired a Director of
Operations and Manufacturing.http://www.asl-analytical.com/
ASL Analytical, Inc. is developing real-time, on-line chemical monitors for bioreactors with products that target
game-changing advances in the production of biopharmaceuticals. Many of these biologics are life-changing
medications, but can be very expensive to develop and manufacture. ASL’s chemical monitors enable the
measurement and control of these complex processes essential to decrease development cost and drive more rapid
time to market. ASL Analytical is housed in the BioVentures Center, their Pichia Bioprocess Monitor is currently
in Beta Testing, and they are moving into a manufacturing phase and plan to use Iowa companies for supply chain
materials.
15
Regents Innovation Fund projects for
FY 2012-FY2013
RIF Program
Summary
Description of Program FY13 – RIF
Expenditures From
FY12 and FY13
Match Funds Source
Progress through June 30, 2013
ROI DATA
VP for Research Thesefunds havebeen instrumental in enabling UI
to expand theeconomic development infrastructure.
Thesefunds supported critical economic development
functions associated with University Research Park,
BioVentures Center, Technology Innovation Center and
IOWA Centers for Enterprise.
EXPENDITURES:
$464,886
MATCH:
UI BioVentures Center
in-kind contribution;
College of Engineering;
College of Liberal Arts
$464,925
Staff support for UIRP, BVC and TIC and to add a conciergeservicestaff
member to assist faculty navigateIP and commercialization.
Competition for BVC/TIC tenants to assist in further developing proof-
of-concept.
RIF funding, in collaboration with TIF funding fromtheCity of
Coralvillewas used to purchaselaboratory equipment for the
BioVentures Center shared lab spaceto beused by theBVC early
stagetenants. Theseitems include, incubators, -80 freezers, shakers,
and etc. This high dollar equipment is crucial to thesuccess of these
companies.
Funding was also used to assist companies in obtaining legal and
accounting services. Educational sessions wereheld at theBVC to
allow our tenants direct one-on-oneaccess to theseserviceproviders to
assist themin furthering their business concepts and assurethey meet
stateand federal guidelines
RIF funding was used to assist TheEngineering MachineShop at UI,
in thepurchaseof a 3-D printer that would allow our BVC/TIC tenants
access to creating 3-D models out of ABS plastics, for concept and
further research and development of their business models.
TheUniversity of Iowa is an important partner in theIC CoLab, a new
coworking spacedirected by theIowa City Area Development Group.
Several UI student companies havetransitioned fromtheBELL to the
CoLab upon graduation. Additionally, UI has provided several student
interns to CoLab companies to assist in business and growth planning
activities.
16
John Pappajohn
Entrepreneurial
Center
To fund expenses associated with training, consultation
and outreach for Iowa entrepreneurs. J PEC continues to
expand outreach programs for Iowans: 1) Support the
development, implementation, and expansion of
entrepreneurship programs; 2) Enhance support for
faculty and area technology and high potential startup
and early stage companies through one-on-one
consulting, education seminars and workshops, and
student/faculty field study projects and 3) Continue
support for elevator pitch and business concept
competitions for UI-based new and emerging ventures.
EXPENDITURES:
$195,422
MATCH: JPEC in-
kind contribution
$195,422
Employed a Project Manager to work with UI faculty / staff / students in
theareas of strategic business planning, market research, operations and
financial assessment. Project manager also identified and managed
projects for existing Iowa-based companies to work with UI student
consulting teams.
J PEC hosted 12 different opportunities last year for students, faculty and
persons fromthecommunity. In FY13, 6,672 attendees cameto learn
fromexperienced entrepreneurs on a variety of topics including:
Technology Export Roundtable, various tax workshops, and a six-week
start-up training program.
J PEC held various elevator pitch and business plan competitions for UI
faculty, staff and students and tenants of theBVC and TIC. Over 320
entrepreneurs participated and 86 received a total of $282,100 in seed
funding.
University of
Iowa Research
Foundation
(UIRF)
UIRF focused on two primary activities: 1) continueits
contribution to theintegrated model of new company
formation and 2) educatefaculty in key colleges and
departments in identifying viabletechnologies that have
potential to createintellectual property which can lead to
new companies and/or licensing opportunities. Since
university derived intellectual property is by naturevery
nascent in terms of its readiness for forming companies
and attracting additional investment capital, RIF and
GIVF havebeen critically important to assist in
establishing proof of concept in several of our most
exciting technologies in advanceof forming companies.
Thesefunds also arevery helpful in helping attract
additional proof of concept funds fromfederal and
privatesources
EXPENDITURES:
$343,191
MATCH: UIRF Seed
Grants $333,497
Funds wereutilized to support existing projects that continueto
demonstratecommercial merit. This support included specialized
technology experts, external grant identification and application,
intellectual property evaluation and strategy, external partnership
development and assistancein securing investment and management for
startups.
RIF (prior GIVF) funding has been critical in creating a cultureof
commercialization and enabling thecreation of highly innovative
startups based on faculty research. Theseinvestments can be
directly linked to 19 startups through theend of FY13. See
Appendix A for Historical perspectiveof RIF/GIVF funding that
Stimulated Start Up Activity
17
EMERGING TRENDS IN UNIVERSITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
Entrepreneurship continues to be a driving force in global economic growth and wealth creation. For individuals to be
successful in today’s competitive world they must have interdisciplinary skills that prepare them for the many
opportunities and challenges they will face throughout their professional lives; entrepreneurship is one such critical skill
set. Regardless of a student’s major field of study, learning the entrepreneurial mindset serves as the basis for the
University of Iowa’s entrepreneurship program—preparing students to innovate, lead and succeed in their chosen field of
study. Growing the Regents’ entrepreneurship activities coincides with Governor Branstad’s priority to build Iowa’s
economy through high-wage job creation and economic diversification. Primary areas of focus for FY 2014 are to expand
undergraduate educational opportunities across campus and statewide in partnership with Iowa community colleges, to
increase business support services to Iowa companies by expanding faculty/student experiential learning opportunities, to
accelerate statewide new company formation through new entrepreneurial training coupled with technical support, and to
provide new opportunities for collaboration and connectivity to Iowa entrepreneurs and investors.
Expanding STEM Education – The University of Iowa’s J ohn Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (UI J PEC) and
J acobson Institute for Youth Entrepreneurship seek to significantly increase access to entrepreneurship education at all
levels and across academic disciplines within K-12 education. The initiative aims to leverage existing capabilities and
services fostering creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, and preparing students for success in careers relating to
business, entrepreneurship, and STEM. The J acobson Institute has established a partnership with the University of Iowa’s
College of Education, Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education & Talent Development, and the Iowa HUBS
for STEM education to develop new ways of teaching entrepreneurship as part of the Iowa Governor’s STEM
Initiative. Through this joint partnership, Iowa school districts will receive teacher professional development workshops,
access to curriculum resources, and experiential learning through competitions offering students the opportunity to better
understand entrepreneurship, business development and technology commercialization. A key component of the
University’s K-12 STEM Entrepreneurship initiative is to build greater awareness and understanding for the role that
entrepreneurship and economic development play in STEM Education.
Access to Management Talent – Technology startups are also challenged to find seasoned management to help lead
operations during the early stages of new enterprises. Some companies have had success in attracting experienced
entrepreneurs back to Iowa to lead new ventures; others have benefited from temporary CEO’s through local mentors or
Entrepreneur-in-Residence programs. While these efforts have yielded positive results in the short term, in the long run
it is critical for the state to accelerate efforts to develop management talent within Iowa in addition to encouraging
former Iowans to return and assume the reigns of technology startups. It is also important to create an integrated
network of startups, service providers, industry organizations and educational institutions to better connect young
entrepreneurs with experienced entrepreneurs, mentors and service providers. In FY 2014, UI will continue efforts to
work with state partners to build a network of management and technical talent to support new and existing technology
business across the state.
Availability of Early Stage Capital – In order to build an innovation-based entrepreneurial ecosystem, it is critical that
pre-startup and early-stage ventures have access to capital for proof of concept and initial prototyping of new products
and software applications. State of Iowa funding through the Regents Innovation Fund and previous Grow Iowa Values
Funds have been crucial to the creation of many of the UI-based technology start-up companies. These funds have
been used to advance technology development and have proven very important to sustain operations during future
technology development and fundraising efforts. Aside fromthis type of state funding (along with other funding through
the Iowa Economic Development Authority), federal support through SBIR/STTR programs also serves as a vital source of
funding for technology-based startups. Without these early stage sources of capital, many of the UI nascent technologies and
very early stage companies would struggle to advance through the “Valley of Death” that faces technology firms . The state’s
efforts to provide both early stage funding, as well as efforts to increase the availability of venture capital is crucial to growing
an advanced technology economy. In FY 2014, UI will continue to maximize the effectiveness of UI gap funding as well as
improve support for accessing state, federal and private capital.
18
Appendix A
Summary of Historical GIVF/RIF Commercialization Funding Stimulating Startup Activity
Total
Funded
Projects
Potential
Startup
Identified
Startup
Formed
Year
Company
Started
Company
Name
Startup Is
On-Going
Remains
Under
Consideration
for Startup
GIVF/ RIF
stimulated
What Result
UIRF Option
or License
2013
Anderson 37 ? ? 2011
FxRedux
Solutions
Yes ? Product Beta Licensed
Assouline 36 ? ? 2012
NanoMedT
rix
Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Optioned
Bowden 35 ? ? 2013 Venturen Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Under
negotiation
Flynn 34 ? ? 2013 pxAlpha Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Marler/ Ozobolat 33 ? ? 2013
Virtual
Systems
Engr.
Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Under
negotiation
Martins/Mickelsen 32 ? ? 2011
Iowa
Approach
Yes ?
Licensed
McNamara 31
Continued
product
testing
Morcuende/
Grosland
30 ? ? 2012
Clubfoot
Solutions
Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Under
negotiation
Peters 29
Under
negotiation
Raghavan 28
Continued
product
testing
Vanden
Bush/Bishop
27 ? ? 2010
Memcine
Pharmaceut
icals
Yes ? Optioned
Wahls 26 ? ? 2011 Xcellerator Yes ?
Under
negotiation
2012
Adams/Welsh 25 ? ? 2012 Emmyon Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Under
negotiation
Davidson 24 ? 2013 AAVenue Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Under
negotiation
Das 23 ? 2012 ?
Product
discontinued
Flynn 22 ? ? 2013 pxAlpha ?
Startup
Formation
Howard 21 ? ? 2012
Direct
Spinal
Therapeutic
s
Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Licensed
Martins/Mickelsen 20 ? ? 2011
Iowa
Approach
Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Optioned
19
Salem 19 ? ? 2009
PolyImmun
ex
No ?
Startup
Formation
Wahls 18 ? ? 2011 Xcellerator Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Under
negotiation
Vanden Bush/
Bishop
17 ? ? 2010 Memcine Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Optioned
2011
Anderson 16 ? ? 2011
FxRedux
Solutions
Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Licensed
Baker 15 ? ? 2010 Tansna Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Optioned
Doddapaneni* 14
Product
discontinued
Comeron, Manak 13
Product
discontinued
Vanden Bush/
Bishop
12 ? ? 2010 Memcine Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Optioned
Howard 11 ? ? 2012
Direct
Spinal
Therapeutic
s
Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Licensed
2010
Schultz 10 ? ? 2009
ViewPoint
Mole. Diag.
Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Optioned
Adams 9 ? ? 2012 Emmyon Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Under
negotiation
McCray 8
Research
ongoing
Lim 7 ? ? 2007 JL Meditech No
Not viable
Lack of
viability
Lack of
viability
Leddy 6 ? ? 2009 Voltesla No Not viable
Startup
Formation
Optioned then
terminated
2007
Abramoff 5 ? ? 2010 IDX Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Licensed
Arnold 4 ? ? 2005
ASL
Analytical
Yes ?
Industry
Partner
Company
formed, no
license
Hohl 3 ? ? 2005
Terpenoid
Therapeutic
Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Licensed
Welsh 2 ? ? 2007
Exemplar
Genetics
Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Licensed
Wolgennaunt 1 ? ? 2006
OMR
Sensors
No Not viable
Lack of
viability
Lack of
viability
TOTAL 25
*Projects funded more than one year.
20
Appendix B
Name of Business or
Other Entity Served
City and County where
this Project is in Place
University Unit that interacted with business
or other entity
City County
BUSINESS INCUBATOR TENANTS
AMBI Group Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
ASL Analytical Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
Bio::Neos, Inc. Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
Brain Image Analysis Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
Cellular Engineering Tech Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
Componica
Coralville
J ohnson
Technology Innovation Center
Corvida Medical Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
CQM Systems Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
Digital Artefacts, LLC Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
Exemplar Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
Higher Learning Technologies Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
Hennepin LifeSciences Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
Innomatix, LLC Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
KemPharm, Inc. Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
Memcine Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
NanoMedTrix Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
Ramaanchar Technologies, Inc. Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
Redox BioCat Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
Santos Human Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
Tansna Therapeutics Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
Terpenoid Therapeutics, Inc. Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
The Thomas Group Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
21
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
VIDA Diagnostics Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
RESEARCH PARK TENANTS
LMS North America Coralville J ohnson UI Research Park/TIC Graduate
Stanley Environmental, Inc. Coralville J ohnson UI Research Park
General Dynamics Information Technology Coralville J ohnson UI Research Park
Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc. Coralville J ohnson UI Research Park/TIC Graduate
Noel-Levitz Coralville J ohnson UI Research Park
Leepfrog Technologies Coralville J ohnson UI Research Park
Cargill International Coralville/Cedar Rapids J ohnson UI Research Park
Brighton Group Coralville/Des Moines J ohnson/Polk UI Research Park
MediRevv Coralville J ohnson UI Research Park
OTHER BUSINESS INCUBATOR
GRADUATES ACTIVE IN IOWA
Ecolotree, Inc. Lowden, North Liberty Cedar, J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
Corcoran Communications, Inc. Iowa City J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
Innovative Software Engineering Coralville J ohnson UI Research Park/TIC Graduate
Bio-Research Products, Inc. North Liberty J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
aJ ile Systems, Inc. Cedar Rapids Linn Technology Innovation Center
CompuTerra, Inc. Cedar Rapids Linn Technology Innovation Center
HomeSafe Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
The Patient Education Institute Coralville/Iowa City J ohnson UI Research Park/TIC
Police Law Institute Coralville/North Liberty J ohnson UI Research Park/TIC
Corridor Business J ournal Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
Applied Fullerene Davenport Scott Technology Innovation Center
Epley Marketing North Liberty J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
Sebesta Blomberg, Inc. Cedar Rapids Linn Technology Innovation Center
Vive Media Washington Washington Technology Innovation Center
DEVELOPERS
Myriad Developers, Inc. Cedar Rapids Linn UI Research Park
TMD, L.L.C. Solon J ohnson UI Research Park
Midwest Development & Invest.Corp. Fairfield J efferson UI Research Park
Liberty Growth Iowa City J ohnson UI Research Park
22
Hunter Companies Cedar Rapids Linn UI Research Park
S & S Developers Iowa City J ohnson UI Research Park
EMRICO Iowa City J ohnson UI Research Park
Ryan Companies, US Cedar Rapids Linn UI Research Park
LMC, LLC North Liberty J ohnson UI Research Park
Oakdale 8, LLC Iowa City J ohnson UI Research Park
1
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
FY13 Board of Regents, State of Iowa,
Annual Economic Development and
Technology Transfer Report
PRESENTED BY
DAVID OLIVER,
INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
AND
MICHAEL CRUM,
SENIOR POLICY ADVISER ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
October 23-24, 2013
2
FY13 Board of Regents, State of Iowa, Annual Economic Development and
Technology Transfer Report
1. Please briefly describe the relationship of your institution’s economic development
activities to the enhancement of economic growth in the state. The description should
cover, but not necessarily be limited to the following:
A. the relationship between institutional activities and creation of jobs and wealth in Iowa
B. Institutional activities and services which indirectly promote economic development,
such as training provided to staff of local economic development agencies
1A. Enhancement of Economic Growth through Job Creation and Retention,
Investments, Sales, and Cost Savings
Iowa State University promotes economic growth in Iowa by moving research ideas to
the market, supporting creation of new companies, offering assistance to existing
companies, attracting new companies and entrepreneurs to Iowa, contributing to
workforce and entrepreneurial development, and creating intellectual property.
Two recent examples of moving research ideas to the market come from Iowa State’s
NSF Center for Biorenewable Chemicals. Two startup companies based on research by
the Center have won grants supported by the National Science Foundation to develop
their technologies for potential commercialization. Center leaders say the grants will
allow the companies to "de-risk" their technologies for business and industry.
? OmegaChea Biorenewables LLC of Ames won a one-year, $225,000 Small
Business Technology Transfer Phase 1 grant. The grant will help the company
develop a new manufacturing platform that will use microorganisms modified to
use unique enzymes for the production of biorenewable chemicals. The
chemicals can be used to produce detergents, lubricants, and polymers.
? Glucan Biorenewables LLC of St. Louis won a six-month, $150,000 Small
Business Innovation Research Phase I grant. The grant will allow the company to
prove that its bio-based reaction system works with actual biomass to produce
chemicals that can be used to make packaging, insulation, and other products.
Faculty and staff researchers, whether in departments, centers, or institutes, often work
with experts in several key units to help fulfill ISU’s economic development efforts.
The ISU Research Park is a resource provider and business incubator that encourages
commercialization of university research. The Innovations Development Facility (IDF),
part of the Plant Sciences Institute, incubates new plant biotechnology companies. The
Institute for Physical Research and Technology (IPRT) Company Assistance Program,
Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and the ISU Pappajohn Center for
Entrepreneurship interact with companies across Iowa to solve technical, production,
and management problems. The improved production resulting from these interactions
allow businesses to retain and often expand their workforce. The ISU Research
Foundation (ISURF) and Office of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer
(OIPTT) manage, market, and license the intellectual property of ISU researchers and
work with them to patent inventions and market the innovations to commercial partners.
Finally, ISU Extension and Outreach’s Center for Industrial Research and Service
(CIRAS) works with companies to enhance their performance, and Community and
3
Economic Development (CED) programs offer a variety of technical assistance,
consulting, and educational programs to improve the quality of life in Iowa communities.
The following are some examples of the direct impact that these ISU units have had this
past year.
? The ISU Research Park continues to be successful in initiating as well as
nurturing numerous new businesses. Three new companies and affiliates joined
the Park in FY13, bringing the historical total to 221 companies, research
centers, and affiliates. Currently, there are 53 companies and research centers
and 14 affiliates located in the Park, employing 1,240 and 139 people,
respectively.
? There are currently three faculty-affiliated startup companies located in the
Innovations Development Facility, the on-campus business incubator in the Roy
J . Carver Co-Laboratory under direction of the Plant Sciences Institute. A total of
18 companies have used this business incubator space since the facility opened
in September 2003.
? A summary of project evaluation data clearly shows that Iowa companies with
technical problems and R&D needs continue to benefit from the services of IPRT
Company Assistance. IPRT Company Assistance is composed of three
segments that each aid Iowa’s businesses in unique ways: materials,
nondestructive evaluation, and research cost-sharing. The Materials and
Nondestructive Evaluation groups provide limited duration (typically up to 40-60
hours) no-cost technical assistance. The Research Cost-Sharing Program helps
Iowa smaller companies utilize ISU’s faculty and facilities for research by
providing a 1:1 cash-match on research projects. By working with these three
groups, Iowa companies report positive impacts affecting their sales,
investments, and operating costs throughout the languishing recovery from the
economic recession of 2009-2013. Based on survey data, IPRT Company
Assistance had a positive cumulative impact exceeding $100 million over the five
years between FY2008-2012.
During the period FY2006-2013, IPRT had more than 700 interactions with Iowa
companies covering 71 of Iowa’s 99 counties. In FY2012 alone, the companies
that responded to the impact survey reported adding an estimated 20 new
employees as a result of their interactions with IPRT Company Assistance.
Additionally, the Company Assistance program has helped with the development
of 30 startup companies in Iowa since 2002. There is potential to grow the
economic impact of IPRT’s Company Assistance activities and utilize a wider
range of ISU’s capabilities to increase its ability to help Iowa’s businesses.
• IPRT Company Assistance’s Materials Group worked with Insta-Pro
International in Urbandale to test its replacement extruder parts. Insta-Pro
manufactures extruders, presses, and other processing equipment for the
feed and food industry. The extruders operate under demanding
processing conditions involving high pressures and temperatures. Even
high-quality components will exhibit wear over time and require periodic
replacement. Insta-Pro came to IPRT seeking assistance in determining
how well its replacement extruder parts stack up against the after-market
4
competitors. Insta-Pro replacement parts performed well when compared
to the competition. Insta-Pro used the results from the performance
comparisons to develop new marketing materials showing its product’s
superiority. Because of this, IPRT Company Assistance’s materials group
was able to play a key role in helping Insta-Pro grow its Iowa-based
manufacturing. The longer term impact is still developing, but indications
are this project had a significant positive impact on the company’s growth.
• Quatro Composites in Orange City turned to IPRT Company Assistance’s
Nondestructive Evaluation Group for inspection of its parts. Quatro
Composites manufactures carbon fiber for a variety of industries. To
become an approved manufacturer of certain aerospace components, the
company needed to ensure quality and establish the capability to perform
nondestructive inspection on them. IPRT’s Nondestructive Evaluation
Group worked with the company and identified a suitable inspection
protocol that met the industry standards. This interaction allowed the
company to develop the knowledge needed to fully implement the
inspection potential provided by test systems, enabling them to
successfully enter a demanding market. The result was a significant
increase in sales for the company, as well as the creation of several jobs
in a new inspection department that was created at Quatro.
• IPRT Company Assistance’s Research Cost-Sharing Program helped
Cedar Rapids’ Diamond V Mills start a research project at ISU for its
animal nutrition products. Diamond V Mills’ products are designed to
optimize digestive function and nutrition key to animal and aqua health,
productivity, efficiency, and profitability. IPRT helped set up and fund the
research project with the company and ISU’s Biomedical Sciences
Department to investigate the immunological benefits of Diamond V Mills’
proprietary product in dairy calves. Researchers will evaluate the anti-
colonization properties of the product on Salmonella in dairy calves. While
the project is still under way, the research may confirm that Diamond V
Mills’ proprietary product reduces Salmonella colonization during calves’
most vulnerable stage in life. If confirmed, this product will significantly
enhance food safety and animal health. In turn, this will lead to reduced
animal loss for dairy farmers and will open up new markets for Diamond V
Mills.
? During federal FY12, which is the most recent full year for the program, the
SBDC provided business assistance to individuals and companies totaling 2,646
clients and 11,018 counseling hours. The SBDC also conducted 221 training
workshops in which 3,483 individuals participated.
The ISU SBDC, along with the ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship,
provided 546 hours of counseling assistance to startup and existing companies;
served 117 clients with one-on-one counseling; educated 433 attendees through
workshops; provided advice to several hundred clients via telephone and e-mail;
and advised 32 technology companies in the areas of licensing, equity-based
financing, market entry, and numerous operational areas.
5
? Technologies originating at ISU and licensed to Iowa companies have resulted in
over $45 million in sales by those companies in calendar year 2012. Total sales
of ISURF-licensed technologies were $647 million, not including germplasm.
? OIPTT began supporting SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) and STTR
(Small Business Technology Transfer) outreach efforts in FY06. Preliminary
award reports indicate that SBIR and STTR funding will be decreased compared
to FY12. This is largely due to the impact of sequestration, which has resulted in
agencies reducing the number of awards they make or delaying contract
negotiations and release of funding. Outreach and training activities in addition to
providing proposal preparation support has continued, and 21 companies
received assistance in preparing 25 proposals through the Office of Intellectual
Property and Technology Transfer in FY13. To date, awards worth $4.8 million
have been reported for FY13, with 15 different Iowa companies winning 17 new
or continuing SBIR and STTR awards. The Department of Defense, National
Institutes of Health (NIH), and the National Science Foundation are funding this
year’s Iowa SBIR/STTR award winners. The funded projects reflect Iowa’s
strengths in biotechnology, information systems, manufacturing, and agriculture.
Nearly $3.8 million in support was awarded from NIH for projects that range from
the development of new medical devices and medical imaging technologies to
new animal models for human diseases. In addition, nearly $1 million has been
received from the National Science Foundation for projects that include the
development of educational games and biomanufacturing applications.
The Regents Innovation Fund (formerly Grow Iowa Values Fund) program at
Iowa State has a competitive research component that pairs ISU faculty
members with Iowa industries (primarily new to young startups) to create
economic benefit for the companies. Surveys completed by companies on
projects funded from J une 2006–J une 2012 (surveyed one year after project
completion) documented more than 118 jobs created or retained and an annual
sales impact of more than $16.1 million due to the research projects conducted in
partnership between ISU and the companies.
? ISU Extension and Outreach’s CIRAS helps Iowa’s economy prosper and grow
by enhancing the performance of industry through applied research, education,
and technical assistance. CIRAS has been working with companies in
communities across Iowa for more than 50 years and has a vision for Iowa of
healthy communities through business prosperity. Cumulatively, over the past
five years, CIRAS and its partners have reported impact from companies totaling
more than $1.8 billion ($1.5 billion in sales gained or retained, $227 million in
new investments, $100 million in costs saved or avoided) with 25,675 jobs added
or retained as a result of the assistance they received.
? Governor Terry E. Branstad officially recognized the contributions of
CIRAS as the industrial extension arm of the university helping the
College of Engineering and Iowa State University Extension and
Outreach carry out the land-grant mission through a 50
th
anniversary
proclamation from the State of Iowa Executive Department. The
proclamation acknowledged that CIRAS was established in 1963 after
receiving authorization and appropriated funds from the General
Assembly, along with unanimous Board of Regents approval.
6
? Last year, 1,613 businesses from 97 counties in the state received
assistance on projects or attended educational workshops from CIRAS
staff or partners. Companies responding to surveys reported $389 million
in total impact — $333 million in sales gained or retained, $35 million in
new investments, and $21 million in costs saved or avoided. Company
executives stated that 5,638 jobs were added or retained as a result of
the assistance they received from CIRAS and its partners.
? Power Engineering and Manufacturing (PEM) LTD in Waterloo, Iowa,
completed a Theory of Constraints (TOC) project with CIRAS that
focused on improving throughput, communication, and profitability. PEM
reported more than $9 million in impact due to this project — $6.1million
in sales gained or retained and $3.4 million in costs saved or avoided.
? Impact of more than $937,000, retention of 30 jobs, and the creation of
one additional job was the reported result of CIRAS technical assistance
provided to ADA Enterprises, Inc., a manufacturer of plastic-coated steel
outdoor furniture and agricultural supplies in Northwood, IA. The
assistance helped the company design and implement a process for
generating ongoing business improvement and greater profitability.
? CIRAS government contracting specialists work with Iowa businesses,
from one-person operations to some of the state’s largest employers, to
help them understand the government procurement process and to
secure contracts. As the only organization in the state of Iowa providing
contracting assistance at all three levels of the government market
segmentation — local, state, and federal — CIRAS staff provided
counseling to more than 1,200 companies. Companies reported more
than $153 million in government contract impact due in part to the
assistance they received. The Defense Logistics Agency, which funds
CIRAS to provide assistance to Iowa companies, indicated this impact
helped create or retain 3,070 jobs.
? More than 240 participants were trained in FY13 by attending
conferences and workshops offered through a partnership of CIRAS and
the College of Engineering (Civil, Construction, and Environmental
Engineering, and the Electric Power Research Center) and the Iowa
Energy Partnership for Industrial Energy Efficiency, which includes
CIRAS, MidAmerican Energy, Michael’s Energy, Black Hills Energy, Iowa
Association of Municipal Utilities, Alliant Energy, Corn Belt Power
Cooperative, Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, Central Iowa
Power Cooperative, Iowa Economic Development Authority Energy
Team, and Van Meter Incorporated.
Energy efficiency workshops held across Iowa provided education on
industrial lighting and steam systems. Continuing education was provided
for civil engineering practitioners in geotechnical engineering, water
resources, and environmental engineering. Attendees were able to obtain
professional development hours toward retention of their Iowa
engineering licenses.
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? The ISU College of Engineering Industrial Assessment Center partnered
with CIRAS in providing energy audits to eight manufacturing companies.
ISU teams comprised of faculty and students, both graduate and
undergraduate, visited company sites to collect data and conduct
analyses. Reports were then created recommending ways each company
could reduce energy consumption and increase profitability.
? CIRAS is working with the BEST of Iowa (Business Expansion and
Strategic Trends), a coalition of Iowa utility concerns, Iowa Economic
Development Authority (IEDA), Iowa Innovation Council, Iowa Workforce
Development, Association of Business and Industry (ABI), Iowa Area
Development Group, Iowa Business Council, Iowa Department of
Education, and Iowa’s Regents universities and Community Colleges to
provide a statewide coordinated business retention and expansion
program. Economic developers throughout the state use the Synchronist
data system to interview executives of Iowa industries to create an Iowa
Competitive Capacity ScoreCard for the state. This report provides a
detailed analysis of Iowa’s situation and identifies opportunities and risks
to be addressed. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Iowa work
with the local economic development partners to interpret the results and
cultivate additional resources to assist business development strategies,
with an emphasis on trade cluster companies around the state. The data
also are used to affect statewide programs of change to address the
varying needs of the state economy.
? CIRAS is working with the regional economic development marketing
groups across Iowa to address economic development strategies in their
particular regions. Strategic planning, workforce development, business
outreach, buyer/supplier efforts, and industrial assistance programming is
provided within each of the separate groups.
? To meet the increasing demand for Latino business and community development
assistance, Community and Economic Development (CED) Extension and
Outreach specialists trained 32 Latino business leaders and entrepreneurs,
helped 18 minority entrepreneurs start or improve their businesses, and assisted
with the creation of 13 jobs and the retention of 100 jobs for minority employees.
Community development specialist Himar Hernández maintains contacts with
Latino business owners throughout the state and has facilitated the development
of Latino business networks in southeast and central Iowa. The city of Ottumwa
and Hernández were featured on NBC’s TODAY Show in a piece on how
communities adapt to changing populations. The TODAY Show learned about
Ottumwa and Hernández’s work there in an article in the Wall Street J ournal on
November 8, 2012. Hernández’s work also was mentioned in The Chronicle of
Higher Education. (TODAY Show video:http://www.today.com/video/today/51515671#51515671)
? CED Extension and Outreach specialists started and supported 18 local/regional
housing trust funds with a dollar value of $10,029,720 in new and rehabilitation
housing construction last year, generating approximately 140 jobs in Iowa (80
8
jobs due to direct effect and 60 jobs due to indirect and induced effects). The
housing trust fund initiative was supported by the Iowa Finance Authority.
1B. Training Opportunities for Staff of Local Economic Development Agencies and
Other Activities that Indirectly Promote Economic Development
The ISU Extension and Outreach Center for Industrial Research and Service
(CIRAS) reports several economic development training and other activities.
? CIRAS held the second annual corridor procurement conference in Cedar
Rapids, IA, educating companies on the key elements of capturing business
sales with government agencies or partnering with prime contractors. The event
provided opportunities for 50 companies to network with government buyers
including contracting personnel from the city of Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa
State Prison Industries, Iowa Department of Administrative Services, Iowa
Department of Transportation, and the Rock Island Arsenal.
? The Iowa Area Development Group (IADG) and CIRAS formed a partnership to
expand the level of support for manufacturers and businesses based in rural
areas across the state. The partnership combines CIRAS manufacturing and
technical expertise with IADG’s financial acumen to provide comprehensive
growth services to rural manufacturers.
? The College of Engineering Electric Power Research Center (EPRC) is a
consortium of 10 utilities that sponsor multidisciplinary power systems research
at Iowa State University. Eight of the 10 companies provide services in Iowa; the
remaining two are international. Funds provided by the companies are used to
conduct research on the reliable and economic operation of power systems. In
addition, the research deals with the integration of increasing amounts of wind
and solar energy into the grid and the implications of the electrification of
transportation. EPRC research helps ensure that Iowa, the U.S., and the world
have a supply of electric power that is cost-effective, reliable, and sustainable.
? Keeping Iowa youth interested and participating in STEM initiatives will create a
better prepared future workforce and ultimately help improve economic
development in the state of Iowa. The College of Engineering plays a vital role in
filling the engineering pipeline by providing critical leadership to K-12 outreach
efforts such as FIRST LEGO League, J unior FIRST LEGO League, Project Lead
the Way, engineering summer kids’ camps, Mom’s Night out for STEM, and
multiple other outreach events and hands-on activities. In FY13 more than 6,000
middle and high school students attended Project Lead the Way courses at 200
sites across the state. The College of Engineering also supported more than
4,000 youth participants as part of FIRST LEGO League, and hosted nearly 800
youth in engineering summer kids’ camps.
? A cooperative agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
and CIRAS leveraged resources and the university’s expertise in biofuels,
biobased chemicals, and end-use biobased products to develop rules,
procedures, and infrastructure needed to operationalize the national
BioPreferred
®
Program, which was created by the 2002 Farm Bill and expanded
9
by the 2008 Farm Bill. CIRAS developed systems to collect and access
information on the biobased industry, and worked with the ASTM International
standards committee to perfect the methodology for determining biobased
content, and collaborated with USDA to establish programmatic policies to
support operations, rules for designating biobased product categories, and
regulations for the biobased certification labeling program. CIRAS identified more
than 3,500 companies across the U.S. that represented more than 27,000
biobased products and assisted with the labeling of more than 900 biobased
products.
ISU involvement with the USDA BioPreferred Program concluded in FY13 but the
CIRAS contributions allowed USDA to take the next steps in operationalizing the
systems that were developed and helping the biobased industry grow by gaining
access to government markets.
Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension and Outreach reports several
economic development training and other activities.
? Economic Benefits from Hands-on Ventilation Workshops
A multistate, interdisciplinary team of Extension and Outreach specialists (South
Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Iowa) developed a training program on
ventilation system management that producers can understand and adopt into
their operations supported by pork producer associations. The workshop
incorporated a hands-on method that allowed participants to learn, not only from
the specialists, but also from putting the newly acquired information into practice.
Specialists worked together to build a model swine facility on wheels that
contains all the equipment, inlets, and controllers needed to let producers
practice ventilation principles.
In Iowa 15 workshops reached 254 pork production operations and/or systems;
189 post-workshop surveys were completed; those completing the survey had
influence over 10.7 million market hogs, representing a third of Iowa's swine
industry. After-workshop survey results indicated that participants had increased
their confidence to make the proper changes to their system. About half of the
participants estimated a value change in energy savings and improved farm air
quality for their operation. The total benefit for all participants was reported at
$411,600 in production improvements and energy cost savings.
? Successful Intergenerational Transition of Farmland Ensured through Education
Access to capital and/or land ownership is a huge limitation for beginning and
non-traditional farmers trying to enter into agricultural production and processing.
Developing strategies to access capital for new start-up businesses or
transferring land and farm operations from generation to generation is critical to a
smooth transition from one owner to the next. More and more women are
assuming farm management roles in existing operations or have become
landowners through purchases or inheritance and are seeking ways to better
manage and sustain the profitability of these farming operations.
In conjunction with an ISU Extension and Outreach farm management specialist,
Value Added Ag staff helped train and prepare educational leaders to conduct
Annie's Project farm management programs fostering improved problem solving,
10
record keeping, and decision making skills for farm women with an emphasis on
estate planning, retirement, and succession planning. Survey results from 74
attendees indicated improved awareness and a request for additional in-depth
training in estate planning (54 percent); 61 percent developed new support
networks and identified new professionals to support their farm management
tasks. Participants learned strategies that they plan to implement on their own
farms.
? Local Foods Potential Expanded
One of the major obstacles constraining local food production in Iowa is limited
availability due to seasonality. Producers have expressed great interest in
expanding their production potential through the use of high tunnels (HT) to
extend their growing season and improve production quality and quantity.
Extension and Outreach developed two related publications on rainwater
catchment and vegetable production budgets for HT. Staff also conducted seven
one-day workshops introducing HT production to growers across the state that
reached 158 current or future growers. Four additional conference presentations
that focused on high tunnel production introduced 100 additional growers to the
production methodology.
A high tunnel publication has been downloaded more than 150 times; 86 growers
attended workshops on the topic. These attendees provided feedback and
requests for additional training on crop specific production methodology. Portions
of these workshops also were presented as breakout sessions at numerous local
foods workshops across the state. Survey results show that as a result of these
workshops 60 percent of attendees plan to increase their fruit and vegetable
production and marketing.
? Lowering Costs for Dairy Producers
More than 40 percent of dairy producers in Iowa are milking in stall barns or
antiquated milking parlors that are achieving only 25 cows milked per person per
hour. This not only creates a labor and financial drain, but also impacts human
health and animal performance. An exceptionally useful tool for producers
considering milking system decisions would be a database of costs, benefits, and
economic ranges of income and expense variables and responses by producers
who have already implemented decisions on building low cost parlors or
automatic milking systems.
The ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Team analyzed surveys from producers
with whom they had worked who had already installed a low cost parlor (LCP) or
automatic milking system (AMS) on their farm. Surveys were completed by 90
percent of LCP producers (18/20 surveyed) and 8 AMS producers (50 percent of
all AMS farms, since this is a very recent technology). Those that built an LCP
are milking 55 percent more cows on average, while decreasing milking labor 28
percent (2.44 hrs/day). LCP milking labor costs decreased from $1.83/cwt milk to
$0.95/cwt (0.98/cow/day to $0.50/day). LCP producers saw a 15 percent
increase in milk production (8 lbs), 23 percent decrease in SCC (improved milk
quality), and a 4 percent reduction in culling rate, equating to more than $80,000
of income increase per farm per year. These changes led to more than $2 million
of additional annual income from the 26 farms completing the survey.
11
? Drought Response Helps in Economic Decisions
The drought of 2012 highlighted the ability of ISU Extension and Outreach to
accurately assess the situation and proactively provide research-based
information and resources for farmers and service providers to help manage their
operations in the face of an extreme weather disaster. Two rapid response
drought webinars efficiently conveyed expert information to a statewide
audience, giving producers the option of viewing the archived version at their
own convenience. In addition, dozens of live regional drought meetings were
held in cooperation with industry partners, with 5,300 farmers attending.
ANR Extension and Outreach specialists at Iowa State University conducted a
drought educational webinar on Aug. 21, 2012, that was hosted at 51 sites
across Iowa. A survey of participants showed a significant increase in their
knowledge about grain quality concerns, feed implications, harvest
considerations, fall fertility decisions, tillage, cover crops, and residue. More than
70 percent of respondents indicated that they plan to check and clean engine
compartments more frequently to reduce the risk of combine and field fires,
conduct soil tests, and adjust rates before applying fertilizer.
Fifteen percent indicated a likely economic impact from the knowledge they
gained during the webinar of more than $50,000, followed by $10,001-25,000 (11
percent), $501-1,000 (10 percent), $1,001-5,000 (10 percent), $5,001-10,000 (10
percent) and $25,001-50,000 (9 percent). Participants identified teaching tools
such as webinars (32 percent) and emails (32 percent) as most useful in
receiving drought related farming information.
? Food Safety Education Allows Local Food Providers to Improve Business
Iowa fruit and vegetable farms received assistance in writing food safety plans for
on-farm production and post-production processes, resulting in more local food
providers being able to continue in business by producing safe and healthy food
and non-food agricultural products, taking into account economical, social, and
environmental sustainability. Arranging for their GAP audits on the same day
they received assistance in writing food safety plans resulted in a cost savings of
up to 50 percent. Through education, Extension and Outreach creates an
environment in which local food providers can support public health by making
healthy food readily available, thus reinforcing good nutrition.
? Local Food Providers Learn Good Ag Practices (GAP)
The growing demand for local and regional food offers an unprecedented market
opportunity for small and mid-sized farms and holds great promise for increasing
the access to healthy and affordable food for rural areas. However, participation
in the food system beyond the local direct market often demands that farms
demonstrate compliance with complex GAP certification. Working with the
Northeast Iowa Food & Farm Coalition, ISU Extension and Outreach used a
grant to achieve two goals: 1) to develop a training program to equip food safety
“coaches” who could provide technical assistance to farmers to implement GAP
and prepare them for food safety certification, and 2) to create a GAP cost-share
program to assist farmers with the cost of an audit.
Through the coaching program, 21 Iowa fruit and vegetable farms received
assistance in writing a food safety plan. The mock audit helped participants
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identify food safety areas of concern, so they could address them prior to paying
for a real audit. Following the mock audit, 11 farms requested a USDA GAP audit
for their farm and 100 percent passed, allowing these growers greater market
access for their produce.
? Beef Producers Increase Profitability through Technology
Beef cow numbers in the United States are the lowest since the 1950s. The ISU
Iowa Beef Center and the Iowa Cattlemen's Association hosted 10 Heifer
Development Clinics across Iowa in J anuary, February, and March 2012.
Participants who completed a post meeting evaluation managed an average of
103 cows and retained 20 heifers each year. Over 90 percent of the attendees
showed improved understanding of technologies available to develop heifers,
management practices to improve conception and longevity and keys to
successful heifer development. The majority of participants plan to retain heifers
in the future and more than 20 percent plan to increase the number retained.
Participants managed more than 61,800 cows and retained 12,000 heifers each
year.
? Improving Efficiencies in Grazing Helps Producers Increase Production
Improving productivity of pastures through better management allows increased
beef production per acre of land. Improved productivity in turn incentivizes
marginal land to remain in forage production. Profitable forage production on
marginal land improves economic activity in rural Iowa, reduces soil erosion, and
improves water quality. Extension and Outreach initiated the Iowa Certified
Grazier Program in 2012, targeting advanced grazing managers to pilot a new
curriculum for an advanced grazing school, and grazing mentor program.
Survey responses indicated participants managed an average of 129 cattle and
235 acres. Seventy percent of the respondents improved beef production per
acre by at least 20 percent. The median economic value resulting from these
educational efforts was more than $1,000 per operation. The impact resulted in
$1.1M in added economic activity to rural communities and improved the
productivity equivalent to 64,000 acres, or the forage to support more than
35,000 beef cows.
? Timely Farm Management with Online Ag Decision Maker and Estate Planning
Workshops
Farmers, financial lenders, farm managers, and agriculture educators understand
that having current, unbiased agricultural economics and business information is
important to making sound farm management decisions. Knowing where to go in
a rapidly changing agricultural environment to access up-to-date information that
includes new and emerging issues is critical to their success.
The Ag Decision Maker (AgDM) website, www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm, is
such a resource. The website currently has more than 3,200 visitors per day, and
an average of 65,000 unique users each month. These visitors spend a total of
500 hours on the site every day. Of visitors who visit more than once, the
average number of visits is five to six times each month.
AgDM materials were the key component to the Evaluating Your Estate Planning
(EYEP) workshops across the state. Participation went beyond initial
13
expectations, with 13 meetings and 395 participants in the first year; 19 more
meetings are planned. Evaluations found that after attending, 95 percent of
participants knew the kind of information about their estate plan they should take
to an attorney. Eighty-seven percent currently had a will, and 87 percent of
participants were likely to visit their attorney to revise their will as a result of what
they learned at the EYEP program.
A follow-up survey nine months after the EYEP meetings found 64 percent of
participants had visited an attorney regarding their estate plan as a result of the
program. Those who had not visited an attorney hadn’t because they didn’t feel a
need to, already had a plan in place, or were still deciding what to do.
Participants who visited with an attorney post-meeting went into that meeting
more prepared and were able to save legal time and money by making decisions
prior to the visit. More than 60 percent involved their family in decision-making
and increased communications. Sixty-nine percent had held a family meeting to
discuss their estate plan with their spouse, estate planning team, and/or heirs.
The Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation (CALT), the primary source of
professional educational training in agricultural law and taxation, presented
educational opportunities for attorneys regarding legal issues pertaining to estate
planning and farm taxes. Approximately 1,500 attorneys from Iowa, North
Dakota, and Kansas have participated in seminars and webinars on Agricultural
Law, Farm Estate and Business Planning, and Farm Income Tax, ensuring that
farm families have access to attorneys with current legal information to address
their needs.
4-H Youth Development reports the following economic development training activity.
? STEM Skills for Iowa’s Future Workforce
In order for Iowa youth to be successful in the 21st century, they must be
prepared with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills
necessary to meet Iowa’s workforce needs and economic development plans.
ISU Extension and Outreach’s 4-H Youth Development program, in partnership
with many local and national organizations and businesses, provided STEM
opportunities for youth in every Iowa county. These programs inspire and
prepare today’s youth to become science-literate citizens and meet future Iowa
workforce needs. ISU Extension and Outreach plays a vital role in filling the
STEM pipeline for Iowa companies. 4-H provides leadership for pre-collegiate
(K–12) STEM outreach, including the State Science and Technology Fair of
Iowa, 4-H STEM projects and exhibits, STEM camps, county STEM
programming, 4-H STEM special events at the Iowa State Fair, and STEM
focused 4-H clubs. In FY12, 590 sixth through twelfth grade students participated
in the State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa. County Extension and
Outreach programs engaged 20,379 participants in STEM focused programs or
4-H STEM projects ranging from environmental stewardship to geospatial
mapping — from which 35 STEM exhibits advanced to the Iowa State Fair and
11,646 youth were enrolled in groups using STEM curricula or engaging in STEM
activities in 4-H programs. In addition, 68 youth participated in STEM events at
the Iowa State Fair, 12 youth participated in a STEM workshop at the State 4-H
Youth Conference, and 12 youth participated in STEM workshops at the Iowa 4-
H Center.
14
Keeping Iowa youth interested and participating in STEM initiatives will create a
better prepared future workforce and ultimately help improve economic
development in the state of Iowa. The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council
established the North Central STEM Hub at ISU. As part of the STEM Initiative
the North Central Hub supported STEM events in the region that had 155 youth
attend and also hosted a STEM Festival event at VEISHEA that was conducted
by 25 youth with an estimated attendance of more 2,000 youth. 4-H supported
and participated in the Regional Scale-Up program that was overseen by the hub
managers that as an aggregate of all regions had 283 Scale-Up programs
reported, documenting 10,046 K-12 participants.
Human Sciences Extension and Outreach reports the following economic
development training activity.
? Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Helps Families Build Financial Security
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) augments the wages of low- and
moderate-income workers and, in turn, this flow of income makes a substantial
economic impact in local communities. EITC recipients circulate their refunds
through the local economy, creating a ripple effect that exceeds the size of the
original refund. This money strengthens neighborhoods, assists small
businesses, and spurs local economic development. ISU Extension and
Outreach worked with community partners to recruit and train 60 volunteers to
provide free tax preparation services to low- and moderate-income families
through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. In 2013, VITA
volunteers working at 24 VITA sites helped 1,633 low- and moderate-income
Iowans complete their 2012 income tax returns. Special efforts were made to
increase awareness of the EITC and VITA in rural Iowa. As a result, 675 filers
qualified for the EITC and received $959,550 in the 25 counties that participated
in the extension-community partnerships to expand VITA programs in rural Iowa.
Ames Economic Development Commission
The Ames Economic Development Commission’s (AEDC) five-year plan focuses on
building key infrastructure, supporting business growth, and collaborating with Iowa
State University and the Research Park on new ventures. AEDC has also developed its
Workforce Development Initiative (WDI) that will target high-value projects and train
skilled workers for a variety of industries.
2. Please provide the following information for FY13: (If your institution utilizes additional
metrics specific to your institution’s specialized areas of research or service, please
include them here)
Note: Unless noted, the data provided below are FY13 data.
a. Number of disclosures of intellectual property: 98
b. Number of patent applications filed: 39
c. Number of patents awarded: 24
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d. Number of license and option agreements executed on institutional technologies,
in total and in Iowa: 79 total, 39 in Iowa
e. Number of license and option agreements yielding income: 173
f. Revenue to Iowa companies as a result of licensed technology: $45 million
(CY12)
g. Number of startup companies formed, in total and in Iowa (through licensing
activities): 2 total, 1 in Iowa
h. Number of companies in research parks and incubators: ISU Research Park: 40
private and 13 university-related; Plant Sciences Institute Innovations
Development Facility (IDF): 3 (all university-related or affiliated)
i. Number of new companies in research parks and incubators: ISU Research
Park: 3 private,0 university-related and 0 affiliates; Plant Sciences Institute IDF: 0
(university-affiliated)
j. Number of employees in companies in research parks and incubators: ISU
Research Park: 1009 private and 231 university-related; Plant Sciences Institute
IDF: 3 FTE (all university-related or affiliated)
k. Royalties and license fee income: $9.1 million
l. Total sponsored funding received: $326.4 million of which $193.8 million is for
research
m. Corporate sponsored funding received for research and economic development,
in total and in Iowa: $28.1 million total, $13 million in Iowa
n. Iowa special appropriations for economic development in the following
categories:
o Annual state appropriations for ongoing economic development programs
(such as research parks, SBDC, IPRT): $2.4 million—includes $936,345
SBDC (includes state-wide programs), $122,355 ISU Research Park, and
$1,365,602 IPRT
o Regents Innovation Fund appropriations: $1,050,000
o. Research expenditures (federal, state and local; business; nonprofit; institution
funds; all other sources): $261.0 million—Note that this is the FY12 total reported
to NSF for its Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey.
p. Licenses and options executed per $10 million research expenditures: 4 (est.)—
Note that this is an FY12 figure, the most recent number available.
q. Sales of licensed products by Iowa-based companies: See d. above
r. Number of employees for current Research Park tenants and incubators, as well
as former tenants that are still in existence in basic form world-wide: 3,802
3. Please describe the ways in which your institution is engaged in the following activities
(For example, what is the nature of the outreach and service activities? Which units
provide it? What kinds of people and organizations benefit?)
A. Direct and hands-on technical assistance to businesses and entrepreneurs
B. Direct economic development assistance to Iowa communities
C. Economic development services provided by research parks, incubators or similar
service units
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3A. Direct and Hands-on Technical Assistance to Businesses and Entrepreneurs
Iowa State Economic Development
ISU has developed a comprehensive system to foster innovation. Our focus is on the
transfer of university technologies into commercial applications in startup or existing
companies. Functions include:
? Business Development and Assistance and Entrepreneurial Activities: Efforts
related to startup companies, including business assistance services and
SBIR/STTR applications.
? Technical Assistance and Technology Development: Solving technical problems,
assisting in product development and process improvement projects for existing
businesses. This includes the current efforts of no-cost technical assistance and
cost-sharing projects.
? Industry Relations: Facilitation of a multitude of interactions between ISU and its
industry partners, including the management of research relationships and
interactions with economic development groups, legislative groups, and other
third parties.
? Community Development: To disseminate and develop programming, facilitating
community organizations, fostering community planning, and coordinating with
community and regional economic development networks and organizations.
? Technology Transfer and Licensing: The transfer of intellectual property
(patentable inventions, copyright works and proprietary materials) to business
and industry through license agreements.
? Physical Space: Physical space for business incubation is available in the ISU
Research Park, the Plant Sciences Institute’s Innovations Development Facility,
the Center for Crops Utilization Research, and the BioCentury Research Farm.
? Research and Instrumentation Facilities: Iowa State University maintains more
than 20 central research facilities that also serve communities and businesses on
a fee-for-service basis.
ServSafe
®
ISU Extension and Outreach nutrition and health specialists are registered instructors for
the National Restaurant Association’s Educational Foundation’s internationally
recognized food safety certification program. ISU Extension and Outreach specialists
have taught the ServSafe
®
food safety certification program for more than 15 years.
From J uly 1, 2012 through J une 30, 2013, more than 1,000 Iowans participated in
ServSafe
®
courses taught by ISU Extension and Outreach, with 90 percent successfully
earning certification. Participants are from commercial retail foodservices such as
restaurants and institutional operations such as hospitals and schools. Commercial
operations recognize the value of training staff in safe food handling procedures, as an
incidence of a foodborne illness can be devastating for business. In addition, promotion
that staff members are certified in food safety can be a marketing advantage as many
operations post these certificates. Proper preparation, holding, and service of food are
critical in any place where food is served. Many of participants work in operations that
serve those considered at greater risk of contracting a foodborne illness due to
compromised immune systems; food safety training can avoid costly medical expense.
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Technical Assistance for Startup Company
Harrisvaccines, located in the ISU Research Park, is a revolutionary animal health
vaccine company started in 2005 by Dr. Hank Harris, a College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences professor. The company turned to CIRAS to improve speed to market—
accelerating their transition from start-up to an established corporation. Prior to the
project, the company took eight to ten weeks to get a vaccine delivered. This decreased
to four to six weeks as a result of the technical assistance. This project leveraged
previous support from the ISU Research Park, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and the
Iowa Economic Development Authority.
$17M Impact Generated by Student Projects with Companies
Senior capstone design projects are the culmination of engineering education for
undergraduate students. Iowa companies, through a partnership between CIRAS and
the College of Engineering, provide students challenging opportunities to apply their
engineering knowledge to real-world applications as a final step in preparation for joining
the workforce.
By working with the students, companies gain a new perspective on difficult engineering
problems as well as the value engineers bring to an organization. As a result of the
projects, many companies achieve innovative solutions that lower costs and enhance
productivity. The ability to showcase the company and recruit engineering students
nearing graduation is an added benefit to the partnering businesses.
In addition to the senior capstone design projects, engineering students have worked
with companies on projects related to cellular lean, materials, and facility planning.
In 2012, students worked on 53 projects with 27 different companies. Companies
responding to surveys reported impact of more than $17 million for these projects.
$30 Million Impact Reported by Dyersville, IA, Manufacturer
ESAPCO, a manufacturer of fabric structures and greenhouses, in Dyersville, Iowa, saw
an immediate impact from changes made as a result of a productivity improvement
project with CIRAS. The company reported a $26M increase in sales and $3.9M in cost
savings.
Department of Commerce and Department of Defense Programs Assist Company
Quality Machine of Iowa increased sales by $1M due to combined expertise from two
CIRAS managed federal programs. This technical assistance was provided through the
Department of Commerce Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and the Defense
Logistics Agency Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) administered on
behalf of the Department of Defense. The Audubon, Iowa, company received technical
assistance in defense contract marketing skills, resulting in an award of a five-year
defense contract. Technical assistance in lean manufacturing techniques resulted in cost
improvements.
Applied Research Project on Company Worksite Wellness Program
With the upcoming implementation of the Affordable Care Act, understanding the impact
of a worksite wellness program is increasingly important. Through funding provided by
the Economic Development Administration University Center Program, CIRAS and
Human Sciences Extension and Outreach partnered to conduct a pilot worksite wellness
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program with three Iowa manufacturers: The Graphic Edge in Carroll, Timberline
Manufacturing, Inc., in Marion, and Rosenboom Machine & Tool in Sheldon.
Research suggests that worksite wellness programs can generate a return on
investment (ROI) of $4-8 per $1 invested as a result of increased productivity and
decreased absenteeism and healthcare claims. A goal of the pilot program is to examine
the ROI for Iowa employers.
This year, 60 employees from each of the three worksites were recruited to complete a
baseline health risk appraisal (HRA) as well as an emotional and financial assessment -
with 30 employees then randomly assigned to the control group, receiving no additional
programming, and 30 employees assigned to an intervention group, which completed a
6-month educational program.
In J anuary, 2014 the HRA will be repeated with the 60 employees to examine effects of
the program on the workers. Health claim information and absenteeism records will also
be collected. An analysis of the results will help companies make better informed
decisions about the ROI of wellness programs on the company’s bottom line as well as
the impact on employee well-being.
3B. Direct Economic Development Assistance to Iowa Communities
? Sustainable Economies Program
ISU Extension and Outreach CIRAS and Community and Economic
Development partnered to leverage $614,000 of state funding with $614,000 of
federal funding through a 3-year grant from the Economic Development
Administration University Center Program (EDA UCP). This Sustainable
Economies Program provided Regional Trade Centers (RTCs) in rural Iowa with
an in-depth economic assessment of the financial, social, and environmental
“triple bottom line” well-being of the region, coupled with technical assistance to
the critical organizations and businesses of the region.
Technical assistance was provided in the Carroll region, Lee County (Fort
Madison and Keokuk), Appanoose County (Centerville), and Cerro Gordo
County. Assistance helped these rural areas to better understand their economic
sustainability and provided support in taking steps to long-term prosperity. In
addition to the economic analysis, technical assistance projects were launched
within the communities and businesses participating in the program.
In 2012, more than 38 distinct clients were served with more than 400 regional
stakeholders attending planning meetings and sustainability sessions facilitated
by ISU Extension and Outreach focusing on the steps needed for long-term
success in the RTC. Stakeholders included participants from the business
sector, government, nonprofits, education, and interested citizens — uniting a
variety of existing programs to create a common set of goals and actions for their
region.
? Student Involvement in Business and Community Development
This year the Partnering Landscape and Community Enhancements (PLaCE)
program involved nearly 200 students in outreach projects in dozens of Iowa
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communities, including Mapleton, Cedar Rapids, Perry, Ottumwa, Des Moines,
Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, Audubon County, and Sioux City. The ILR Community
Visioning Program employed student interns to work in the Amana Colonies and
seven other communities, and the Community Design Lab employed several
interns to assist community design projects in Waukon, Maquoketa, and
Clarinda. Funding through the ISU Provost office also has led to the development
of the new Community Design Laboratory, providing a new venue for student
engagement with Iowa’s communities
? Regional, State and Local Partnerships with ISU Extension and Outreach
ISU Extension and Outreach maintains partnerships and shares joint community
development specialist positions with the Chamber of Commerce of Keokuk, the
City of Fairfield, the economic development organization of West Liberty (WE-
LEAD), the development organization of Cedar County (CCEDCO) and the
regional development organization of Southwest Iowa (SWICO). Each of the
local economic development positions are jointly funded by ISU Extension and
Outreach and a local partner for which the person serves as a local development
official who provides economic development education part time.
ISU Extension and Outreach has established a unique partnership with the City
of Dubuque and the University of Wisconsin to create a joint faculty position
specializing in community planning and leadership. This partnership has resulted
in a joint faculty hire who is located in Dubuque but serves both Wisconsin and
Iowa. The agreement and joint appointment is one of the first of its kind in the
country between two land-grant institutions. The person was hired at the rank of
associate professor and is tenured at Iowa State University. Each state extension
system pays half the associated costs. The research and extension programming
focuses upon community leadership development extension education, and
community leadership in response to natural disasters.
ISU Extension and Outreach cosponsors a joint educational position with the
Iowa League of Cities, focusing upon local government finance. J oint
programming coordinated through this position included the Iowa state municipal
clerks institute and webinar series on tax incremental financing attended by more
than 500 across the state.
In part because of collaborations with cities and organizations, and direct
extension education and applied research assistance, ISU Extension and
Outreach leveraged more than $130 million in local grants, infrastructure
development, local staff time, volunteer time, and loans within the communities
served.
? Iowans Walking Assessment Logistics Kit (I-WALK)
First offered in 2010, I-WALK is a partnership of the Iowa Department of Public
Health and ISU Extension and Outreach. The goal of I-WALK is to develop
community coalitions and provide them with relevant, local information to help
them continuously update, implement, and evaluate the infrastructure and
programs to support a more walkable, healthy, and safe community. I-WALK has
a heavy emphasis on data collection and analysis, with the goal of providing
communities with the up-to-date information and data analysis necessary to
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assist with identifying priorities that will make the best use of the limited financial
resources available. To date, 31 sites representing 41 communities have
participated in the program. More than 2,300 surveys have been completed in
which 2,500 locations of barriers/opportunities were mapped. Teachers
submitted 650 teacher tallies to formulate a baseline to use in grant applications,
and more than 500 residents attended GPS workshops to collect infrastructure
data. These GPS workshops yielded data for more than 8,200 midblock
sidewalks, 5,300 intersections, and 2,500 additional features – all information for
which the communities had no mapped data. In 2013 I-WALK was expanded and
now includes assessment programs for both Safe Routes to Schools and Older
Adults. More than 350 citizens have joined local coalitions, and although it often
takes several years for efforts to materialize, several communities have used the
generated data to submit grant proposals—a few of which have already been
successful and will result in new infrastructure being built—to develop local
programs (such as the Walking School Bus) and to develop plans for new
sidewalks and trails to be constructed in the future.
? Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning Program
Since 1996 the Community Visioning Program has helped rural communities plan
transportation enhancements using state funds from the Iowa DOT. To date, 200
Iowa towns have completed the process and collaborated with design teams to
create conceptual transportation enhancement plans. Documented impacts of
the program since 1996 include the following:
• Ninety-four percent of participating communities complete at least one
project.
• Internet research of state funding shows that to date, 124 visioning
communities received funding from five state programs to do 285 projects.
Seventy-seven percent of the projects were directly related to visioning
concept plans and 27 percent were not directly related to the program.
• Nearly $30 million has been awarded to communities that have participated in
community visioning.
• Estimated cash matches from awardees exceed $12.6 million for an
estimated $42 million generated.
For example, since completing the Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning
process in 2012, the city of Manning has started the process of implementing
concepts proposed through the visioning process, including new entrance
signage, roadside plantings along Highway 141, Main Street improvements, and
trail amenities. Estimated completion times for the signage and roadside
plantings are Summer 2013 and Spring 2014, respectively.
(http://www.manningia.com/current-projects.html).
? Mapleton Rebuild and Recover
The fall 2012 landscape architecture community design studio worked with the
Mapleton Rebuild and Recover Committee and Foundation to identify landscape-
based strategies for Mapleton’s long-term recovery. In 2011, more than half of
the community was damaged by a Category 3 tornado. Students conducted
focus groups, surveys, interviews, and mapping workshops with Mapleton
residents to gain a better understanding of the needs and desires of the
community. Based on the information they gathered, the class developed a
21
series of project proposals that address community infrastructure, renewable
energy, recycling existing resources, and new uses for open spaces—including
those created by the tornado. Since the completion of the studio, Mapleton
applied for and was accepted to the 2013 Iowa’s Living Roadways Community
Visioning Program through which they are continuing with transportation
enhancement planning. Mapleton also applied for and was accepted to the 2013
Iowa’s Living Roadways Projects Program to do roadside planting, which was
completed in spring 2013.
? Fairfield Receives Environmental Excellence Award
Fairfield was one of three communities picked by Alliant Energy to participant in
Alliant’s Hometown Rewards efficiency program. CED sustainability specialist
Scott Timm organized the program in Fairfield. Participation resulted in Fairfield’s
residential customers reducing their energy use by about 8.5 percent and
commercial customers cutting energy use by about 8 percent. Because of the
program, Fairfield earned Governor Terry Branstad’s Environmental Excellence
Award for Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy. Since early 2012, 1,800
volunteer hours have been spent planting trees at various locations in town. With
a $1,000 grant from Home Depot, volunteers led by Timm weatherized 22
homes, half of which belong to military veterans. An energy-efficient Habitat for
Humanity house is currently under construction.
3C. Services Provided—ISU’s Key Units Engaged in Economic Development
The Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development has worked
closely with all of the key units previously mentioned, including the Office of the Vice
President for Extension and Outreach, in promoting the University’s mission related to
economic development and technology transfer. University administration has made
some strategic changes for rapid expansion of the university’s economic development
efforts.
? President Steven Leath appointed Michael Crum the new Senior Policy Adviser
on Economic Development to work with internal and external groups. In addition
to representing Iowa State on economic development boards, he'll work to
strengthen coordination with constituents that include those boards, business
associations, government agencies, communities and foundations. Crum will
serve as a gateway for Iowa's business community to the expertise and business
services offered through Iowa State.
? The ISU Research Park now reports directly to the President’s Office, to allow
the university to be more aggressive and more nimble in pursuing partnerships.
? The Iowa legislature this past spring invested $7.5 million to support Iowa State's
Leading the Bioeconomy initiative. The investment is being used to leverage
ISU’s student education and to conduct research that strengthens Iowa's
bioeconomy and leads to new biosciences jobs in the state of Iowa. The initiative
will invest $2.25 million to expand the Biorenewables Laboratory and the
BioCentury Research Farm, providing new equipment, facilities and capabilities
that both create discoveries and translate those discoveries into successful
commercial processes. The initiative will invest $2.75 million to expand work in
eight new and existing research projects. Another $1.45 million will be used to
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renovate three existing laboratories: the Animal Science Nutrition Laboratory, the
Livestock Health and Feed Efficiency Laboratory and the High Throughput Mass
Spectrometry Laboratory. Iowa State will use $500,000 to attract high caliber
graduate students interested in the biorenewables field. This initiative will
strengthen the university's research programs by awarding 12 one-year graduate
fellowships in 2014, and support Iowa's bioeconomy workforce by offering new
specialized courses in biorenewables.
Iowa State will invest $600,000 ($200,000 each) in efforts to build partnerships
with companies and agencies on biosciences research projects; establish an
industrial liaison office to work with Iowa biosciences companies; and expand the
Biobased Foundry program of technological entrepreneurship.
The following units are the key units that focus attention on economic development and
technology transfer at ISU; however, significant additional activity also occurs across
campus in individual academic departments, centers and institutes, and colleges.
Iowa State University Research Park
The Iowa State University Research Park is a 230-acre development with over 446,000
square feet of building space and is located south of the Iowa State University campus.
Iowa’s governor and legislators provided $12 million in funding to support a new building
in the Iowa State University Research Park. The new facility will bring together formerly
scattered services and agencies that support technology transfer and economic
development, Construction of the new building is expected to be completed within the
next three years. Currently, the Research Park offers two types of incubator facilities.
• Biotech Wet-lab Incubator: ISU Research Park houses an 8,000 sq. ft. wet-lab
incubator facility. The incubation facility provides laboratory space for the growth
and development of start-up, spin-off and established biotechnology companies.
Features include:
• Technology Incubator: The Technology Incubator identifies early-stage, tech-
based concepts and businesses and aids in economic development and
technology transfer. This provides an environment for growth by helping develop
viable business plans and secure financial backing. To date, the Technology
Incubator has supported over 80 start-up companies. To qualify, businesses
must be Iowa companies formed under Iowa law, in the pre-venture capital stage
of development, show potential for growth and development as an Iowa
company, be based on a technology and related to ISU research and/or research
services.
Innovations Development Facility (IDF). This is a business incubator operated by the
Plant Sciences Institute to promote the commercialization of plant biotechnology. IDF
encourages ISU faculty, staff, and students to commercialize their research in the plant
sciences and promotes the development of startup companies among aspiring
entrepreneurs. IDF is housed in the Roy J . Carver Co-Laboratory and consists of six
well-equipped laboratory modules and three office spaces. The facility offers an
environment to transition research from a university to a business setting. The IDF
facility is a productive research location where scientists from academe and industry can
work together to advance the mission of the Plant Sciences Institute and to promote
economic development in Iowa.
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Institute for Physical Research and Technology (IPRT)
Through IPRT Company Assistance, Iowa companies can leverage the expertise of the
IPRT research centers and other ISU capabilities in order to solve technical problems,
create new products and processes, and increase productivity and quality. IPRT
Company Assistance provides help through both its R&D cost-sharing program and
through short-term, no-cost technical assistance. IPRT actively collaborates with Iowa
companies on technology development projects. Many successful businesses have
emerged from IPRT technologies, including Mechdyne of Marshalltown and BodyViz of
Ames. In addition, startup companies such as Iowa Powder Atomization Technologies of
Ames and Avello Bioenergy of Boone have received assistance from IPRT and are
showing great commercial potential.
The staff members of the Materials Group and the Nondestructive Evaluation Group
within Company Assistance provide significant and broad expertise to help Iowa
manufacturers address material and inspection issues. These programs offer state-of-
the-art capabilities to businesses, and both groups have expanded their capabilities and
facilities to keep pace with research advances and modern industrial needs. This
direction allows them to interact with various industrial clients and tackle an increasingly
wide range of challenges.
The Research Cost-Sharing Program is available to Iowa companies for pursuing
research conducted at ISU. The program, offered through IPRT Company Assistance
and funded by the state, provides an effective yet inexpensive way to access the
facilities, expertise, and knowledge of the faculty and professionals working at Iowa
State. Through the Cost-Sharing Program companies can receive 1:1 cash matching on
their research projects.
The Virtual Reality Applications Center (VRAC) is an interdisciplinary research center
under IPRT whose primary focus is developing computer interfaces that integrate virtual
environments, wireless networking, pervasive computing and third generation user
interface devices to amplify the creativity and productivity of people. Research facilities
at VRAC assist companies in addressing a diverse range of challenging problems
spanning science, engineering, and the humanities.
Small Business Development Center at ISU (SBDC) and Pappajohn Center for
Entrepreneurship
These units work with researchers to define the technologists' role in the company,
evaluate markets, assist in the creation of a business plan and help the company
develop connections with a network of business resources including consultants,
accountants, attorneys, prospective employees and investors. In a typical year, the
Pappajohn Center, working with IPRT, the Plant Sciences Institute, ISURF/OIPTT and
other research centers, identifies approximately 25 prospective new technologies. These
technologies can take six to 26 months to develop sufficiently to justify the formation of
businesses. During this time the researcher receives business development assistance
from, the Small Business Development Center and Pappajohn Center for
Entrepreneurship to move the technology from the researcher's bench to the
marketplace. The Pappajohn Center helps the researcher develop the model for the
business and establish the network of resources necessary to implement the plan.
These resources can include business assistance, students or capital. The Pappajohn
24
Center/SBDC also continues to provide a referral network and facilitates the recruitment
of students including access to internships.
ISU Research Foundation (ISURF) and the Office of Intellectual Property and
Technology Transfer (OIPTT). ISURF owns and ISURF and OIPTT jointly manage,
market, and license the intellectual property for Iowa State University. ISURF/OIPTT
works with faculty members in regard to the reporting and protection of innovations,
including patenting inventions. It markets the innovations to find commercial partners
interested in licensing. ISURF also provides assistance to Iowa companies, including
ISU faculty startups with SBIR and STTR applications. An FY13 reorganization brought
the team responsible for negotiating industry-sponsored research agreements into
OIPTT to more closely coordinate efforts to build public-private relationships.
? Iowa State University and the University of Iowa began offering a new research
sponsorship option in 2013 that allows industry to pre-negotiate exclusive
licenses to breakthroughs that grow out of their partnerships with university
researchers. The new option spurs increased partnerships between Iowa’s
Regents universities and industry by giving companies more tools to protect their
research investments, and increase the rate of technology transfer to the private
sector.
? The ISU Research Foundation hired a part-time Entrepreneur in Residence, Kurt
Heiar. The intent is that his experience as a private sector CEO and entrepreneur
will assist university efforts to move technology into the marketplace and create
jobs for Iowans. He assists faculty and researchers; builds databases of investor,
state and corporate contacts who will assist ISU companies; helps young ISU-
affiliated companies and fledgling entrepreneurs overcome problems to keep
them moving forward; presents guest lectures to classes and student
organizations; and reviews existing technologies at ISU to help determine which
have business viability.
Extension and Outreach Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) helps
companies grow and prosper. The CIRAS mission is to improve the quality of life in Iowa
by enhancing the performance of industry through applied research, education, and
technical assistance. CIRAS has been working with companies in communities across
Iowa for 50 years and has a vision for Iowa of healthy communities through business
prosperity. Because multiple resources are necessary to meet the needs of Iowa
businesses, CIRAS partners with Iowa's universities, community colleges, government
agencies, and business associations throughout the state.
? Account managers meet with clients to assess needs and provide links to
resources that companies can use to increase their competitiveness. Solutions
are offered through a combination of direct assistance from center staff,
university faculty, partner organizations, and outside consultants.
? CIRAS staff has expertise in •engineering •innovation •government contracting
•productivity •management practices •safety •supply chain management •
sustainability •quality management •community-business economic
development.
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? Service to industry includes technical assistance and applied research in
conjunction with ISU College of Engineering labs; regional economic
development studies to better understand rural economies; development of
company transformational plans for profitable growth; and educational workshops
and mentoring for small to medium sized businesses.
? CIRAS manages the statewide National Institute of Standards and Technology’s
Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a program of the
Department of Commerce. The objective of the MEP program is to be a catalyst
for strengthening American manufacturing — accelerating its ongoing
transformation into a more efficient and powerful engine of innovation driving
economic growth and job creation. Through this program, CIRAS provides small
to medium sized companies with the training, tools, and connections to
accelerate innovation, leading to new opportunities in domestic and export
markets.
? The Defense Logistics Agency, on behalf of the Department of Defense,
administers the Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP). The
purpose of the program is to generate employment and to improve the general
economy by serving as a resource for businesses pursuing and performing under
contracts with the Department of Defense, other federal agencies, state and local
governments and with government prime contractors. CIRAS is responsible for
this program in the state of Iowa. Staff helps businesses determine if they are
suitable for government contracting, provides workshop training and outreach
events, assists businesses with capturing government sales, and provides post
award contract assistance.
? CIRAS manages the Economic Development Administration (EDA) University
Center Program in Iowa. The EDA’s mission is to lead the federal economic
development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing
American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. CIRAS was
awarded a three-year grant to develop and implement the Sustainable
Economies Program. This program integrated detailed economic studies with
financial, social, and environmental technical assistance to communities and
businesses in rural trade centers across Iowa. This integrated, scientific-based
approach to sustainability and the triple bottom line helped the businesses,
communities, and overall regional economy begin the process of reliable, long-
term growth.
Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension and Outreach provides unbiased,
research-based information and education to agricultural professionals to grow the
economic base of Iowa agriculture. Extension and Outreach educates Iowans about
local actions to produce a safe, sustainable, accessible, and affordable food supply for
the state, the nation, and the world. Programs address all segments of the food supply
chain, from productive capacity of Iowa’s agricultural and human resources, to
production and processing technology, market functions, and management.
Programming also includes accessibility, affordability, and safety to reduce food
insecurity of Iowa families. Assessment, analysis, and education are provided on a
broad scope and scale of Iowa’s food system.
26
? Commercial agriculture production programs provide research-based information
and education on economically viable commercial production of commodity crop
and livestock producers. Field days, research reports, webinars, meetings, peer
groups, decision support software, and on-farm research and consultation help
farmers and agribusinesses stay current on latest trends and technologies to
improve efficiency and sustainability. Emphasis is placed on long-term
economically and environmentally optimal production systems.
? Protecting Iowa’s natural resources is essential to a sustainable agriculture
based economy and for quality of life for all Iowans. Education, demonstration,
and information programming address management decisions effecting farmed
and natural landscapes as they relate to soil and water quality, conservation
practices, tree management, recreational activities, energy efficiency, certification
programs, and connecting youth and families with nature.
? Global market conditions and increasing climate volatility contribute to increased
risk for farmers. Educational programming and decision support software provide
farmers with methods to evaluate market conditions, government programs, crop
insurance, farm leasing arrangements, and how production systems impact risk
exposure.
? Financial management of farm businesses has a significant impact on long-term
sustainability, growth, and overall success. Programs address economic
decisions for crop and livestock production, land management and values,
machinery investments, and human resource management. The farm population
is aging and facing decisions about their retirement and estate and the next
generation of farmers. Programs address the needs of new farmers and estate
planning for farm families and tax and estate professionals.
? Local food production is rapidly growing in the Midwest to address the increasing
demand for locally produced fruits, vegetables, and animal products. These
farming operations typically are smaller with lower capital and provide
opportunities for new farmers to get started or existing farms to diversify their
operation. Programs address strategic and tactical decisions, as well as the day-
to-day production and marketing decisions for these farms.
Community and Economic Development Extension and Outreach helps
organizations and local governments develop and build their capacity to make Iowa
communities better places to live and work.
? Extension and Outreach community and economic development specialists
provide skills training each year for more than 40,000 community leaders, local
government officials, business owners, entrepreneurs and volunteers.
? Community sustainability services focus on helping organizations and individuals
meet the needs of the present without sacrificing the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs. These services provide communities, economic
developers, individuals, and businesses with the tools to manage the financial,
social, and environmental issues they face to ensure success in the long run.
27
? CD-DIAL (Community Development — Data, Information, and Analysis
Laboratory) works with communities and organizations to build decision-making
capacity as they collect and use information about their local population. Iowa
Community Indicators Program provides Web-based information products such
as local retail trade analysis and demographic and economic indicators. Regional
trade center analysis provides an in-depth economic assessment of the financial,
social, and environmental "triple bottom line" well-being of a regional trade
center.
? The Community Visioning Program empowers local leaders through a planning
process that results in a transportation enhancement plan reflecting the values
and identity of the community. Community tourism assessments help
communities learn how their current tourism assets and readiness place them
within today’s tourism marketplace. In addition, they receive recommended steps
for building tourism as a community economic tool.
Human Sciences Extension and Outreach provides research-based information and
education to help families make decisions that improve and transform their lives.
? Programming focuses on activities and projects to help Iowans live healthier lives
through improved healthy behavior and physical health, and enhanced family,
work, and community environments. Programs address caregiving for the aging
population, community health, financial health, nutrition and physical health, and
parenting.
? Specialists help individuals, families, communities, professionals, and
organizations assess their health and well-being needs; provide training, tools,
and resources to meet those needs; and evaluate the impacts of these efforts to
help Iowa reach the Governor’s goal of becoming the healthiest state in the
nation by 2016.
? Human Sciences Extension and Outreach addresses emerging issues that affect
the economic viability of Iowa families. Specialists help unmarried parents or
parents in unstable relationships who have young children to build the knowledge
and skills necessary to form and sustain healthy family and co-parenting
relationships. The Planning Your Financial Future program helps child care
providers manage their money and plan for retirement. Interactive workshops are
designed to increase consumer knowledge and self-confidence in making health
insurance decisions, so consumers can meet both their health insurance needs
and budget.
4-H Youth Development prepares Iowa’s young people for future careers. One in every
five Iowa youth develops communication, citizenship, leadership and life skills by
participating in 4-H programs.
? Extension programs that engage Iowa youth in science, technology, engineering
and math activities build skills to ensure that more students are well equipped to
be knowledgeable citizens and begin college or career training prepared for
success.
28
? K-12 outreach programming connects Iowa children and youth with Iowa State
University’s knowledge and research base to help them reach their full potential.
Education and positive youth development experiences are offered on campus,
within counties, and out of state.
? K-12 outreach includes both 4-H Youth Development programs as well as
outreach partnerships through the Iowa State colleges. These experiences help
youth get excited about learning and discover new career choices.
? Youth are challenged to actively pursue education beyond high school and build
skills that improve their communities today. Programs are delivered through
volunteers, community-based partners, educators, and county staff. Specialists
assess youth programming needs, train adults who implement quality
educational programs and experiences, ensure safe environments, and evaluate
programs.
4. Please briefly describe two or three examples of major economic development
collaborative projects with such other entities as Regent universities, Iowa
community colleges, the Iowa Department of Economic Development, Iowa
Workforce Development, or other state agencies.
Major Economic Development Collaborative Projects
NSF EPSCoR
Iowa EPSCoR, a $22 million NSF-supported effort of the three Regent university
partners to boost the state’s research capacity in renewable energy and energy
utilization, aims to make impacts far beyond the universities’ research labs. A Future
Leaders in Advancing Renewable Energy (FLARE) Institute has been established. The
statewide institute is designed to develop a skilled and diverse workforce that can meet
the needs of Iowa’s emerging green economy. The program works with Iowa’s
community colleges to strengthen their courses in science, technology, engineering, and
math. And, the program is working to identify effective strategies for encouraging women
and underrepresented minorities to enter science and technology fields. Iowa EPSCoR
is also making connections with industry and policy leaders across the state and the
country.
STEM education
Iowa State University is one of six Iowa STEM hubs selected by the Governor’s STEM
Advisory Council in May. Each STEM network hub will work with business, education
institutions, non-profit groups and others in their region in a way that best fits local
needs, interests and resources. The hubs will provide more equitable statewide access
to outstanding Iowa STEM education programs.
Proof of Concept Initiative
In a collaborative effort with the Iowa Innovation Corporation, Iowa State has established
an initiative that focuses on increasing the transfer of technology while reducing the time
to commercialize. Technology development and business development occur in parallel
29
by engaging staff from the ISU Research Foundation, the ISU Research Park, the
Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, and technology experts. This initiative provides
a single, visible interface for faculty, staff, and students seeking state-supported
research funding opportunities and provides simplified, coordinated communication.
More information appears in Appendix 1 of this report.
State-wide committees
Many people from ISU serve on committees that promote economic development
programs, such as the Iowa Innovation Council, the Iowa Innovation Corporation, the
Biosciences Alliance of Iowa, the Iowa Innovation Council’s Iowa Advanced
Manufacturing Committee, Iowa Meat Processors Association, Institute of Food
Technologists-Iowa Section, the Iowa Lean Consortium, the Partnership for Industrial
Energy Efficiency, Professional Developers of Iowa, the Iowa Business Council, the Iowa
Alliance for Wind Innovation and Novel Development (IAWIND), Innovate Iowa!, and
Capital Crossroads.
5. Please provide the following information about Grow Iowa Values Fund projects for
FY 2013:
A. Identify and briefly describe each project or initiative which received GIVF funding in
FY 2013 including information on outcomes or progress made
B. Identify metrics which were used to measure outcomes for each project and report
progress on each metric for FY 2013
C. Provide a description of the sources of the matching institutional dollars for each
GIVF-funded project
The Regents Innovation Fund (formerly Grow Iowa Values Fund [GIVF]) program has a
competitive research component that pairs ISU faculty members with Iowa industries to
create economic benefit for the companies. See Appendix 1 for a complete report.
6. Optional: If desired, please include observations regarding:
A. Availability of startup and venture capital for technology entrepreneurs
B. Suggestions for new programs or activities that could further enhance the impact of
university technology transfer and service on creation of jobs and wealth in Iowa.
6A. Availability of startup and venture capital for technology entrepreneurs
The Values Funds to the universities have provided a valuable source of funding for
proof of concept/early-stage development funding for the innovations that will become
the next generation of businesses. Iowa State University has established a Proof of
Concept Initiative (POCI) to fill a portion of the funding gap created by the loss of Values
Funds. The POCI provides early-stage funding and commercialization assistance to
researchers with promising discoveries.
Iowa has multiple seed funds, most of which are regional with varying capabilities or
capacity to make investments. The Wellmark Fund has also provided early-stage capital
to early-stage companies.
30
There remain several challenges to overcome. There are very few true venture capital
firms located in the state of Iowa actively investing funds at this point in time. Iowa
continues to suffer from a lack of investment capital to start up and rapidly grow
technology and innovation-based firms. In addition, each fund has a particular focus, the
investment profile further limiting choices and resulting in very little competition. Most
venture firms invest with other venture firms, one as lead with the others in secondary
positions to spread risk and assure the ability to continue to fund the needs of the
company, and this is a major problem in Iowa. Firms must look outside the state for
significant investments of more than $5 million. As always, really good businesses with
really good management teams will attract money; developing experienced and skilled
management teams remains a major challenge. Iowa State works with the Iowa
Innovation Council and Iowa Economic Development Authority to identify breaks in the
small business support system and to build supports in those areas.
6B. Suggestions for new programs or activities that could further enhance the
impact of university technology transfer and service on creation of jobs and
wealth in Iowa.
Restoration of funds for economic development and technology transfer activities due to
budget cuts in the past several years would greatly enhance the University’s efforts in
this area. The following is a summary of what benefits would occur if funds were
restored in the units affected by budget cuts.
? Small Business Development Centers. The SBDC helps its clients generate
new taxes for the Iowa treasury in the form of income taxes on new jobs and
sales taxes on increased sales. During the last full program year ending
September 30, 2012, SBDC clients generated a total of $2,300,400 in new taxes,
resulting in a return on investment of $1.72 for every Iowa tax dollar expended on
the program. In addition, the SBDC helped clients avoid eliminating through
layoffs or firm closings 524 jobs, resulting in a savings of unemployment
compensation benefits of $2,197,043. Additional state support to SBDC would
increase the state’s return on investment and retain Iowa jobs.
? Iowa State University Research Park. Any new funds to the ISU Research
Park would be utilized to support costs associated with the planned expansion of
the Park as well as to increase marketing efforts to attract new tenant
companies.
? Institute for Physical Research and Technology (IPRT). The need for IPRT’s
expertise by Iowa industries is rapidly growing. Over 75% of the Iowa
manufacturers that IPRT serves have fewer than 100 employees. This means
that Company Assistance’s typical industrial client will likely not have the needed
expertise internally to address its material and inspection issues.
The Materials Group of the IPRT economic development program provides short-
term technical assistance to Iowa manufacturers at no cost to the user, and this
is often the first interaction that manufacturers have with the University.
Additional funding would allow for growth of materials assistance, enhancing the
program’s delivery of services. The unit seeks to offer a wider scope of services
that directly meet the needs of Iowa manufacturers, such as in areas of IT and
biotech.
31
The Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Group functions similarly to the Materials
Group in that short-term technical assistance is provided to Iowa manufacturers
on a no-cost basis. The focus of the NDE Group is to assist companies in areas
of inspection and quality control. To that end, the NDE Group serves as an
unbiased source of information, offering clients a broad range of expertise in
various inspection methodologies. Manufacturers often do not have staff
acquainted with these capabilities, so the NDE Group in effect complements the
engineering capabilities of their clients. The unit assists client companies in
addressing problem areas, ensuring product development and quality. This
assistance requires robust budget support to maintain the needed flexibility to
successfully address the wide range of industrial concerns.
The Company Assistance Research Cost-Sharing Program administers cost-
sharing contract research projects, working with Iowa’s small to medium-sized
manufacturers. These small companies have very limited R&D dollars and
facilities. Additional funding would help Company Assistance to leverage Iowa
companies’ limited resources. These are projects that impact the economy by
introducing new products, addressing manufacturing processes, and improving
quality. All of these areas strengthen Iowa's global competitiveness in the
manufacturing sector.
A unique feature of the economic development program in IPRT is the active
participation of scientists from internationally renowned ISU centers such as the
Center for Nondestructive Evaluation, the Virtual Reality Applications Center, and
the Center for Catalysis. These centers have excellent track records of spinning
off new Iowa startup companies in the areas in which they excel. Additional state
funding to IPRT units would have a rapid positive impact on Iowa’s
manufacturing sector. An investment now would result in continuing benefits to
Iowa’s companies, important opportunities to retain our brightest students, and
new startup companies based on increased technology transfer from IPRT
centers.
? ISU Extension and Outreach Center for Industrial Research and Service
(CIRAS) has successfully leveraged its state budget to bring in additional federal
grants and fees to expand technical assistance, education programs, and
economic development studies to support Iowa businesses. In FY13 CIRAS
helped generate an additional $1.39 of external funds for each $1 of state funds
provided, yielding approximately $3 million of additional funding. More than $1
million of CIRAS grant funds were distributed to other business outreach units on
campus and to community colleges to help them expand their work with Iowa
companies.
For every $100,000 of additional state funds that are made available, CIRAS
would be able to leverage the funds to bring in an additional $150,000 from
grants and fees and hire two new business professionals to provide services in
the areas of engineering, biorenewables, energy systems, management
practices, government contracting, productivity, growth services, supply chains,
quality systems, and community-business economic development. These two
staff would help create nearly 50 jobs and $5,000,000 of new sales, cost savings,
and investment impact in Iowa companies.
32
? ISU Extension and Outreach works across ISU colleges and with external
partners to provide technical assistance, research-based education, and access
to the resources of ISU to improve the quality of life in the state. Iowans want an
economy that can form new businesses, grow existing industry, enhance
communities, and recruit companies to the state. With Iowa STEM jobs expected
to grow by 16% this decade, Iowans see the need to stop the “brain drain” and
take steps to develop the state’s future workforce, connecting youth with
opportunities here in Iowa. These are only a few of the basic needs and urgent
trends facing this state. ISU Extension and Outreach has the capability to
address these concerns with education for Iowa’s people, but needs additional
resources to operate at the full capacity required to meet these challenges.
• ISU Extension and Outreach work in economic development is growing
businesses and strengthening communities.
• ISU Extension and Outreach tackles food and environmental challenges by
supporting local actions to produce a safe, sustainable, and affordable food
supply.
• Programs for health and well-being are helping Iowa become the healthiest
state in the nation.
• Through K-12 youth outreach, ISU Extension and Outreach is preparing
Iowa’s young people for the future, including through one of our most
recognizable programs- 4-H.
ISU Extension and Outreach expects to leverage every $100,000 in new state funds with
$180,000 in new federal matching funds, grants, fees and gifts to generate a projected
$2.8 million of impact and 28 new jobs throughout Iowa. For every $100,000 of new
funds, an estimated three additional staff will be hired to address growing demands and
increase the depth and reach of work with families, businesses, and communities in all
99 counties across the state.
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
1
University of Northern Iowa
Annual Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report
FY 2013
Section 1. UNI’s Economic Development Activities to Enhance Economic Growth in Iowa
Capitalizing on the niche strengths of unique outreach programs, UNI is a reliable resource for
supporting Iowa’s economic development efforts. Each year, these programs strive to deliver
increasingly customized technical assistance, meeting the various needs of a statewide client
base. Specific service areas for UNI include: entrepreneurship, community and economic
development; market research; environmental research and service; sustainability; metal casting;
and new Iowans. The Business and Community Services (BCS) division houses a host of
programs that emphasize hands-on assistance to advance business, community and
entrepreneurial development. Serving clients in each of Iowa’s 99 counties, BCS programs
capitalize on the intellectual resources of the University to better meet Iowa’s economic
development needs. BCS strives to also engage the broader university community – the faculty,
staff and students – all of which play critical roles in providing practical assistance. Outcomes
realized by key economic development/technology transfer programs during FY 2013 include:
Overall
• Provided service in all 99 counties to more than 1,273 unique business, community and
local government clients with an additional 12,800 engaged in MyEnte.Net/
IASourceLink.
• Involved 212 faculty members and nearly 2,000 students in the delivery of these services.
• Leveraged each $1 invested by the state with $5 in private grants, fees or federal funding.
Entrepreneurship, Business Incubation and Technology Transfer
• UNI’s 2 incubator/accelerator programs and MyEntre.Net helped start or expand 221
ventures creating 430 FTE jobs.
• 12,800 individuals are now actively engaged in the MyEntre.Net online community.
• 60 innovators have graduated from the Innovation Incubator and 4
th
Street Incubator.
• MyEntre.Net provided on-demand business and market information to 302 businesses
through its new Business Concierge service; another 183 clients were served by the UNI
SBDC.
• 20 student businesses were tenants in the J ohn Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center’s R.J .
McElroy Student Business Incubator and 50 additional student entrepreneurs were
assisted by the affiliate program.
• One of the UNI J ohn Pappajohn Center’s student incubator tenants was selected as
National Student Entrepreneur of the Year by the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization.
• UNI faculty and staff submitted 10 new intellectual property disclosures.
• 2 patents were received and 4 new patents were filed.
• 2 new license agreements were approved and a total of 9 license agreements are currently
generating income.
• Completed the pilot year of Advance Iowa, the state’s certified economic gardening
center, by providing job growth assistance to 12 second-stage Iowa companies.
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
2
Waste Reduction, Environmental Assistance and the Bioeconomy
• Environmental technical assistance and on-site reviews were provided to 160 small
businesses.
• The GeoTREE program developed GIS applications to assist the Integrated Roadside
Vegetation Management program and assisted multiple state and local agencies with
geospatial mapping projects.
• Recycling and reuse project funding was provided to 42 companies and organizations;
another 170 businesses or individuals were provided testing assistance for products using
recycled materials.
• Buy Fresh, Buy Local participating restaurants and institutional buyers spent $2.65 million
on locally grown foods in 2012.
• Green Iowa AmeriCorps weatherized 404 homes and conducted 723 energy audits, saving
nearly $1.3 million in utility costs.
• The CEEE FREE loan program increased the understanding of energy for 12,225
students and 499 teachers. Eleven professional development workshops and classes
reached 195 teachers. The program conducted 9 workshops for 4 STEM Hubs.
• The Tallgrass Prairie Center distributed native prairie seeds to 55 Iowa counties as part of
its roadside vegetation project.
• The Tallgrass Prairie Center initiated a Plant Iowa Natives marketing program to increase
prairie plantings.
• NABL developed a microwave biobased grease manufacturing process and licensed the
technology to an Iowa company.
Local Economic Development
• The Institute for Decision Making (IDM) launched the Entrepreneurial Communities
project in two economically distressed communities.
• IDM conducted workforce assessments in eastern and western Iowa in partnership with
Iowa Workforce Development and community colleges.
• Community clients report creating approximately 1,500 jobs as a result of local economic
development technical assistance from IDM.
• Strategic planning and comprehensive technical assistance was provided to 39
community partners and 5 regional groups and has served 700 communities across Iowa.
• Restructuring of Iowa’s regions was led by IDM in collaboration with Professional
Developers of Iowa.
Advanced Manufacturing & Market Research
• UNI’s Metal Casting Center (MCC) provided custom technical assistance and outreach
services to 30 foundries and suppliers.
• Continued DOE-sponsored research was successfully completed by the MCC to enhance
the effectiveness of biobased foundry binders.
• Market research and competitive intelligence was provided to 9 Iowa companies and
Strategic Marketing Services (SMS) has assisted 271 Iowa companies.
• Market research clients of SMS report an average sales increase of 14%, due in part to
the competitive intelligence information provided by UNI.
• Customized painter training and testing was provided to 12 Iowa businesses by the Iowa
Waste Reduction Center.
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
3
Section 2. Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property
FY 2013
UNI
Number of disclosures of intellectual property 10
Number of patent applications filed 4
Number of patents awarded 2
Number of license and option agreements executed on institutional
intellectual property
2
Number of license and option agreements yielding income 9
Revenue to Iowa companies as a result of licensed technologies $2,230,000
Number of start-up companies formed, in total and in Iowa 78/78
Number of companies in research parks and incubators 28
Number of new companies in research parks and incubators 18
Number of employees in companies in research parks and incubators 64
Royalties/license fee income $75,839
Total sponsored funding $41,192,000
Corporate-sponsored funding for research and economic development
and revenue generation (excludes corporate philanthropy - all in Iowa)
$1,153,500
i. Annual appropriations for economic development
ii. Regents Innovation Fund
$574,716
$900,000
Section 3. Overview of UNI’s Economic Development Programs
UNI outreach services for community and economic development activities are outlined in a
table format on the following seven pages. The format provides a brief overview of each
program, its purpose, those served and outcomes. Together, the programs served 1,273 unique
businesses and organizations in the past year and another 12,800 individuals through the
MyEntre.Net entrepreneurial development system.
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
4
Section 3. Overview of UNI’s Economic Development Programs (continued)
Programs Services
Those Typically
Served
FY 2013 Results Cumulative Results
Institute for
Decision
Making (IDM)
Hands-on community
and economic
development
guidance and
research
Economic
development
organizations,
chambers, city
councils,
communities and
others
? Conducted in collaboration with IWD, the
Iowa Corridor Alliance Regional
Workforce Assessment
? Assistance and research provided to 39
community partners and 5 regional
development groups
? Launched initial Entrepreneurial
Communities Project
? Served 700 communities,
counties and groups in all of
Iowa’s counties to date
? Community clients report
1,500 – 2,000 new jobs
annually as a result of IDM
assistance
? Trained over 1,000 economic
development professionals
Iowa Waste
Reduction
Center (IWRC)
Free, confidential,
non-regulatory
environmental
assistance for small
businesses
Small businesses
throughout Iowa
? Environmental technical assistance and on-
site reviews were provided to 160 small
businesses
? Online resources were provided to 158
registered businesses and 60 businesses
were assisted in-person with Minor Source
Emission Inventory documentation
? Created educational materials and
developed interactive website to reduce the
amount of food waste going into Iowa
landfills
? Provided painter training and testing
services to 12 Iowa businesses
? Certified 421 military and contractor
painters at Cedar Falls facility and 10
satellite sites nationwide
? Provided 5,516 on-site
reviews to Iowa small
businesses
? Provided online resources to
315 businesses with Minor
Source Emission Inventories
? Certified 2248 military and
contractor painters
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
5
Section 3. Overview of UNI’s Economic Development Programs (continued)
Programs Services
Those Typically
Served
FY 2013 Results Cumulative Results
National Ag-
Based
Lubricants
(NABL) Center
Biobased lubricants
research &
development, testing
services laboratory,
development of
performance
standards, bio-
lubricant product
certification, and
lubricant mfg.
process research
Companies and
individuals
developing biobased
lubricants, traditional
lubricant companies,
and lubricant
consumers
? Provided fee-based testing services to
industry clients
? Completed first segments of field research
activity to support wide-spread market
adoption of biobased railroad greases
? Completed final tasks of 10-year federally
funded research & development project
? Accomplished advanced crop oil testing to
compile comprehensive catalog of
biobased oil & derivative properties for
future product formulation resource
? Licensed microwave-based
grease manufacturing
technology to industry
? Over 40 soy lubricants,
greases, metalworking fluids
and specialty lubricants
developed to date.
? A national testing and
certification center
established, leading the
nation’s biobased lubricants
industry
Strategic
Marketing
Services (SMS)
Market research and
analysis
Businesses,
entrepreneurs and
non-profit
organizations
? Market research and analysis services
were provided to 9 Iowa companies
? Since 1990, market research
and analysis services have
been provided to 271 Iowa
companies
New Iowans
Center (formally
the Iowa Center
for Immigrant
Leadership and
Integration
Iowa's leading
research, training and
consultation center on
the challenges and
opportunities
associated with the
state's rapidly
growing and
diversifying
immigrant and
refugee populations
Clients include
school districts,
health care providers,
law enforcement
agencies, first
responders, and
social service
providers
? Conducted research on ethnic disparities
and outcomes in Iowa's child welfare
system
? Delivered trauma-informed care for
children in Northwest Iowa
? Created early childhood initiatives for
diverse and underserved children
Trainings and consultations
include:
? Cultural responsive
health care
? Multilingual
communication for law
enforcement and first
responders
? Interpreter training
? Literacy
? Social marketing
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
6
Section 3. Overview of UNI’s Economic Development Programs (continued)
Programs Services
Those Typically
Served
FY 2013 Results Cumulative Results
J ohn Pappajohn
Entrepreneurial
Center (J PEC)
Research,
entrepreneurship
education, technology
transfer, and capital
investment programs
Students interested in
entrepreneurship,
UNI faculty and staff
entrepreneurs, new
ventures and rapidly
growing small
companies
? 171 K-12 students and 23 teachers were
served in FY13 with J PEC K-12 outreach
via presentations, workshops, and camps
? 1,858 businesses and individuals were
assisted through all JPEC programs
? 20 student businesses owners with 13
employees were provided space and
services in the student business incubator
? 50 student business owners were provided
services as part of the student business
affiliate incubator program
? From FY08 to FY13, 9,155
people were served by JPEC
programs
? The J PEC has provided 40
students with internships
through its CIPCO program
since FY05
? The J PEC Student Business
Incubator has provided space
to more than 60 business
owners since FY05
? The J PEC has consulted with
287 faculty and staff from
universities around the U.S.
and world on student
business incubation since
FY08
Metal Castings
Center (MCC)
and Center for
Advanced
Biobased
Foundry
Binders
(CABB)
Metal casting
technologies, applied
research, testing and
training
Iowa casting users,
foundries and
foundry suppliers
? Maintained active contracts with 24
companies, provided outreach projects to
2 Iowa foundries and technical assistance
to 30 additional foundries
? Conducted DOE-sponsored research into
bio-based foundry binders – 2 patents
submitted
? Sponsored commercialization of bio-based
foundry binders
? Collaborated with University of Iowa and
Iowa State on DOD-sponsored research
? Over 50 industry-funded
research projects have been
completed to date
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
7
Section 3. Overview of UNI’s Economic Development Programs (continued)
Programs Services
Those Typically
Served
FY 2013 Results Cumulative Results
Tallgrass Prairie
Center (TPC)
Research, techniques,
education and source-
identified seed for
restoration and
preservation of native
vegetation
Iowa counties, state
and federal agencies,
commercial native
seed producers, the
community, students,
educators, restoration
ecology discipline,
and others
? Continued Carex germination research
and agronomic production of Carex seed
? Continued research on biomass production
for electrical generation
? Continued research on wildlife response to
prairie biomass production
? Distributed native seed to 55 counties in
Iowa via federal transportation
enhancement funding
? Provided financial and in kind support
for Iowa Prairie Conference, 270
attendees
? Initiated a Plant Iowa Natives marketing
program in eastern Iowa
? Completed survey of prairie planting
techniques of Iowa counties
? More than 15,500 acres of
Iowa counties rights-of-way
have been restored to native
vegetation
? Completed publication of
Proceedings of 22
nd
North
American Prairie Conference
? Made research information
available to restoration.
ecology community
? Made Carex available to
native seed growers
? More than 100 acres of
prairie plantings on campus
Geoinformatics
Training,
Research,
Education and
Extension
Center
(GeoTREE)
Geospatial
technologies,
education, research,
and outreach
activities for federal,
state, local and tribal
agencies
Federal, state, local
and tribal (FSLT)
government agencies
(NASA), non-profits
? Worked with Dry Run Creek Watershed
coordinator, City of Cedar Falls, City of
Dubuque and UNI Facilities on urban
water quality issues
? Continued to host Cedar Falls Utilities
thermal web mapping application
? Developed web mapping application for
Iowa STEM program
? Developed web GIS application to assist
state Integrated Roadside Vegetation
Management Program
? Assisted with Interdisciplinary Research
Experience in Hyperspectral Imaging for
10 undergraduates
? Delivered greater than 60
terabytes of geospatial data
throughout all counties in
Iowa
? Provided free geospatial
software tools downloaded
by users throughout Iowa
and the world
? GeoTREE has provided 19
training and educational
workshops for approximately
560 federal, state, local and
tribal government staff
members
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
8
Section 3. Overview of UNI’s Economic Development Programs (continued)
Programs Services
Those Typically
Served
FY 2013 Results Cumulative Results
Regional
Business Center/
Entrepreneurship
Outreach,
Small Business
Development
Center,
Advance Iowa
Rural/ Urban
Entrepreneurship
development, online
entrepreneurship
resources, business
consulting, business
training, business
incubation
Small and medium
sized businesses,
entrepreneurs,
entrepreneurial
service providers,
community leaders
? Nearly 15,000 Iowans were served by an
RBC program or online resource; 2,793
small business owners were directly
served with MyEntre.Net resources:
1,240 participated in a webinar; 218
attended EntreFest
? A statewide program called Advance
Iowa was launched in J anuary. 12 firms
from every quadrant of the state received
an average of 36 hours of assistance
? The MyEntre.Net Business Concierge
provided business intelligence to 302
businesses with 702 hours of research.
? Dream Big Grow Here attracted 225
entrant and 350 attended the pitch off
events. More than 100,000 supporters
visited the site during the contests
? 16 companies were served in the
Innovation Incubator. Five new
companies enrolled, seven graduated and
46 new FTE jobs were created
? UNI SBDC served 183 small business
owners with 1:1 technical assistance
? MyEntre.Net online
network touches 12,400
twice monthly. A
partnership with Iowa
Economic Development
Authority rebranded the
MyEntre.Net site to
www.IASourcelink.com
? 4,440 small businesses
attended a Webinar since
2003
? 60 businesses have
graduated from the RBC
and Innovation
Incubators
? The Innovation Incubator
has generated 96 FTE
jobs since inception
? MyEntre.Net social
media reach grew to
3,580 across Facebook,
LinkedIn, Twitter, and
Pinterest
Materials
Innovation
Service (MIS)
Mechanical, physical
and chemical tests of
metals, polymers and
cementitious
materials
Serving Iowa
manufacturers and
suppliers
? Technical assistance provided to more than
168 individuals and testing contracts from
five companies
? Technical assistance or
testing provided to
approximately 160
individuals this year. More
than 2,000 hours of testing
provided since the
beginning of the program
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
9
Section 3. Overview of UNI’s Economic Development Programs (continued)
Programs Services
Those Typically
Served
FY 2013 Results Cumulative Results
Center for
Energy and
Environmental
Education
(CEEE)
Technical assistance,
educational programs
and leadership in
energy conservation
and renewable
energy,
environmental
conservation and
community-based
agriculture
Iowa cities, counties,
Iowa schools,
teachers, farmers,
businesses, elected
officials, state
agencies, community
leaders, citizen
organizations
? Green Iowa AmeriCorps members
weatherized 404 homes, performed 723
energy audits, engaged 1,683 volunteers,
and saved $1,269,500 in utility costs
? The CEEE FREE loan program
increased the understanding of energy for
12,225 students and 499 teachers.
? UNI Local Food Program facilitated the
formation of the Cedar Valley Community
Garden Network. Buy Fresh, Buy Local
participating restaurants and institutional
buyers in the Black Hawk County area
spent $2.65 million on locally grown foods
? Making Energy Use Visible Through
Neighborhood Competitions reached 70
Cedar Falls residents and provided
education to help them reduce their energy
use
? Get Energized Iowa energy reduction
competition among four small Iowa
communities engaged many of the 5,400
community members, educating themon
how to reduce their electric usage
? In 2013, CEEE's waste reduction
initiative reached 85 teachers and 70 pre-
service teachers. They, in turn, reached
about 2,000 students
? Since 1998, UNI’s Local
Food Program has
facilitated purchase of $18
million dollars worth of
locally grown fruits,
vegetables, meats, eggs and
dairy from hundreds of area
farmers by institutional food
buyers
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
10
Section 3. Overview of UNI’s Economic Development Programs (continued)
Programs Services
Those Typically
Served
FY 2013 Results Cumulative Results
Recycling and
Reuse
Technology
Transfer Center
(RRTTC)
Recycling and by-
products research,
education and
outreach
Serving Iowa
businesses the
recycling industry
and Iowa citizens.
? Outreach services and project research
related to recycling and reuse continues to
be an ongoing focus to the UNI campus,
the community and Iowa businesses
? Over 42 RRTTC funded
research projects. Over 170
reports and publications
available
? Outreach and services
provided to more than 2,600
individuals this year,
including business/industry,
K-12 students and teachers,
and Iowa citizens
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
11
Section 4: Grow Iowa Values Funding Projects
UNI’s 2013 Regents Innovation Funding Annual Report has been submitted and is on file with
the Board of Regents.
Section 5: Collaborative Projects
Metal Casting Center (MCC) Collaborates with Ames Laboratory, ISU and UI
• The MCC is collaborating with the Ames Lab at Iowa State University to investigate the
casting of aluminum castings with Ultra-hard boride-based matrix reinforcement.
• The MCC is collaborating with the University of Iowa on a project funded by the Iowa
Energy Center. UNI has been subcontracted to pour castings for UI and assist in the
determination of thermo physical properties of foundry insulating materials and a grant
awarded by the Iowa Energy Center to investigate Ablation casting of steel components.
IDM Collaborates with IEDA and PDI and Iowa Workforce Development
and MidAmerican Energy
• IDM, in collaboration with the Professional Developers of Iowa, Iowa Economic
Development Authority and Mid America Energy are working on the Regional
Development for Iowa 2.0 project. The objective of this project is to move Iowa’s
regional economic development efforts to the next level. This project is also intended to
provide a basis for analyzing the state’s economic regions to better understand intra-
regional economic relationships as well as the impact of the national and international
economic environment on Iowa’s economic regions.
• Creative Corridor Clusters Employment and Staffing Pattern Summary Study
IDM collaborated with Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) to complete the study
“Clusters Employment and Staffing Pattern Summary” to assist the Iowa City Area
Development Group (ICAD), Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, Kirkwood
Community College and other local economic development organizations in the Creative
Corridor Region to better understand the workforce needs of specific industries in order
to help existing and prospective businesses. The study contains a detailed review of the
region’s composition and labor characteristics within thirteen primary industry clusters
based on key employers in the region. Information from this project is being used to seek
community and employer input regarding the region’s workforce challenges and potential
workforce solutions for the region. The study describes the staffing patterns and skill
capabilities that are necessary to support our growing industrial base.
Iowa Waste Reduction Center Collaborates with State and National Partners
• The IWRC’s STAR4D painter training program continues to work with and be funded by
the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Corrosion Prevention and Control (CPAC)
office. CPAC provides oversight to the initiatives taken throughout the year, as well as
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
12
the subcontracts with Science Applications International Corporation and Vision Point
Systems. Initiatives include providing painter training to U.S. military base spray painters
and completing research and development projects.
• Beginning in October 2012, the IWRC began work on the Iowa Food Waste Reduction
Project, funded by an Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Solid Waste
Alternatives Program grant. The project consists of developing food waste reduction and
diversion resources and workshops in which the IDNR provides oversight to ensure grant
requirements are fulfilled.
Regional Business Center Partnerships Key to Success
• IASourceLink: UNI MyEntre.Net and the Iowa Economic Development Authority have
partnered to deliver one of the top SourceLink models in the nation to Iowa business
owners. Through collaborative outreach, additional state and national resource partners
have been recruited to assist in this exciting initiative - ISED Ventures, Women’s Business
Center, Iowa Department of Revenue, Technology Association of Iowa, Pappajohn
Entrepreneurial Center, Connect Iowa, Iowa Waste Reduction Center, U.S. SourceLink,
U.S. Small Business Administration, Iowa Small Business Development Centers, Iowa
Farm Bureau/Renew Rural Iowa, Iowa Area Development Group, Iowa Association of
Business and Industry, BizStarts, and more. Only eight months old, this new web portal has
achieved impressive results, including: almost 20,000 visitors, 888 direct interactions with
Iowa business owners via the MyEntre.Net Business Concierge and IEDA Business License
Information Center services. Additionally, 12 UNI MyEntre.Net powered webinars made
available on IASourecLink have attracted 519 attendees – an average of 40+business owner
attendees per online presentation.
• UNI MyEntre.Net Webinars: UNI MyEntre.Net has entered into a new collaborative effort
with the Iowa Department of Revenue to provide tax specific webinars to Iowa’s small
business community. The partnership has been hugely successful; attracting almost 200
attendees through just two presentations thus far (Iowa Sales Tax Basics & Sales Tax for
Landscaping Firms). On-going work together is anticipated, with future webinars scheduled
until the end of this calendar year and discussions to continue to cooperate into the fall of
2014.
• Dream Big Grow Here: UNI Entrepreneurship Outreach, the Iowa Bankers Association, the
Technology Association of Iowa, Renew Rural Iowa, the Iowa Economic Development
Authority, Delta Dental and eight regional economic development organizations statewide
are partnering to conduct the second Dream Big Grow Here contest. The first and second
years attracted more than 100,000 visitors and tens of thousands of online votes and
comments supporting Iowa small business owners. The number of regionally sponsored
contests represents two-thirds of all Iowa counties, and hundreds of small business
contestants are expected to compete for up to $15,000 in winnings.
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
13
Tallgrass Prairie Center Partners with Cedar Falls Utilities in Testing
Feasibility of Burning Prairie Plants for Electrical Generation
• As a part of a project to determine maximum productivity of prairie biomass for burning
for electrical generation, the Tallgrass Prairie Center teamed with Cedar Falls Utilities to
gain experience in preparing prairie vegetation for burning and determining energy yield
from burning. The prairie biomass was harvested by baling material from the TPC test
plots, partially ground onsite by Vermeer Corporation of Pella and trucked to Pellet
Technology of Gretna, Nebraska for further grinding and pelletizing. A test burn was
conducted at Cedar Falls Utilities on February 27 and 28. For comparative purposes corn
stover was burned the first day and 40.13 tons of prairie biomass was burned the second
day. The test burn was conducted under the direction of Tim Titus of Comprehensive
Emission Services, Inc. and Cedar Falls Utilities. This was a very useful project for
examining various steps in the field to furnace process and in providing an indication of
the energy potential of prairie biomass.
Center for Energy and Environmental Education (CEEE) \
• CEEE is working with ISU Extension in Black Hawk and surrounding counties to
strengthen commerce around local foods and as well as creating a network of
community-run gardens to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
• CEEE collaborated with University of Iowa Flood center in raising awareness of factors
leading to the floods of 2008, and the importance of better planning to significantly
reduce damage due to floods of the future.
Section 6. Suggestions for New or Expanded Programs to Enhance UNI’s Impact in Iowa
UNI proposes a combination of new and expanded services to better meet the needs of Iowa’s
entrepreneurs and small businesses. Services will be provided to entrepreneurs in all regions of
Iowa and will also expand the culture of entrepreneurship on the UNI campus by serving
students and faculty.
Business Concierge (BC) - Small business owners are provided free access to business
intelligence and personal referrals to an Iowa service provider partner or source of capital by the
BC team. The BC supports entrepreneurs statewide, many of whom seek assistance via IA
SourceLink. As the BC team is expanded, more entrepreneurs will be served. We also propose
adding a Small Business Ombudsperson to the BC services. Regulatory issues, access problems
and poor communication skills are some of the immediate needs we have identified for this
service. The BC team will serve as an objective entity to solve issues and get Iowa’s small
business owners through red tape and connected to the right people at the right time.
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
14
Network Iowa – a statewide liaison to assist small businesses is needed. For example, if a
business owner receives a Targeted Small Business (TSB) loan, the Network Iowa liaison will
follow up to see if their needs were met and/or what is needed next. Whether it is TSB, Micro-
loans, SBDC, SBA, or some other service being delivered, the BC would be the follow up voice
to insure the small business is getting what they need and then insure they know where to go
next.
AppsLab - The growing interest in mobile applications (Apps) is very similar to the demand for
web-based technologies in the late 90s. Numerous organizations on campus see Apps as a way
to contact and support their constituents. The UNI J ohn Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center has
launched a pilot phase of an AppsLab where students and faculty from a wide range of
disciplines will work together with trained staff to explore the commercial potential of this
technology and expand UNI’s technology transfer initiatives.
Local Foods Entrepreneurship Support – numerous student and non-student entrepreneurs are
interested in pursuing food-based businesses. Local food initiatives are supported by UNI
outreach programs for growing and marketing fresh foods. The next step is adding value to fresh
produce, which includes small-scale, and large-scale food manufacturing, restaurants, catering,
and other food businesses. Food businesses also need an expert who can help them turn a
personal recipe into a commercial or larger-scale producible recipe. Finally, the demand is high
for a commercial kitchen which can be used for food preparation or packaging.
UNI MarketPlace – UNI has several inventions, learning tools and products that have been
developed, with many focused on K-12 education and learning. In order to provide easy access
to these resources, UNI will develop a MarketPlace website to market the products throughout
Iowa and beyond. Funding also will support additional development of faculty and staff tools
and resources.
University of Northern Iowa – as of June 30, 2013
Regents Innovation Fund
FY 2013 RIF Appropriation ? $900,000
1. Economic Gardening and Entrepreneurship Outreach $300,000
2. Technology Transfer and Business Incubation $300,000
3. Regional Development $100,000
4. Competitive and Market Intelligence $50,000
5. National Ag?Based Lubricants (NABL) Center 150,000
University of Northern Iowa Project List of all FY 2013 Revenue Sources
5907
Revenue
Dollars for
FY 2012?
2013
Amount Expended as
of 12/31/2012
List of all FY 2013 Revenue Sources
5907
Revenue
Dollars
For
FY 2013
Amount of FY
2013 Regents
Appropriations
Expended as of
6/30/2013
1 Economic Gardening and Entrepreneurship Outreach
FY 2013 Regents Appropriations (RIF) $300,000 $85,863 FY 2013 Regents Appropriations (RIF) $300,000 $300,000
FY 2013 Federal Support $16,502 FY 2013 Federal Support $30,351
FY 2013 Other $91,195 FY 2013 Other $270.137
Description of Project
UNI Entrepreneurship Outreach proposes to launch a statewide Economic Gardening (EG) program in Iowa to address a compelling need among smaller, locally?owned employer firms for actionable business intelligence
and support. UNI will create and certify a strategic research team in accordance with the National Center for Economic Gardening to provide Stage II companies (those with 9?99 employees) with secondary market
research and business intelligence.
Anticipated End Results
The Iowa Economic Gardening Network will be formalized, participating organizations certified, and 50?75 Stage II clients identified for service delivery during calendar year 2013. At least 12 companies will receive expert
research team services during the pilot phase between January and June of 2013. Three of MyEntre.Net’s entrepreneur resources will be transformed into customizable technology modules increasing overall small
business use from 2,000 annually to 2,500. Dream Big Grow Here will expand to ten contests and attract 250 contestants.
Results Achieved to Date
A pilot program for Economic Gardening has been launched as an advance effort for a statewide program. A Strategic Resource Team has been certified and twelve economic development organizations from throughout
Iowa have been trained in EG and have begun referring Stage II business clients for services. Twelve companies were served with EG services and networked services formalized through the pilot. Ten Dream Big Grow
Here contests were hosted in the fall of 2013. An additional four regional hosts were placed on a waiting list. The ten contests served entrepreneurs in 66 counties, attracted 225 contestants and generated 100,000
online votes and comments over a four week period. Regional winners will compete in a Pitch?Off event during EntreFest in 2013 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Work continues on scaling three MyEntre.Net resources. The
Dream Big Grow Here technologies are fully scaled and two others are underway.
Plans
Economic gardening projects will be conducted for 12 stage II companies in collaboration with local economic developers. MyEntre.Net resources will be reconfigured into stand?alone program modules. These will
include Dream Big Grow Here, Business Concierge and Webinars. The sixth annual EntreFest was held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on March 7th and 8th, 2013.
University of Northern Iowa Project List of all FY 2013 Revenue Sources
5906
Revenue
Dollars for
FY 2012?2013
Amount Expended as
of 12/31/2012
List of all FY 2013 Revenue Sources
5906
Revenue
Dollars
For
FY 2013
Amount of FY
2013 Regents
Appropriations
Expended as of
6/30/2013
2 Technology Transfer and Business Incubation
FY 2013 Regents Appropriations
(RIF)
$300,000 $59,758 FY 2013 Regents Appropriations
(RIF)
$300,000 $230,520
FY 2013 Federal Support FY 2013 Federal Support
FY 2013 Other $132,288 FY 2013 Other $302,902
Description of Project
UNI continues to advance intellectual property disclosures, protection and commercialization across campus. Strategies for commercialization include licensing, strategic partnerships and new business development.
The Innovation Incubator has created a hub facility, coalescing the existing strength of Intellectual Property disclosures and University research with quality business services to support business incubation and growth.
The incubator and support facilities offer a physical link between the Iowa business community, campus innovators and faculty researchers to enhance technology transfer. UNI will be forging a formal agreement with
the ISU Research Foundation to assist and guide commercialization activities and starting discussions with the University of Iowa Research Foundation.
Anticipated End Results
UNI expects ten disclosures, two patent applications and two license agreements. UNI's incubator will remain full and graduate 4?5 businesses into the regional economy and launch 15 student businesses in the JPEC
student Business Incubator. Five late stage faculty research projects will also be assisted. Formal agreements with ISURF and UIRF will be completed.
Results Achieved to Date
During FY 2013, 10 disclosures were received with three moving toward commercialization. Six faculty research grants were awarded for early?stage research with commercial potential. UNI has begun active
collaboration with the ISU Research Foundation, receiving due diligence technical assistance on five technologies. The Innovation Incubator is full and five companies have recently graduated into the regional economy
with one of the companies a former tenant in the Student Business Incubator. The Innovation Incubator conducted a regional BarCamp event, which attracted more than 100 participants to the incubator and led a joint
Cedar Valley/UNI Innovation Day with the announcement of the Dream Big Grow Here winner. Another faculty spin?off was started in the past 6 months and a license agreement has been signed with an Iowa company.
Plans
UNI will continue to focus on commercialization initiatives, including license negotiations and business startups. At least ten intellectual property disclosures will be received with two licensing agreements executed
under patent or trade?secret provisions and UNI will conduct a faculty research grant competition. In addition, the Student Business Incubator and Innovation Incubator will remain full, generating spin?off companies for
the Iowa economy. UNI will also expand its corporate research and development program to assist existing businesses in Iowa.
University of Northern Iowa Project List of all FY 2013 Revenue Sources
5908
Revenue
Dollars for
FY 2012?2013
Amount Expended as
of 12/31/2012
List of all FY 2013 Revenue Sources
5906
Revenue
Dollars
For
FY 2013
Amount of FY
2013 Regents
Appropriations
Expended as of
6/30/2013
3 Regional Development
FY 2013 Regents Appropriations
(RIF)
$100,000 $57,912 FY 2013 Regents Appropriations
(RIF)
$100,000 $100,000
FY 2013 Federal Support $3,402 FY 2013 Federal Support $6,237
FY 2013 Other $45,158 FY 2013 Other $101,166
Description of Project
IDM will lead an effort to assess and structure Iowa’s regions for economic growth. This will include asset mapping to determine regional strengths and linkages and thereby outline the most appropriate regional
boundaries. In partnership with the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), Regent universities, community colleges, utilities, Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI) and the Iowa Department of Education, IDM will
enhance the Business Expansion & Strategic Trends (BEST) of Iowa program.
Anticipated End Results
Make recommendations for reorganizing Iowa's Regions, focusing on mapping regional strengths and linkages, propose new regional boundaries and suggest best practices for overall structure and leadership. Outline key
benefits of regional development and assist Professional Developers of Iowa with communications and implementation.
Results Achieved to Date
IDM has helped organize Regionalism 2.0 and conducted multiple planning meetings with PDI and steering committee members. IDM worked with IWD to complete regional asset maps for four regions. In addition, IDM
worked with a Geography Department professor to outline new regional boundary options for Iowa, ranging from 6 to 16 regions. IDM partnered with utility companies and economic development service providers to
update the Synchronist existing industry survey and helped local development organizations conduct more effective existing industry programs. Entrepreneurial community projects were launched in two regions to
integrate entrepreneurship into the regional economy.
Plans
IDM will lead the process for developing a new set of economic boundaries to help restructure and reenergize regions across the state and engage the economic development profession in the process. IDM will continue
supporting regional targeting, marketing, organizational management and planning efforts as requested. IDM will participate in the Business Expansion and Strategic Trends (BEST) of Iowa program and expand the
Entrepreneurial Communities Project to enhance and increase entrepreneurship initiatives in regional economic development. Working with the BEST of Iowa Partnership, IDM will enhance the data collection and analysis
process.
University of Northern Iowa Project List of all FY 2013 Revenue Sources
5908
Revenue
Dollars for
FY 2012?2013
Amount Expended as
of 12/31/2012
List of all FY 2013 Revenue Sources
5906
Revenue
Dollars
For
FY 2013
Amount of FY
2013 Regents
Appropriations
Expended as of
6/30/2013
4 Competitive and Market Intelligence
FY 2013 Regents Appropriations
(RIF)
$50,000 $25,339 FY 2013 Regents Appropriations
(RIF)
$50,000 $50,000
FY 2013 Federal Support FY 2013 Federal Support
FY 2013 Other $25,410 FY 2013 Other $51,101
Description of Project
Strategic Marketing Services (SMS) will develop and manage a competitive and market intelligence program for mid?sized Iowa companies. The purpose of devoting RIF investments to competitive and market intelligence
projects is to expand economic growth across Iowa by stimulating business expansion opportunities. Accurate information is needed to make sound market entry or expansion decisions. Gathering and using data to make
decisions is what SMS provides. Established businesses will be required to pay at least one?half of their project cost. SMS expects to assist at least five Iowa companies with advanced competitive and market intelligence
projects. Priority will be given to businesses in the state’s target industry clusters.
Anticipated End Results
SMS will complete five competitive intelligence projects to expand market share, increase profitability and expand the workforce and market research projects for smaller Iowa companies and new startups and conduct five
market feasibility assessments for technology transfer.
Results Achieved to Date
SMS has used RIF dollars to provide market research services for the following Iowa companies: Iowa Mold Tooling in Garner; Clean Water Technologies in Cedar Falls; i?Tracking in Cedar Falls; United Equipment Accessories
in Waverly; Casey’s General Stores in Ankeny; Mid States Steel in Boone; and Plaid Swan in Dubuque. Market research and due diligence was provided to UNI’s technology transfer program for five early?stage technologies.
Plans
SMS will continue to consult with Iowa businesses, entrepreneurs, statewide associations and local governments to conduct competitive intelligence and develop market research plans. In some cases, the client may wish to
undertake some or all of the research activities on their own, utilizing the market research plan as a guide. The final piece of competitive and market intelligence assistance will be devoted to phase one market research
feasibility assessments for the technology transfer process.
University of Northern Iowa Project List of all FY 2013 Revenue Sources
5908
Revenue
Dollars for
FY 2012?2013
Amount Expended as
of 12/31/2012
List of all FY 2013 Revenue Sources
5906
Revenue
Dollars
For
FY 2013
Amount of FY
2013 Regents
Appropriations
Expended as of
6/30/2013
5 National Ag?Based Lubricants (NABL) Center
FY 2013 Regents Appropriations
(RIF)
$150,000 $0 FY 2013 Regents Appropriations
(RIF)
$150,000 $150,000
FY 2013 Federal Support $15,000 FY 2013 Federal Support $150,000
FY 2013 Other FY 2013 Other
Description of Project
NABL will evaluate and enhance microwave lubricant production technology by partnering with Cedar Rapids?based companies (Marion Mixers and AMTek) to investigate the effectiveness and economics at pilot?scale
production levels of a new microwave?based lubricant production technology. NABL will conduct fundamental research activities including ongoing development of a Continuous Oil Recirculation System (CORS)
incorporating biobased oils and derivatives into the diesel engine crankcase. NABL will support Iowa’s biobased products Industry through active participation with industry organizations and provide appropriate
standardized testing methods and industry compliance to help prevent sub?par products from entering the marketplace, thus protecting consumers, end?users and producers.
Anticipated End Results
NABL will refine the microwave lubricant production technology, provide fee?based testing services to at least five biolubricant and/or biofuels industry clients and develop or enhance at least three vegetable oil based
products.
Results Achieved to Date
To date, NABL has provided oil testing services to three industry clients, leading to two ongoing product development research relationships with major biofuels and agriculture industry partners. NABL's patent pending
microwave?based grease processing technology has been licensed to Marion Mixers in Marion, Iowa and the technology has been refined. Progress is being made in the CORS diesel engine test cell set up and
configuration with key support from a major agriculture equipment manufacturer. NABL led working groups at national and international?level lubricants industry association conferences to advocate for biobased
lubricant product standards and industry acceptance.
Plans
The NABL Center will continue to collaborate with industry partners on development of full?scale microwave?based biolubricant manufacturing processes and equipment, measure and evaluate final product quality
differences and identify major cost drivers in vegetable lubricant processes for comparison of microwave vs. traditional methods. New research work investigating the isolation of specific fatty acids such as lubricant
feedstocks, coupled with new derivatives of soybean and other oilseeds, will continue and shows potential for expanded value?added activities in Iowa's biobased products manufacturing industry. NABL will participate
with industry organizations to provide appropriate standardized testing methods and compliance.
doc_494494530.pdf
Within this criteria in relation to creation and entrepreneurship the university of iowa.
1
The University of Iowa
FY 2013 Annual Economic Development Report
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Throughout FY 2013, the UI economic development team met with business, economic development and community
college leaders across Iowa to better understand the economic development challenges and opportunities in their
respective regions. The findings were consistent across communities:
1. Workforce development – the need to ensure a sufficient, highly-skilled workforce to capitalize on technology
advances and global opportunities.
2. Economic and job growth – the need to strengthen and diversify the Iowa economy through existing business
expansion and new venture creation.
3. University/business collaboration – the need to better connect businesses with university resources to solve real-
world problems, connect students to Iowa companies, and stimulate collaborative innovation.
The UI is implementing a new economic development strategy focused on: 1) increasing hands-on engagement with Iowa
companies; 2) improving integration and coordination of UI resources and programs to support economic growth, job
creation and entrepreneurship; and 3) fostering faculty/company collaborations to stimulate discovery, innovation and
commercialization. A critical component to this effort is forging new partnerships and expanding existing collaborations
to create an integrated, statewide economic development ecosystem.
Beginning in FY 2014, the UI is:
• implementing new on-campus programs to engage UI faculty in forging business partnerships to drive discovery
and technology innovation.
• expanding strategic business consulting and technology services delivered to Iowa companies by UI faculty, staff
and students.
• developing IT boot camps to provide hands-on, intensive training programs in software as well as IT tools to
provide new skill development and skill refresh for existing workforce.
• launching new entrepreneurial training programs that incorporate the lean business model with direct support for
technology development and new venture formation.
• enhancing UI faculty entrepreneurship education and technology commercialization services to stimulate
2
licensing of technology to Iowa companies and creation of new startups through the Ventures @ Iowa program.
• expanding student experiential learning and internship opportunities with small to medium-sized Iowa companies
This new approach is already yielding important economic development impact as highlighted below.
• Through J PEC’s Entrepreneurship: Business Consulting course, a total of 58 Iowa small to medium-sized
businesses received strategic business consulting services provided by UI faculty and undergraduate student
teams. The program is designed to provide high quality assistance to Iowa companies while providing real-world
experience and connectivity to the Iowa business community for UI students.
o Market research and analysis conducted for an Algona, IA area entrepreneur who has invented a fence-
post hole digging device.
o Competitive and SWOT analysis performed for SpendSmart, a Clive, IA company that has developed a
secure payment system that helps to teach teens responsible spending habits.
• Forty-eight student businesses were under development through the J ohn Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center’s
(J PEC) student incubator program housed at the Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning Laboratory.
o Tutor Universe is a social networking-based market for online tutoring services. It was formed out of the
Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning Laboratory in 2011 by UI graduate students in Computer Science
Thomas Hornbeck and Hung Tran.. The company has raised in excess of $500,000 in investment and was
named the UI Student Startup of the Year at the inaugural Hawkeye Innovation Summit in FY 2013.
o TranslaCare is a UI student startup that has recently been awarded $100,000 from the Iowa Economic
Development Authority. Ryan Ries, a UI Neurobiology and Linguistics major, started the company in
2011 from the Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning Laboratory. TranslaCare is developing a software
application for individuals with speech disabilities; the company plans to begin beta testing during the fall
of 2013 with a product release scheduled for 2014.
• Two new companies located at the University of Iowa Research Park added over 160 jobs to the region;
o MediRevv, a revenue cycle management company, opened their new facility on the research park in
August 2012. MediRevv currently employees approximately 130 people. Plans are underway to
expand their presence on the park by building an addition to their current facility in FY 2014.
o Leepfrog Technologies, a custom computer software development company for higher learning,
located on the park in FY 2013. The company currently employs 32 people.
• Kirkwood Community College and the University of Iowa announced a joint partnership to build a regional
STEM education center on the UI Research Park. The center will focus on enhancing technical education and
examining new models to stimulate additional student interest in STEM careers and four-year degrees. The
location will provide students unique learning opportunities to interact with the State Hygienic Laboratory and
other technology companies and UI research facilities located there. It is scheduled to open in fall 2015.
• The University of Iowa Research Foundation (UIRF) executed 8 option and license agreements to startups based
on UI intellectual property in FY 2013. In the past 6 years, UIRF has executed a total of 31 licenses and options
with 21 startups based on UI technologies. Of those 21 companies, 19 are still in operation. Over the last two
years, the UIRF has increased efforts to increase the rate of technology disclosures; over this two year period, the
UIRF received 200 disclosures compared to the prior three year total of 208.
• In partnership with several regional and statewide organizations, the UI co-sponsored and/or hosted several
entrepreneurial and business development programs including the Innovation Expo (600+attendees), Pitch and
Grow (14 company presenters) and multiple community lectures (350+attendees each).
o This October, the University will be hosting the UP America Summit—an event bringing 150-200
entrepreneurs and community leaders to the region to discuss strategies for enhancing community
entrepreneurial and business ecosystems.
3
Economic Development Team
The University of Iowa
Research drives innovation at the University of Iowa. In FY 2013, The University of Iowa generated extramural support
totaling $424 million. This places the UI among the nation's elite public research universities and is especially significant
in the face of challenging economic and research funding conditions in the U.S. This robust research enterprise coupled
with integrated economic development activities plays an important role in supporting economic development in Iowa.
UI economic development activities are directed by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic
Development. The IOWA Centers for Enterprise (ICE), an alliance of several UI organizations identified below,
provides infrastructure and services to enhance technology transfer and commercialization of UI technologies, new
company formation, support of Iowa companies and workforce development. ICE currently includes the following
elements:
The following sections of this report will directly respond to specific areas as requested by the Board of Regents. These
include: the impact of University of Iowa activities on the economic growth in Iowa, institutional activities and services
that indirectly promote economic development, quantitative information regarding economic development activities in
FY 2013, a summary of outreach and service activities, direct economic development assistance to Iowa communities, a
summary of RIF expenditures, and emerging trends in the area of economic development.
IMPACT OF UI ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES ON ECONOMIC GROWTH IN IOWA
Job Creation and Wealth in Iowa
University of Iowa Research Park (UIRP)
The University of Iowa Research Park (UIRP) is a blended campus consisting of a multitude of commercial ventures
and a variety of university academic programs and infrastructure assets. As of J une 2013, nine established companies,
23 startup companies and six University anchor laboratories were located in the park. These companies have access to
university research infrastructure including high-speed internet, access to UI libraries and research facilities (i.e. core
research facilities to support chemistry, biology, computation and instrumentation), faculty for joint collaboration,
business support centers (i.e. J PEC, SBDC and UIRF) and students as interns or employees. In FY 2013, the
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companies affiliated with UI Research Park and Technology Innovation Center
reported over 1,700 employees.
BioVentures Center (BVC)
The UI BioVentures Center located at the UI Research Park opened in November 2008. This 35,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-
art biosciences incubator and office facility offers entrepreneurs and early-stage technology companies high-quality wet
laboratories, a shared laboratory, a large multi-purpose room, multiple executive conference rooms and general shared
space to meet their various business needs. Currently there are 13 companies located in the BVC employing 67 people.
Twelve of the 20 wet labs have been leased to startup companies, seven of which were formed from technology created
by UI faculty. Past economic development (GIVF) funding was critical in enabling the design and construction of this
facility.
Thirteen companies (ASL Analytical, Bio::Neos, Inc., Cellular Engineering Technologies, CQM Systems, Exemplar
Genetics, Hennepin Life Science, KemPharm, Inc., Memcine, NanoMedTrix, Redox BioCat, Terpenoid Therapeutics,
Inc, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and VIDA Diagnostics) occupy 12 laboratories and 23 offices in BVC. Two floors of the
west wing of the BioVentures Center have been fit out for UI units previously housed in Oakdale Hall. The 3
rd
floor of
the West side was recently occupied by the Iowa Lions Eye Bank, a new tenant in FY 2013.
Technology Innovation Center (TIC)
The Technology Innovation Center provides office space and a nurturing business environment to new technology-
based ventures that do not require wet laboratories. In FY13, the TIC reported a total of 10 companies and 31
employees. Since TIC opened in 1984, 111 companies have been in residence in the UI incubation program; of those
companies, 52 are still in business--41 of which are in Iowa.
Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning Laboratory (BELL)
The Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning Laboratory is the University of Iowa’s student business incubator. The 10,000
sq. ft. facility, which has 17 furnished offices and several conference rooms, offers a campus wide program open to
students from any major or college. The students receive intense mentoring and support as they launch or expand their
businesses. The program, one of the first of its kind in the nation, has incubated over 200 businesses since opening in
2004. In FY 2013, 48 student businesses were being incubated at the BELL.
Institutional Activities and Services that Indirectly Promote Economic Development
University of Iowa Research Park, BioVentures Center and Technology Innovation Center
A variety of educational and training programs were offered for UIRP/BVC/TIC tenants in FY 2013. These included:
Lunch and Learns, quarterly roundtables and mixers, a service industry speaker series providing guidance on legal
issues, human resources and financial management, Iowa Innovation Council programs, etc.
UI Research Park hosts quarterly roundtable meetings for company executives representing all park companies. The
BVC multi-purpose room was utilized by over 50 outside groups for, including but not limited to, legislative and
state agency meetings, vendor shows, Pitch and Grow competitions, Chamber events, Iowa City Area Development
forums, STEM education meetings, and the bi-monthly meetings of the Corridor Business Alliance. The state-of-the
art meeting and executive conference rooms at the BVC have become a vital meeting hub for both regional and state
organizations.
Additionally, a Regents Innovation Development Fund Proposal competition was held for our BVC and TIC tenants
with $100,000 awarded to seven companies to provide critical capital for growth. Award winners were:
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• ASL Analytical, developing chemical monitors for the bio-manufacturing market - $20,000
• Memcine , which is developing a needle-free vaccine platform technology - $20,000
• KemPharm, Inc. a pharmaceutical discovery and development company - $15,000
• Exemplar Genetics, which has developed innovative models of human disease - $15,000
• Bio::Neos, a bioinformatics software technology company - $10,000
• NanoMedTrix, developing novel multimodal, targeted contrast agents for use across a range of disciplines,
including regenerative technology and targeted radiology - $10,000
• Higher Learning Technologies, creates digital test prep programs for nursing and dental students - $10,000
John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC)
J PEC offers one of the most comprehensive entrepreneurial education and business support programs in the
nation. Featured programs supporting economic development include:
• Providing business consulting services to small companies located across Iowa through its faculty/student field
study program (58 companies assisted in FY 2013)
• Hosting/sponsoring elevator pitch and business plan competitions to support innovation and new venture creation
(14 competitions held)
• Supporting the creation and launch of student-based businesses at the Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning
Laboratory (BELL) located on the UI central campus; student entrepreneurs receive office equipment, computers
and access to high speed internet.
o In FY 2013, total of 48 businesses participated in the BELL. Since its opening in 2004, a total of 363
students from nearly every UI college have been impacted by the facility and associated programs.
• J PEC delivers campus-wide and online undergraduate entrepreneurial education and technology innovation
coursework in the MBA program.
o In FY 2013, there were 3,738 total student enrollments in 145 sections of courses and 323 students
graduated from one of the Certificate or BBA programs offered by J PEC.
• The J acobson Institute for Youth Entrepreneurship is a comprehensive program that enriches K-12 students’ lives
through classroom and practical educational experiences.
o During FY 2013, the J acobson Institute impacted 3,252 youth and worked with 387 high school teachers
in Iowa who are using the Institute’s YouthBiz Central online curriculum. In addition, 145 youth
participated in summer camps held across Iowa.
University of Iowa
The IOWA Centers’ senior staff participated in a large number of economic development organizations in FY 2013.
Statewide:
• Iowa Innovation Council
• Iowa Innovation Corporation
• Iowa Biotechnology Association, Board of Directors
• Technology Association of Iowa, Board of Directors
• Technology Association of Iowa, Panelist Reviewer for TAI annual awards
• BEST of Iowa
• STEM Advisory Board
Local and Regional:
• Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance Economic Development Committee
• Corridor Business Alliance
• East Central Iowa Council of Governments, Loan Review Committee
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• Economic Development Center (EDC), Board Member
• Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, Member
• Iowa City Area Development Group, Board of Directors and Executive Committee
• Midwest Engineering Entrepreneurship Network (MEEN)
National:
• Small Business Administration (SBA)
• Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Center (GCEC), Leadership Circle
• University Economic Development Association (UEDA)
• United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE)
• Colligate Entrepreneurship Organization (CEO)
• Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE)
• National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA)
• National Science Foundation (NSF) SBIR program, Mentor for Phase I-II awarded startups
• NSF SBIR program, Panelist for Proposal Reviews
• NBIA National Business Incubator Association
• AURP Association of University Research Park and Association of University Midwest
Research Park Directors
• NCIIA – National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance
METRICS DESCRIBING UI ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY FY13 & FY12
FY13 FY12
a. Number of disclosures of intellectual property 98 102
b. Number of patent applications filed
• U.S. Applications
• National Applications
• Patent Cooperation
• Total Applications
85
28
29
142
72
27
17
116
c. Number of patents issued 74 59
d. Number of license and option agreements executed on institutional intellectual
property (The 29 license/option agreements were for a total of 44 different UIRF
disclosures)
• In Iowa
29
8
21
7
e. Number of license and option agreement yielding income 92 94
f. Revenue to Iowa companies as a result of licensed technology $2.38MM $2.2MM
g. Number of startup companies executing licenses or options for UI technologies
• In Iowa (Redox BioCat, Exemplar, Terpenoid, IDx, ViewPoint Molecular, Iowa
Approach and NanoMedTrix)
8 2
h. Number of companies in research parks, incubators and graduates located in Iowa 47 41
i. Number of new companies in research parks and incubators 4 2
7
j. Number of employees in companies in research parks/affiliates and incubators 1,707 1,812
k. Royalties and license fee income $1.38MM $7.05MM
l. Total sponsored funding $424.1MM $438.1MM
m. Corporate sponsored funding for research and economic development
• In total
• In Iowa
$62.0MM
$ 1.5MM
$52.9MM
$ 1.1MM
n. Iowa special appropriations for economic development in the following categories
• Annual state appropriations for ongoing programs (TIC, ORP and CADD)
• RIF appropriations
$209,279
$1,050,000
$209,279
$576,000
o. Estimated jobs created by SBDC clients 111 114
DIRECT AND HANDS-ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO BUSINESSES, FACULTY
INVENTORS & ENTREPRENEURS
John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC)
• Assistance to Businesses: J PEC faculty and staff provide one-on-one and faculty/student team-based consulting
services to technology-based entrepreneurial companies located at the UI Research Park, the BELL and throughout
Iowa’s Creative Corridor.
o J PEC staff provided consulting services to over 100 regional entrepreneurs and business startups, totaling
over 700 hours of assistance.
o An estimated 6,000+hours of research, analysis and strategic planning services were performed for 58 Iowa
companies assisted through the J PEC faculty/student team consulting courses.
o MBA students completed six technology commercialization feasibility studies for nascent technologies
being developed by UI faculty.
• Six-Week Start-Up – J PEC delivers this intense entrepreneurial training program for start-up and growing
businesses. The initiative prepares aspiring entrepreneurs to launch new ventures and existing companies to grow
their businesses. Two classes were held in Iowa City in FY 2013.
• Seminars/Workshops/Lecture Series – J PEC hosted 12 different opportunities last year for students, faculty and
persons from the community. In FY 2013, over 2,700 attendees came to learn from experienced entrepreneurs on
a variety of topics including: the Technology Export Roundtable, various tax workshops, Entrepreneurial Boot
Camps and lecture series.
• Wellmark Venture Capital Fund – J PEC is the regional administrator of the $5M Wellmark Venture Capital
Fund that supports the creation and growth of new businesses throughout the state. J PEC screens applicants,
performs due diligence, evaluates business concepts, and assists applicants with their business plans. J PEC
partners with area angel investors, equity fund managers, lenders, the Iowa Economic Development Authority,
and the Small Business Administration to help business owners secure additional venture funding.
• Elevator Pitch Competitions – Two Elevator Pitch Competitions were held with $44,000 in cash prizes
awarded. One contest was open to any current UI faculty, staff, or graduate student; 38 teams participated in the
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competition and 14 winners received $27,000 in funds. A separate competition was held for UI students in which
$17,000 was awarded to 9 undergraduate student teams; 40 undergraduate teams competed.
• UI Business Model Competition – J PEC and UIRF hosted the Spring 2013 Business Model Competition. This
competition was open to all UI students, faculty and staff, as well as startup companies with a principal address at
UI-affiliated incubators. Over 35 teams competed for $65,000 in total cash prizes. The top student team received
an additional $5,000 and the opportunity to participate in the International Business Model Competition held at
Harvard University.
• Iowa Medical Innovation Group – This unique student led program focuses on identification of solutions to
clinical problems through collaborations between the Colleges of Medicine, Engineering, Business and Law.
Students work on creating medical devices and/or Health IT solutions with the assistance of staff from J PEC and
UIRF; to date, over 40 interesting technologies have been identified and reviewed and two are currently moving
forward in advanced phases of development in anticipation of forming startup companies.
UI Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
• In FY 2013, the UI SBDC, which provides small business counseling services and training in Cedar,
J ohnson, Iowa, Poweshiek and Washington counties, served 269 entrepreneurs and small businesses,
resulting in 21 new business starts.
• SBDC clients raised over $5.5 million in external financing and created an estimated 111 jobs.
• The SBDC also sponsored 12 entrepreneurial training workshops and provided over 800 hours of one-on-
one counseling.
University of Iowa Research Foundation (UIRF)
The UIRF aspires to maximize public benefit through commercial use of UI technologies, excellence in
commercialization and long term sustainability. In pursuit of this vision, UIRF’s primary functions are:
• Licensing - finding suitable partners for commercializing UI technologies and inventions
• The Ventures@UI Program - identifying and developing new high growth UI technology spinout companies
suitable for venture capital financing. The Ventures program includes:
1. An active discovery program to seek out and identify entrepreneurial faculty and staff, and new
discoveries
2. A pro-active process to develop new ventures based on UI technologies
3. Education of inventors/founders, one-on-one, through volunteer business mentors
4. Support from UIRF staff and student teams to evaluate market potential, and develop Go-to-Market plans,
business plans, and investor presentations
5. Manage a GAP Fund to prepare high potential IP for licensing and spinout
6. Assist new ventures in raising external public and private funding
• Intellectual property services which include protecting UI inventions through patents and copyrights, advising on
intellectual property terms for Clinical Trials and Sponsored Research and executing outgoing material transfers
• UIRF’s economic development emphasis is heavily focused on startup formation. Working directly with UI
faculty, entrepreneurs, and investors in selecting, evaluating and developing new companies, these activities
include: IP analysis for viability of proposed company products and IP protection strategies and execution; UIRF
fronts the cost of IP protection
• Due diligence on the viability of UI spinout companies
• Business model development for UI spinout companies
• Provide mentors for high new priority UI companies
• Provide gap funding for highest priority projects
• Licensing to UI spinout companies
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• Extensive mentoring and education of faculty in new company formation
UIRF, in collaboration with the ICE and outside experts, worked to vet new projects, and provide proof of concept funds
for projects that could lead to new company formation. A summary of projects evaluated in FY 2013 is listed in the first
table below. A Historical View of GIVF Commercialization Funding that Stimulated Start Up Activity is also provided in
Appendix A
2013 Commercialization & Business Development Funding Awards
Title PI(s) Venture/License
GAP
Funding
$(K)
Additional
Funding
$(K)
Type of IP
Prototype System Development for
Interstitial Rotating Shield
Brachytherapy of Prostate Cancer
Flynn, Ryan pxAlpha $75 Medical Device
Commercialization of a Nanoparticle
Respiratory Dose Device
Peters, Thomas Licensed $72
Environmental
Engineering
Separation of a mixture of fatty acids
into individual fatty acids using a
nanofiltration membrane to increase the
value of soybean oils
Bowden, Ned Ventzuren $50 Chemistry
Rapid and Sensitive Detection of
Coliform E. coli in the field
McNamara,
J ames
License ready
1/2014.
$100
Public Health
Testing
Operationalizing the FxRedux Articular
Fracture Reduction Planning Service
Anderson, Don FxRedux Solutions $75 $202 Software
Biomedical Applications of Multimodal
Nanoparticles
Assouline, J ose NanoMedTrix $75 $175 Diagnostic Drug
Commercialization of
Electromechanical Modeling and
Simulation System
Marler, Tim &
Ozobolat,
Ibrahim
Virtual System
Engineering
$74 Software
Making Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
Safer, Faster, Easier, and Less
Expensive: The Ring of Fire Rapid
Ablation System & Prospective Trial.
Mickelsen,
Steven
Iowa Approach $75 $200 Medical Device
Iowa Clubfoot Brace Prototype
Morcuende,
J ose &
Grosland,
Nicole
Clubfoot Solutions $74 Medical Device
Percutaneously-Delivered Cellulose
Based Aortic Heart Valve Prosthesis
Raghavan,
Madhavan L
$89 Medical Device
Utilizing Immunoplexing Technology
to Develop an Intranasal Universal Flu
Vaccine
Vanden Bush,
Tony & Gail
Bishop Memcine
$100 $771
Therapeutic
vaccine
Electro-stimulation Garment Wahls, Terry
xCellerator
$70 Medical Device
Totals $929 $1348
Enabled SBIR Applications $500
10
DIRECT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE TO IOWA COMMUNITIES
John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC)
• Online Education – Students who cannot come to Iowa City may still earn a BBA or Certificate in
Entrepreneurial Management online through the UI’s Division of Continuing Education. The certificate is also
accessible through J PEC’s partnership with several Iowa community colleges.
• Business Consulting Services – Through the Entrepreneurial Management Institute, J PEC offers business
consulting services to entrepreneurial and startup companies around the state. In FY 2013, 58 projects were
completed for Iowa-based companies and organizations.
Corridor Business Alliance
The Corridor Business Alliance was created in December 2009 and is composed of leaders from the Cedar Rapids Metro
Economic Alliance, the Entrepreneurial Development Center, the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, the Iowa City
Area Development Group, Kirkwood Community College, MidAmerican Energy, Kirkwood’s Small Business
Development Center, the University of Iowa’s Small Business Development Center, the Research Foundation and the
John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center. More information on this regional approach is available
athttp://corridor2020.com/2009/11/corridor-business-alliance/. The overarching goal is to identify and leverage the
region’s unique educational, business development and industrial assets to enhance recruitment of new companies,
development of innovative startup companies and retention of existing industry. The three ICE units highlighted above
have been central in the maturation of this regional philosophy and economic development success.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE RESEARCH PARKS, INCUBATORS
SIMILAR SERVICE/ UNITS
The University of Iowa Research Park, BioVentures Center and Technology Innovation Center
Corporate tenants of the Park benefit from sustained relationships with UI in the form of access to specialized research
facilities, library access, faculty consultation, research collaboration and access to students as interns and employees.
UI resources also provide smaller companies with assistance in business planning, identification of professional
service providers, introductions to local and state government agencies and the regional business community, help in
identification of potential sources of investment and other funding and communications. For a list of companies and
developers associated with the Research Park, BioVentures Center and Technology Innovation Center see Appendix
B.
University of Iowa Core Facilities
In addition to campus-based core university facilities, four specialized UI laboratories reside within the Research Park.
These facilities provide technical support services critical to the growth of startup companies as well as UI and existing
industry partners. These units provide Iowa with unique capabilities that IEDA and local economic development entities
have utilized to recruit outside companies to the Research Park, the region and the state. These facilities include:
University of Iowa Pharmaceuticals
The University of Iowa Pharmaceuticals is a division of the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy that offers
contract analytical, development, and GMP manufacturing services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology
industry. CADD, the analytical segment of UIP, is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registered and
current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) compliant laboratory that works closely with the manufacturing
groups at University of Iowa Pharmaceuticals, housed on the central University campus. The focus of CADD as
part of UI Pharmaceuticals is the development of analytical methods and testing to support the manufacture and
control of clinical supplies of new drugs entering initial clinical trials. They are particularly attractive to smaller
pharmaceutical/biotechnology companies that have new drugs moving into the clinic but have not developed
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their own analytical or manufacturing capabilities.
CADD as a part of UI Pharmaceuticals has an extensive recurrent client base of mainly smaller biotechnology
and pharmaceutical companies and a growing pool of U.S. and foreign pharmaceutical firms. CADD is
particularly well positioned to work directly with discoveries from Iowa university research laboratories, thereby
providing an opportunity to hasten technology transfer and shorten the time to market. The presence of these
FDA registered facilities along with the Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing makes UI unique among U.S.
universities to facilitate the development of new therapeutics from pharmaceutical and biotechnology-based
companies as well as serving to enhance the translational science research occurring within the University of
Iowa.
Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing (CBB)
The CBB is a microbial pilot plant facility and education center reporting to the Vice President for Research and
Economic Development. The center links university scientists from six different colleges who focus on
biocatalysis and bioprocessing. The center also performs scale-up of products ranging from ethanol to proteins,
process research and development. CBB serves industries from Iowa, U.S. and around the world for fermentation
and bioprocessing of food products, biofuels, bio-pharmaceuticals and other products of biotechnology. The
center collaborates with start-up biotechnology companies from Iowa for production of small molecules to
complex proteins, such as alcohols, vaccines, antibiotics, anticancer drugs, polymers, biochemicals, enzymes,
pharmaceutical intermediates and derivatives of bioactive compounds. In the Research Development and Process
Laboratory, they conduct extensive process research including first level production from the bench-scale to 1000
liter fermentation. For example, CBB is now developing Simulated Moving Bed Chromatography for protein and
small molecule separations. The center also has a current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) production
facility for biotherapeutics (products produced under cGMP conditions can be used in Phase I human clinical
trials) at a scale of up to 300 liters.
The CBB is central to the University’s efforts to attract Biotechnology R&D and industrial fermentation
companies to Iowa. CBB has worked with ICE, IEDA and other Iowa economic development agencies to recruit
companies to Iowa. CBB is the leading bioprocessing facility located in a U.S. university setting and the only
biopharmaceutical production facility in the State of Iowa with a state-of-the-art fermentation and bioprocessing
laboratory to produce biotherapeutics for Phase I human trials. This positions the UI on the cutting edge of
biotherapeutics production.
National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS)
The National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS) is a center for driving simulation excellence located at the
University of Iowa’s Research Park. This center has the mission of improving driving safety for everyone by
researching the connection between humans and motor vehicles. Development and research conducted at NADS
is sponsored by government, military, and industry partners, saves lives and improves quality of life for
motorists, and advances the cutting edge in driving simulation. This facility is home to the one of the world’s
most advanced research driving simulators, the NADS-1. In addition, NADS has developed an in-house portable
driving simulator, the MiniSim™, which is currently being marketed to research institutions around the country.
Recent research at NADS has focused on detection of impaired drivers, distracted driving, drowsy driving,
advanced vehicle crash warning systems, and future vehicle communication systems. In FY 2013, UIRF
executed a license with Cognitive Research Corporation for a customized mini-sim based driving simulator
developed at NADS which is used to evaluate the effects of age, trauma, neurologic disease, alcohol and fatigue
on driving performance.
State Hygienic Laboratory
The State Hygienic Laboratory (SHL) was established in Iowa law in 1904 to provide laboratory services to both
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governmental and private sector individuals and organizations concerned with the health and environment of the
state. Today SHL conducts more than 500,000 tests for clients in all of Iowa's 99 counties through disease
detection, environmental monitoring, and newborn and maternal screening. Clinical laboratory tests provided
include virology, serology, microbiology, molecular biology, blood lead screening and biological and chemical
terrorism response. State-of-the-art chemical, biologic and enzymatic analytical methods are used in this testing,
which is performed at 3 SHL facilities, the UI Research Park in Coralville, on the DMACC campus in Ankeny
and at the Board of Regents Lakeside Lab in Milford, Iowa. The SHL makes these services available to both for
profit and not for profit organizations as well as individuals on a fee for service basis. The State Hygienic
Laboratory also offers unique training facilities for companies and personnel associated with the clinical
laboratory specialties, as an experiential education site for community and four-year college students studying
laboratory chemistry. A new, state of the art training facility in Coralville is due to be completed in the Spring of
2014 which will allow for additional hands on and distance-learning for public health professionals across Iowa.
COLLABORATION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH IOWA ENTITIES
Kirkwood Regional Center at the University of Iowa - Providing solutions to the workforce needs in Iowa
Construction of the Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics center, which is a partnership between the
University of Iowa and Kirkwood Community College, began in August, 2013 with completion planned for Summer,
2015. The facility will also house the Professional Development staff of the Grant Wood Area Education Agency and
provide STEM related coursework and/or Career Academy experiences to high school students from 6 regional school
districts who elect to spend a part of their day at the center. College of Education faculty will partner with the schools and
Grant Wood AEA to also provide K-12 Professional Development for teachers and the advanced TILE-like classroom
design within the UI space of the center will serve to assess new models of teaching and learning as well as serve to train
high school and community college teachers in active learning delivery strategies. A variety of private park technology
companies and university centers and laboratories including the State Hygienic Laboratory, the National Advanced
Driving Simulator, UIHC, the Center for Computer Aided Design and the Flood Center will serve as experiential sites to
augment career academy experiences and serve to make a strong connection between STEM reform and workforce
development for a higher technology economy envisioned for Iowa. Additionally UI health science colleges will engage
in adding value to Kirkwood’s highly successful Health Science Career Academies across all health disciplines.
This unique center will also serve as a programmatic home for the Southeast Regional STEM hub created under the
Governor’s STEM taskforce.
Shovel Ready Site Initiative/Certification - Enabling companies to grow in Iowa
The Shovel Ready Site Program initiative was spearheaded by the Iowa City Area Development Group. The program
is designed to give the UI Research Park a competitive edge in the site selection marketplace. The goal of the program
is to have selected sites shovel ready, connect to utilities and other physical infrastructure, clear swift procedures for
permitting and incentive programs that can be quickly applied to a project. The UI Research Park, along with two other
area sites, was chosen as a pilot project site. Gaining shovel ready certification provides a very positive boost to
recruitment of technology based companies to UI Research Park and multiple additional sites are nearing shovel ready
classification as the interest in locating within the park continues to grow. In FY 2012 we began a roads and sewer
project in collaboration with the City of Coralville; upon completion of this project, projected for the fall of 2015, all
15 remaining lots will become Shovel Ready.
The Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC)
The Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC) is a campus-wide effort at the University of Iowa to enhance the
capacity of Iowa's communities to address the economic, environmental, and social/cultural issues faced today and to
build a more sustainable future. The IISC does this by partnering students and faculty at the University of Iowa with
Iowa's urban and rural communities to identify, design and implement sustainability-focused projects. In doing so, the
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IISC provides significant outreach to Iowa's communities while transforming teaching and learning at the University of
Iowa. Since 2009, the IISC has put 118 University of Iowa graduate students to work on projects such as coordinating
with city managers and city councils on redeveloping comprehensive city plans, community event planning, educational
programs, planning for adaptive reuse of historic downtown buildings, market analysis and recommendations for site
planning. The communities who have benefited from these projects have been small and medium-sized communities in
Iowa, including Anamosa, Burlington, Charles City, Columbus J unction, Decorah, Oskaloosa, Wellman, and most
recently, Dubuque.
The Dubuque program is a two-year long partnership with a goal of implementing a total of 10 projects, with the help of
70+University of Iowa graduate students. These projects include:
• Dubuque County Smarter Planning Indicators
• Increasing Mobility in Dubuque: Developing Alternative Mode-sharing Opportunities
• Housing for a Vibrant Dubuque
• Schools, Neighborhoods, and Student Outcomes
• Survey of Best Practices for Redevelopment of Dubuque's South Port and Creation of a Redevelopment Plan
• Indicator and Indicator Measurements for Dubuque's 11 Sustainability Principles
o An award winning project for its Contribution of Planning to a Contemporary Issue
• Renewable Energy Asset Map and Return on Investment and Policy Analysis
• A Portrait of Poverty in Dubuque
• Local Foods and Local Institutions Guide, and Local Foods Action Plan
• Design of the Green and Healthy Homes Program
The IISC has also partnered with the Blue Zones Project and the Healthiest State Initiative to improve health and wellness
in communities across Iowa and to meet the challenge of becoming the healthiest state by 2016.
FY 2013 REGENTS INNOVATION FUNDS (RIF)
RIF Impact for the University of Iowa and the Iowa Centers for Enterprise (ICE)
In 2013, RIF provided UI critical support to build the infrastructure needed to better transform UI faculty discoveries into
new businesses and/or licensing opportunities. Funds have been used in the following general categories:
• to stimulate commercialization and provide proof of concept funding for promising UI research
• create an infrastructure through personnel and facilities to support growing startup companies
• provide comprehensive entrepreneurial education and business support programs
• lead regional economic development strategy for the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City/Coralville corridor and work closely
with existing industry in terms of science and business development
• funding to further develop UI faculty discoveries for commercialization, foster new company formation and
support existing business expansion.
Successful Technology Transfer, Commercialization and Business Startups enabled by RIF Proof of Concept
Support
Higher Learning Technologies
Higher Learning Technologies (HLT) specializes in customized test prep and educational software. This year HLT was a
winner in the Business Model Competition and received three awards in the Silicon Prairie Awards, the most out of any
company. They received the "New Startup of the Year", "Mobile App of the Year", and "Innovation of the Year" awards.
14
HLT has raised $235,000 so far and the company is talking with several investors to raise $565,000 and hopes to close the
investment round by the end of October, at which time the company will have raised just over $600,000 to date. They
were also awarded $100,000 from the State of Iowa's Demonstration Fund in J uly. Since the launch of two apps in May,
they have generated $112,000 in sales in just over three months. A nursing app has ranked in the top 10 grossing
educational apps in Apple's iStore and the #2 grossing education app in the Google Play store. Both Apple and Google
have over 100,000 educational apps available. By the end of the year Higher Learning Technologies plans to launch 10
additional apps.
HLT has recently hired Cramer Development's J osh Cramer as its Chief Technology Officer. HLT is also in discussions
to add a Silicon Valley investor to the team. Together, these two individuals will bring entrepreneurial and investment
experience to the company.
Memcine Pharmaceuticals
Professor Gail Bishop and Dr. Tony VandenBush received GIVF/RIF funding in FY11, FY12, and FY13 which led to the
formation of Memcine Pharmaceuticals. The company is based in the BioVentures Center at the University of Iowa
Research Park. Memcine has been able to use the funding to hire an experienced CEO, open their offices at BVC and to
raise an additional $650,000.
Memcine Pharmaceuticals Inc. is an early-stage biotech company focused on enhancing vaccine efficacy to improve
human and animal health globally. Their current portfolio of potential infectious disease vaccine targets includes
influenza, Hepatitis B, and Ebola. They have also conducted pre-clinical experiments in a mouse model of breast cancer,
where their vaccine technology showed considerable promise as a therapeutic treatment. Their pipeline is based on
Memcine’s Immunoplex™ technology platform, which is designed to use the body’s own naturally occurring targeting
system to deliver vaccine components to immune cells and stimulate a robust response.
The platform technology, Immunoplex™, enables a universal approach to the development of immune complex vaccine
production. Traditionally, the production of an immune complex vaccine required the identification, production, and
regulatory testing of each antibody needed for each vaccine. Despite industry interest in their development, immune
complex vaccines have yet to be commercially produced due to time and cost prohibitive hurdles of vaccine specific
antibody production and testing. Immunoplex™ circumvents these hurdles by creating a system that uses a single
antibody for all immune complex vaccines. This single antibody can be used to facilitate the formation of an immune
complex from any vaccine antigen.
ASL Analytical, Inc.
Professors Mark Arnold and Gary Small in the UI Department of Chemistry were able to use proof of concept funds to
translate and commercialize their research by creating ASL Analytical, Inc. in 2005. ASL is housed in the UIRP
Bioventures Center, currently has eight full-time employees including a full-time CEO and recently hired a Director of
Operations and Manufacturing.http://www.asl-analytical.com/
ASL Analytical, Inc. is developing real-time, on-line chemical monitors for bioreactors with products that target
game-changing advances in the production of biopharmaceuticals. Many of these biologics are life-changing
medications, but can be very expensive to develop and manufacture. ASL’s chemical monitors enable the
measurement and control of these complex processes essential to decrease development cost and drive more rapid
time to market. ASL Analytical is housed in the BioVentures Center, their Pichia Bioprocess Monitor is currently
in Beta Testing, and they are moving into a manufacturing phase and plan to use Iowa companies for supply chain
materials.
15
Regents Innovation Fund projects for
FY 2012-FY2013
RIF Program
Summary
Description of Program FY13 – RIF
Expenditures From
FY12 and FY13
Match Funds Source
Progress through June 30, 2013
ROI DATA
VP for Research Thesefunds havebeen instrumental in enabling UI
to expand theeconomic development infrastructure.
Thesefunds supported critical economic development
functions associated with University Research Park,
BioVentures Center, Technology Innovation Center and
IOWA Centers for Enterprise.
EXPENDITURES:
$464,886
MATCH:
UI BioVentures Center
in-kind contribution;
College of Engineering;
College of Liberal Arts
$464,925
Staff support for UIRP, BVC and TIC and to add a conciergeservicestaff
member to assist faculty navigateIP and commercialization.
Competition for BVC/TIC tenants to assist in further developing proof-
of-concept.
RIF funding, in collaboration with TIF funding fromtheCity of
Coralvillewas used to purchaselaboratory equipment for the
BioVentures Center shared lab spaceto beused by theBVC early
stagetenants. Theseitems include, incubators, -80 freezers, shakers,
and etc. This high dollar equipment is crucial to thesuccess of these
companies.
Funding was also used to assist companies in obtaining legal and
accounting services. Educational sessions wereheld at theBVC to
allow our tenants direct one-on-oneaccess to theseserviceproviders to
assist themin furthering their business concepts and assurethey meet
stateand federal guidelines
RIF funding was used to assist TheEngineering MachineShop at UI,
in thepurchaseof a 3-D printer that would allow our BVC/TIC tenants
access to creating 3-D models out of ABS plastics, for concept and
further research and development of their business models.
TheUniversity of Iowa is an important partner in theIC CoLab, a new
coworking spacedirected by theIowa City Area Development Group.
Several UI student companies havetransitioned fromtheBELL to the
CoLab upon graduation. Additionally, UI has provided several student
interns to CoLab companies to assist in business and growth planning
activities.
16
John Pappajohn
Entrepreneurial
Center
To fund expenses associated with training, consultation
and outreach for Iowa entrepreneurs. J PEC continues to
expand outreach programs for Iowans: 1) Support the
development, implementation, and expansion of
entrepreneurship programs; 2) Enhance support for
faculty and area technology and high potential startup
and early stage companies through one-on-one
consulting, education seminars and workshops, and
student/faculty field study projects and 3) Continue
support for elevator pitch and business concept
competitions for UI-based new and emerging ventures.
EXPENDITURES:
$195,422
MATCH: JPEC in-
kind contribution
$195,422
Employed a Project Manager to work with UI faculty / staff / students in
theareas of strategic business planning, market research, operations and
financial assessment. Project manager also identified and managed
projects for existing Iowa-based companies to work with UI student
consulting teams.
J PEC hosted 12 different opportunities last year for students, faculty and
persons fromthecommunity. In FY13, 6,672 attendees cameto learn
fromexperienced entrepreneurs on a variety of topics including:
Technology Export Roundtable, various tax workshops, and a six-week
start-up training program.
J PEC held various elevator pitch and business plan competitions for UI
faculty, staff and students and tenants of theBVC and TIC. Over 320
entrepreneurs participated and 86 received a total of $282,100 in seed
funding.
University of
Iowa Research
Foundation
(UIRF)
UIRF focused on two primary activities: 1) continueits
contribution to theintegrated model of new company
formation and 2) educatefaculty in key colleges and
departments in identifying viabletechnologies that have
potential to createintellectual property which can lead to
new companies and/or licensing opportunities. Since
university derived intellectual property is by naturevery
nascent in terms of its readiness for forming companies
and attracting additional investment capital, RIF and
GIVF havebeen critically important to assist in
establishing proof of concept in several of our most
exciting technologies in advanceof forming companies.
Thesefunds also arevery helpful in helping attract
additional proof of concept funds fromfederal and
privatesources
EXPENDITURES:
$343,191
MATCH: UIRF Seed
Grants $333,497
Funds wereutilized to support existing projects that continueto
demonstratecommercial merit. This support included specialized
technology experts, external grant identification and application,
intellectual property evaluation and strategy, external partnership
development and assistancein securing investment and management for
startups.
RIF (prior GIVF) funding has been critical in creating a cultureof
commercialization and enabling thecreation of highly innovative
startups based on faculty research. Theseinvestments can be
directly linked to 19 startups through theend of FY13. See
Appendix A for Historical perspectiveof RIF/GIVF funding that
Stimulated Start Up Activity
17
EMERGING TRENDS IN UNIVERSITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
Entrepreneurship continues to be a driving force in global economic growth and wealth creation. For individuals to be
successful in today’s competitive world they must have interdisciplinary skills that prepare them for the many
opportunities and challenges they will face throughout their professional lives; entrepreneurship is one such critical skill
set. Regardless of a student’s major field of study, learning the entrepreneurial mindset serves as the basis for the
University of Iowa’s entrepreneurship program—preparing students to innovate, lead and succeed in their chosen field of
study. Growing the Regents’ entrepreneurship activities coincides with Governor Branstad’s priority to build Iowa’s
economy through high-wage job creation and economic diversification. Primary areas of focus for FY 2014 are to expand
undergraduate educational opportunities across campus and statewide in partnership with Iowa community colleges, to
increase business support services to Iowa companies by expanding faculty/student experiential learning opportunities, to
accelerate statewide new company formation through new entrepreneurial training coupled with technical support, and to
provide new opportunities for collaboration and connectivity to Iowa entrepreneurs and investors.
Expanding STEM Education – The University of Iowa’s J ohn Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (UI J PEC) and
J acobson Institute for Youth Entrepreneurship seek to significantly increase access to entrepreneurship education at all
levels and across academic disciplines within K-12 education. The initiative aims to leverage existing capabilities and
services fostering creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, and preparing students for success in careers relating to
business, entrepreneurship, and STEM. The J acobson Institute has established a partnership with the University of Iowa’s
College of Education, Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education & Talent Development, and the Iowa HUBS
for STEM education to develop new ways of teaching entrepreneurship as part of the Iowa Governor’s STEM
Initiative. Through this joint partnership, Iowa school districts will receive teacher professional development workshops,
access to curriculum resources, and experiential learning through competitions offering students the opportunity to better
understand entrepreneurship, business development and technology commercialization. A key component of the
University’s K-12 STEM Entrepreneurship initiative is to build greater awareness and understanding for the role that
entrepreneurship and economic development play in STEM Education.
Access to Management Talent – Technology startups are also challenged to find seasoned management to help lead
operations during the early stages of new enterprises. Some companies have had success in attracting experienced
entrepreneurs back to Iowa to lead new ventures; others have benefited from temporary CEO’s through local mentors or
Entrepreneur-in-Residence programs. While these efforts have yielded positive results in the short term, in the long run
it is critical for the state to accelerate efforts to develop management talent within Iowa in addition to encouraging
former Iowans to return and assume the reigns of technology startups. It is also important to create an integrated
network of startups, service providers, industry organizations and educational institutions to better connect young
entrepreneurs with experienced entrepreneurs, mentors and service providers. In FY 2014, UI will continue efforts to
work with state partners to build a network of management and technical talent to support new and existing technology
business across the state.
Availability of Early Stage Capital – In order to build an innovation-based entrepreneurial ecosystem, it is critical that
pre-startup and early-stage ventures have access to capital for proof of concept and initial prototyping of new products
and software applications. State of Iowa funding through the Regents Innovation Fund and previous Grow Iowa Values
Funds have been crucial to the creation of many of the UI-based technology start-up companies. These funds have
been used to advance technology development and have proven very important to sustain operations during future
technology development and fundraising efforts. Aside fromthis type of state funding (along with other funding through
the Iowa Economic Development Authority), federal support through SBIR/STTR programs also serves as a vital source of
funding for technology-based startups. Without these early stage sources of capital, many of the UI nascent technologies and
very early stage companies would struggle to advance through the “Valley of Death” that faces technology firms . The state’s
efforts to provide both early stage funding, as well as efforts to increase the availability of venture capital is crucial to growing
an advanced technology economy. In FY 2014, UI will continue to maximize the effectiveness of UI gap funding as well as
improve support for accessing state, federal and private capital.
18
Appendix A
Summary of Historical GIVF/RIF Commercialization Funding Stimulating Startup Activity
Total
Funded
Projects
Potential
Startup
Identified
Startup
Formed
Year
Company
Started
Company
Name
Startup Is
On-Going
Remains
Under
Consideration
for Startup
GIVF/ RIF
stimulated
What Result
UIRF Option
or License
2013
Anderson 37 ? ? 2011
FxRedux
Solutions
Yes ? Product Beta Licensed
Assouline 36 ? ? 2012
NanoMedT
rix
Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Optioned
Bowden 35 ? ? 2013 Venturen Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Under
negotiation
Flynn 34 ? ? 2013 pxAlpha Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Marler/ Ozobolat 33 ? ? 2013
Virtual
Systems
Engr.
Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Under
negotiation
Martins/Mickelsen 32 ? ? 2011
Iowa
Approach
Yes ?
Licensed
McNamara 31
Continued
product
testing
Morcuende/
Grosland
30 ? ? 2012
Clubfoot
Solutions
Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Under
negotiation
Peters 29
Under
negotiation
Raghavan 28
Continued
product
testing
Vanden
Bush/Bishop
27 ? ? 2010
Memcine
Pharmaceut
icals
Yes ? Optioned
Wahls 26 ? ? 2011 Xcellerator Yes ?
Under
negotiation
2012
Adams/Welsh 25 ? ? 2012 Emmyon Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Under
negotiation
Davidson 24 ? 2013 AAVenue Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Under
negotiation
Das 23 ? 2012 ?
Product
discontinued
Flynn 22 ? ? 2013 pxAlpha ?
Startup
Formation
Howard 21 ? ? 2012
Direct
Spinal
Therapeutic
s
Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Licensed
Martins/Mickelsen 20 ? ? 2011
Iowa
Approach
Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Optioned
19
Salem 19 ? ? 2009
PolyImmun
ex
No ?
Startup
Formation
Wahls 18 ? ? 2011 Xcellerator Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Under
negotiation
Vanden Bush/
Bishop
17 ? ? 2010 Memcine Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Optioned
2011
Anderson 16 ? ? 2011
FxRedux
Solutions
Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Licensed
Baker 15 ? ? 2010 Tansna Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Optioned
Doddapaneni* 14
Product
discontinued
Comeron, Manak 13
Product
discontinued
Vanden Bush/
Bishop
12 ? ? 2010 Memcine Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Optioned
Howard 11 ? ? 2012
Direct
Spinal
Therapeutic
s
Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Licensed
2010
Schultz 10 ? ? 2009
ViewPoint
Mole. Diag.
Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Optioned
Adams 9 ? ? 2012 Emmyon Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Under
negotiation
McCray 8
Research
ongoing
Lim 7 ? ? 2007 JL Meditech No
Not viable
Lack of
viability
Lack of
viability
Leddy 6 ? ? 2009 Voltesla No Not viable
Startup
Formation
Optioned then
terminated
2007
Abramoff 5 ? ? 2010 IDX Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Licensed
Arnold 4 ? ? 2005
ASL
Analytical
Yes ?
Industry
Partner
Company
formed, no
license
Hohl 3 ? ? 2005
Terpenoid
Therapeutic
Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Licensed
Welsh 2 ? ? 2007
Exemplar
Genetics
Yes ?
Startup
Formation
Licensed
Wolgennaunt 1 ? ? 2006
OMR
Sensors
No Not viable
Lack of
viability
Lack of
viability
TOTAL 25
*Projects funded more than one year.
20
Appendix B
Name of Business or
Other Entity Served
City and County where
this Project is in Place
University Unit that interacted with business
or other entity
City County
BUSINESS INCUBATOR TENANTS
AMBI Group Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
ASL Analytical Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
Bio::Neos, Inc. Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
Brain Image Analysis Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
Cellular Engineering Tech Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
Componica
Coralville
J ohnson
Technology Innovation Center
Corvida Medical Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
CQM Systems Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
Digital Artefacts, LLC Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
Exemplar Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
Higher Learning Technologies Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
Hennepin LifeSciences Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
Innomatix, LLC Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
KemPharm, Inc. Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
Memcine Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
NanoMedTrix Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
Ramaanchar Technologies, Inc. Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
Redox BioCat Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
Santos Human Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
Tansna Therapeutics Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
Terpenoid Therapeutics, Inc. Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
The Thomas Group Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
21
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
VIDA Diagnostics Coralville J ohnson BioVentures Center
RESEARCH PARK TENANTS
LMS North America Coralville J ohnson UI Research Park/TIC Graduate
Stanley Environmental, Inc. Coralville J ohnson UI Research Park
General Dynamics Information Technology Coralville J ohnson UI Research Park
Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc. Coralville J ohnson UI Research Park/TIC Graduate
Noel-Levitz Coralville J ohnson UI Research Park
Leepfrog Technologies Coralville J ohnson UI Research Park
Cargill International Coralville/Cedar Rapids J ohnson UI Research Park
Brighton Group Coralville/Des Moines J ohnson/Polk UI Research Park
MediRevv Coralville J ohnson UI Research Park
OTHER BUSINESS INCUBATOR
GRADUATES ACTIVE IN IOWA
Ecolotree, Inc. Lowden, North Liberty Cedar, J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
Corcoran Communications, Inc. Iowa City J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
Innovative Software Engineering Coralville J ohnson UI Research Park/TIC Graduate
Bio-Research Products, Inc. North Liberty J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
aJ ile Systems, Inc. Cedar Rapids Linn Technology Innovation Center
CompuTerra, Inc. Cedar Rapids Linn Technology Innovation Center
HomeSafe Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
The Patient Education Institute Coralville/Iowa City J ohnson UI Research Park/TIC
Police Law Institute Coralville/North Liberty J ohnson UI Research Park/TIC
Corridor Business J ournal Coralville J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
Applied Fullerene Davenport Scott Technology Innovation Center
Epley Marketing North Liberty J ohnson Technology Innovation Center
Sebesta Blomberg, Inc. Cedar Rapids Linn Technology Innovation Center
Vive Media Washington Washington Technology Innovation Center
DEVELOPERS
Myriad Developers, Inc. Cedar Rapids Linn UI Research Park
TMD, L.L.C. Solon J ohnson UI Research Park
Midwest Development & Invest.Corp. Fairfield J efferson UI Research Park
Liberty Growth Iowa City J ohnson UI Research Park
22
Hunter Companies Cedar Rapids Linn UI Research Park
S & S Developers Iowa City J ohnson UI Research Park
EMRICO Iowa City J ohnson UI Research Park
Ryan Companies, US Cedar Rapids Linn UI Research Park
LMC, LLC North Liberty J ohnson UI Research Park
Oakdale 8, LLC Iowa City J ohnson UI Research Park
1
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
FY13 Board of Regents, State of Iowa,
Annual Economic Development and
Technology Transfer Report
PRESENTED BY
DAVID OLIVER,
INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
AND
MICHAEL CRUM,
SENIOR POLICY ADVISER ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
October 23-24, 2013
2
FY13 Board of Regents, State of Iowa, Annual Economic Development and
Technology Transfer Report
1. Please briefly describe the relationship of your institution’s economic development
activities to the enhancement of economic growth in the state. The description should
cover, but not necessarily be limited to the following:
A. the relationship between institutional activities and creation of jobs and wealth in Iowa
B. Institutional activities and services which indirectly promote economic development,
such as training provided to staff of local economic development agencies
1A. Enhancement of Economic Growth through Job Creation and Retention,
Investments, Sales, and Cost Savings
Iowa State University promotes economic growth in Iowa by moving research ideas to
the market, supporting creation of new companies, offering assistance to existing
companies, attracting new companies and entrepreneurs to Iowa, contributing to
workforce and entrepreneurial development, and creating intellectual property.
Two recent examples of moving research ideas to the market come from Iowa State’s
NSF Center for Biorenewable Chemicals. Two startup companies based on research by
the Center have won grants supported by the National Science Foundation to develop
their technologies for potential commercialization. Center leaders say the grants will
allow the companies to "de-risk" their technologies for business and industry.
? OmegaChea Biorenewables LLC of Ames won a one-year, $225,000 Small
Business Technology Transfer Phase 1 grant. The grant will help the company
develop a new manufacturing platform that will use microorganisms modified to
use unique enzymes for the production of biorenewable chemicals. The
chemicals can be used to produce detergents, lubricants, and polymers.
? Glucan Biorenewables LLC of St. Louis won a six-month, $150,000 Small
Business Innovation Research Phase I grant. The grant will allow the company to
prove that its bio-based reaction system works with actual biomass to produce
chemicals that can be used to make packaging, insulation, and other products.
Faculty and staff researchers, whether in departments, centers, or institutes, often work
with experts in several key units to help fulfill ISU’s economic development efforts.
The ISU Research Park is a resource provider and business incubator that encourages
commercialization of university research. The Innovations Development Facility (IDF),
part of the Plant Sciences Institute, incubates new plant biotechnology companies. The
Institute for Physical Research and Technology (IPRT) Company Assistance Program,
Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and the ISU Pappajohn Center for
Entrepreneurship interact with companies across Iowa to solve technical, production,
and management problems. The improved production resulting from these interactions
allow businesses to retain and often expand their workforce. The ISU Research
Foundation (ISURF) and Office of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer
(OIPTT) manage, market, and license the intellectual property of ISU researchers and
work with them to patent inventions and market the innovations to commercial partners.
Finally, ISU Extension and Outreach’s Center for Industrial Research and Service
(CIRAS) works with companies to enhance their performance, and Community and
3
Economic Development (CED) programs offer a variety of technical assistance,
consulting, and educational programs to improve the quality of life in Iowa communities.
The following are some examples of the direct impact that these ISU units have had this
past year.
? The ISU Research Park continues to be successful in initiating as well as
nurturing numerous new businesses. Three new companies and affiliates joined
the Park in FY13, bringing the historical total to 221 companies, research
centers, and affiliates. Currently, there are 53 companies and research centers
and 14 affiliates located in the Park, employing 1,240 and 139 people,
respectively.
? There are currently three faculty-affiliated startup companies located in the
Innovations Development Facility, the on-campus business incubator in the Roy
J . Carver Co-Laboratory under direction of the Plant Sciences Institute. A total of
18 companies have used this business incubator space since the facility opened
in September 2003.
? A summary of project evaluation data clearly shows that Iowa companies with
technical problems and R&D needs continue to benefit from the services of IPRT
Company Assistance. IPRT Company Assistance is composed of three
segments that each aid Iowa’s businesses in unique ways: materials,
nondestructive evaluation, and research cost-sharing. The Materials and
Nondestructive Evaluation groups provide limited duration (typically up to 40-60
hours) no-cost technical assistance. The Research Cost-Sharing Program helps
Iowa smaller companies utilize ISU’s faculty and facilities for research by
providing a 1:1 cash-match on research projects. By working with these three
groups, Iowa companies report positive impacts affecting their sales,
investments, and operating costs throughout the languishing recovery from the
economic recession of 2009-2013. Based on survey data, IPRT Company
Assistance had a positive cumulative impact exceeding $100 million over the five
years between FY2008-2012.
During the period FY2006-2013, IPRT had more than 700 interactions with Iowa
companies covering 71 of Iowa’s 99 counties. In FY2012 alone, the companies
that responded to the impact survey reported adding an estimated 20 new
employees as a result of their interactions with IPRT Company Assistance.
Additionally, the Company Assistance program has helped with the development
of 30 startup companies in Iowa since 2002. There is potential to grow the
economic impact of IPRT’s Company Assistance activities and utilize a wider
range of ISU’s capabilities to increase its ability to help Iowa’s businesses.
• IPRT Company Assistance’s Materials Group worked with Insta-Pro
International in Urbandale to test its replacement extruder parts. Insta-Pro
manufactures extruders, presses, and other processing equipment for the
feed and food industry. The extruders operate under demanding
processing conditions involving high pressures and temperatures. Even
high-quality components will exhibit wear over time and require periodic
replacement. Insta-Pro came to IPRT seeking assistance in determining
how well its replacement extruder parts stack up against the after-market
4
competitors. Insta-Pro replacement parts performed well when compared
to the competition. Insta-Pro used the results from the performance
comparisons to develop new marketing materials showing its product’s
superiority. Because of this, IPRT Company Assistance’s materials group
was able to play a key role in helping Insta-Pro grow its Iowa-based
manufacturing. The longer term impact is still developing, but indications
are this project had a significant positive impact on the company’s growth.
• Quatro Composites in Orange City turned to IPRT Company Assistance’s
Nondestructive Evaluation Group for inspection of its parts. Quatro
Composites manufactures carbon fiber for a variety of industries. To
become an approved manufacturer of certain aerospace components, the
company needed to ensure quality and establish the capability to perform
nondestructive inspection on them. IPRT’s Nondestructive Evaluation
Group worked with the company and identified a suitable inspection
protocol that met the industry standards. This interaction allowed the
company to develop the knowledge needed to fully implement the
inspection potential provided by test systems, enabling them to
successfully enter a demanding market. The result was a significant
increase in sales for the company, as well as the creation of several jobs
in a new inspection department that was created at Quatro.
• IPRT Company Assistance’s Research Cost-Sharing Program helped
Cedar Rapids’ Diamond V Mills start a research project at ISU for its
animal nutrition products. Diamond V Mills’ products are designed to
optimize digestive function and nutrition key to animal and aqua health,
productivity, efficiency, and profitability. IPRT helped set up and fund the
research project with the company and ISU’s Biomedical Sciences
Department to investigate the immunological benefits of Diamond V Mills’
proprietary product in dairy calves. Researchers will evaluate the anti-
colonization properties of the product on Salmonella in dairy calves. While
the project is still under way, the research may confirm that Diamond V
Mills’ proprietary product reduces Salmonella colonization during calves’
most vulnerable stage in life. If confirmed, this product will significantly
enhance food safety and animal health. In turn, this will lead to reduced
animal loss for dairy farmers and will open up new markets for Diamond V
Mills.
? During federal FY12, which is the most recent full year for the program, the
SBDC provided business assistance to individuals and companies totaling 2,646
clients and 11,018 counseling hours. The SBDC also conducted 221 training
workshops in which 3,483 individuals participated.
The ISU SBDC, along with the ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship,
provided 546 hours of counseling assistance to startup and existing companies;
served 117 clients with one-on-one counseling; educated 433 attendees through
workshops; provided advice to several hundred clients via telephone and e-mail;
and advised 32 technology companies in the areas of licensing, equity-based
financing, market entry, and numerous operational areas.
5
? Technologies originating at ISU and licensed to Iowa companies have resulted in
over $45 million in sales by those companies in calendar year 2012. Total sales
of ISURF-licensed technologies were $647 million, not including germplasm.
? OIPTT began supporting SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) and STTR
(Small Business Technology Transfer) outreach efforts in FY06. Preliminary
award reports indicate that SBIR and STTR funding will be decreased compared
to FY12. This is largely due to the impact of sequestration, which has resulted in
agencies reducing the number of awards they make or delaying contract
negotiations and release of funding. Outreach and training activities in addition to
providing proposal preparation support has continued, and 21 companies
received assistance in preparing 25 proposals through the Office of Intellectual
Property and Technology Transfer in FY13. To date, awards worth $4.8 million
have been reported for FY13, with 15 different Iowa companies winning 17 new
or continuing SBIR and STTR awards. The Department of Defense, National
Institutes of Health (NIH), and the National Science Foundation are funding this
year’s Iowa SBIR/STTR award winners. The funded projects reflect Iowa’s
strengths in biotechnology, information systems, manufacturing, and agriculture.
Nearly $3.8 million in support was awarded from NIH for projects that range from
the development of new medical devices and medical imaging technologies to
new animal models for human diseases. In addition, nearly $1 million has been
received from the National Science Foundation for projects that include the
development of educational games and biomanufacturing applications.
The Regents Innovation Fund (formerly Grow Iowa Values Fund) program at
Iowa State has a competitive research component that pairs ISU faculty
members with Iowa industries (primarily new to young startups) to create
economic benefit for the companies. Surveys completed by companies on
projects funded from J une 2006–J une 2012 (surveyed one year after project
completion) documented more than 118 jobs created or retained and an annual
sales impact of more than $16.1 million due to the research projects conducted in
partnership between ISU and the companies.
? ISU Extension and Outreach’s CIRAS helps Iowa’s economy prosper and grow
by enhancing the performance of industry through applied research, education,
and technical assistance. CIRAS has been working with companies in
communities across Iowa for more than 50 years and has a vision for Iowa of
healthy communities through business prosperity. Cumulatively, over the past
five years, CIRAS and its partners have reported impact from companies totaling
more than $1.8 billion ($1.5 billion in sales gained or retained, $227 million in
new investments, $100 million in costs saved or avoided) with 25,675 jobs added
or retained as a result of the assistance they received.
? Governor Terry E. Branstad officially recognized the contributions of
CIRAS as the industrial extension arm of the university helping the
College of Engineering and Iowa State University Extension and
Outreach carry out the land-grant mission through a 50
th
anniversary
proclamation from the State of Iowa Executive Department. The
proclamation acknowledged that CIRAS was established in 1963 after
receiving authorization and appropriated funds from the General
Assembly, along with unanimous Board of Regents approval.
6
? Last year, 1,613 businesses from 97 counties in the state received
assistance on projects or attended educational workshops from CIRAS
staff or partners. Companies responding to surveys reported $389 million
in total impact — $333 million in sales gained or retained, $35 million in
new investments, and $21 million in costs saved or avoided. Company
executives stated that 5,638 jobs were added or retained as a result of
the assistance they received from CIRAS and its partners.
? Power Engineering and Manufacturing (PEM) LTD in Waterloo, Iowa,
completed a Theory of Constraints (TOC) project with CIRAS that
focused on improving throughput, communication, and profitability. PEM
reported more than $9 million in impact due to this project — $6.1million
in sales gained or retained and $3.4 million in costs saved or avoided.
? Impact of more than $937,000, retention of 30 jobs, and the creation of
one additional job was the reported result of CIRAS technical assistance
provided to ADA Enterprises, Inc., a manufacturer of plastic-coated steel
outdoor furniture and agricultural supplies in Northwood, IA. The
assistance helped the company design and implement a process for
generating ongoing business improvement and greater profitability.
? CIRAS government contracting specialists work with Iowa businesses,
from one-person operations to some of the state’s largest employers, to
help them understand the government procurement process and to
secure contracts. As the only organization in the state of Iowa providing
contracting assistance at all three levels of the government market
segmentation — local, state, and federal — CIRAS staff provided
counseling to more than 1,200 companies. Companies reported more
than $153 million in government contract impact due in part to the
assistance they received. The Defense Logistics Agency, which funds
CIRAS to provide assistance to Iowa companies, indicated this impact
helped create or retain 3,070 jobs.
? More than 240 participants were trained in FY13 by attending
conferences and workshops offered through a partnership of CIRAS and
the College of Engineering (Civil, Construction, and Environmental
Engineering, and the Electric Power Research Center) and the Iowa
Energy Partnership for Industrial Energy Efficiency, which includes
CIRAS, MidAmerican Energy, Michael’s Energy, Black Hills Energy, Iowa
Association of Municipal Utilities, Alliant Energy, Corn Belt Power
Cooperative, Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, Central Iowa
Power Cooperative, Iowa Economic Development Authority Energy
Team, and Van Meter Incorporated.
Energy efficiency workshops held across Iowa provided education on
industrial lighting and steam systems. Continuing education was provided
for civil engineering practitioners in geotechnical engineering, water
resources, and environmental engineering. Attendees were able to obtain
professional development hours toward retention of their Iowa
engineering licenses.
7
? The ISU College of Engineering Industrial Assessment Center partnered
with CIRAS in providing energy audits to eight manufacturing companies.
ISU teams comprised of faculty and students, both graduate and
undergraduate, visited company sites to collect data and conduct
analyses. Reports were then created recommending ways each company
could reduce energy consumption and increase profitability.
? CIRAS is working with the BEST of Iowa (Business Expansion and
Strategic Trends), a coalition of Iowa utility concerns, Iowa Economic
Development Authority (IEDA), Iowa Innovation Council, Iowa Workforce
Development, Association of Business and Industry (ABI), Iowa Area
Development Group, Iowa Business Council, Iowa Department of
Education, and Iowa’s Regents universities and Community Colleges to
provide a statewide coordinated business retention and expansion
program. Economic developers throughout the state use the Synchronist
data system to interview executives of Iowa industries to create an Iowa
Competitive Capacity ScoreCard for the state. This report provides a
detailed analysis of Iowa’s situation and identifies opportunities and risks
to be addressed. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Iowa work
with the local economic development partners to interpret the results and
cultivate additional resources to assist business development strategies,
with an emphasis on trade cluster companies around the state. The data
also are used to affect statewide programs of change to address the
varying needs of the state economy.
? CIRAS is working with the regional economic development marketing
groups across Iowa to address economic development strategies in their
particular regions. Strategic planning, workforce development, business
outreach, buyer/supplier efforts, and industrial assistance programming is
provided within each of the separate groups.
? To meet the increasing demand for Latino business and community development
assistance, Community and Economic Development (CED) Extension and
Outreach specialists trained 32 Latino business leaders and entrepreneurs,
helped 18 minority entrepreneurs start or improve their businesses, and assisted
with the creation of 13 jobs and the retention of 100 jobs for minority employees.
Community development specialist Himar Hernández maintains contacts with
Latino business owners throughout the state and has facilitated the development
of Latino business networks in southeast and central Iowa. The city of Ottumwa
and Hernández were featured on NBC’s TODAY Show in a piece on how
communities adapt to changing populations. The TODAY Show learned about
Ottumwa and Hernández’s work there in an article in the Wall Street J ournal on
November 8, 2012. Hernández’s work also was mentioned in The Chronicle of
Higher Education. (TODAY Show video:http://www.today.com/video/today/51515671#51515671)
? CED Extension and Outreach specialists started and supported 18 local/regional
housing trust funds with a dollar value of $10,029,720 in new and rehabilitation
housing construction last year, generating approximately 140 jobs in Iowa (80
8
jobs due to direct effect and 60 jobs due to indirect and induced effects). The
housing trust fund initiative was supported by the Iowa Finance Authority.
1B. Training Opportunities for Staff of Local Economic Development Agencies and
Other Activities that Indirectly Promote Economic Development
The ISU Extension and Outreach Center for Industrial Research and Service
(CIRAS) reports several economic development training and other activities.
? CIRAS held the second annual corridor procurement conference in Cedar
Rapids, IA, educating companies on the key elements of capturing business
sales with government agencies or partnering with prime contractors. The event
provided opportunities for 50 companies to network with government buyers
including contracting personnel from the city of Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa
State Prison Industries, Iowa Department of Administrative Services, Iowa
Department of Transportation, and the Rock Island Arsenal.
? The Iowa Area Development Group (IADG) and CIRAS formed a partnership to
expand the level of support for manufacturers and businesses based in rural
areas across the state. The partnership combines CIRAS manufacturing and
technical expertise with IADG’s financial acumen to provide comprehensive
growth services to rural manufacturers.
? The College of Engineering Electric Power Research Center (EPRC) is a
consortium of 10 utilities that sponsor multidisciplinary power systems research
at Iowa State University. Eight of the 10 companies provide services in Iowa; the
remaining two are international. Funds provided by the companies are used to
conduct research on the reliable and economic operation of power systems. In
addition, the research deals with the integration of increasing amounts of wind
and solar energy into the grid and the implications of the electrification of
transportation. EPRC research helps ensure that Iowa, the U.S., and the world
have a supply of electric power that is cost-effective, reliable, and sustainable.
? Keeping Iowa youth interested and participating in STEM initiatives will create a
better prepared future workforce and ultimately help improve economic
development in the state of Iowa. The College of Engineering plays a vital role in
filling the engineering pipeline by providing critical leadership to K-12 outreach
efforts such as FIRST LEGO League, J unior FIRST LEGO League, Project Lead
the Way, engineering summer kids’ camps, Mom’s Night out for STEM, and
multiple other outreach events and hands-on activities. In FY13 more than 6,000
middle and high school students attended Project Lead the Way courses at 200
sites across the state. The College of Engineering also supported more than
4,000 youth participants as part of FIRST LEGO League, and hosted nearly 800
youth in engineering summer kids’ camps.
? A cooperative agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
and CIRAS leveraged resources and the university’s expertise in biofuels,
biobased chemicals, and end-use biobased products to develop rules,
procedures, and infrastructure needed to operationalize the national
BioPreferred
®
Program, which was created by the 2002 Farm Bill and expanded
9
by the 2008 Farm Bill. CIRAS developed systems to collect and access
information on the biobased industry, and worked with the ASTM International
standards committee to perfect the methodology for determining biobased
content, and collaborated with USDA to establish programmatic policies to
support operations, rules for designating biobased product categories, and
regulations for the biobased certification labeling program. CIRAS identified more
than 3,500 companies across the U.S. that represented more than 27,000
biobased products and assisted with the labeling of more than 900 biobased
products.
ISU involvement with the USDA BioPreferred Program concluded in FY13 but the
CIRAS contributions allowed USDA to take the next steps in operationalizing the
systems that were developed and helping the biobased industry grow by gaining
access to government markets.
Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension and Outreach reports several
economic development training and other activities.
? Economic Benefits from Hands-on Ventilation Workshops
A multistate, interdisciplinary team of Extension and Outreach specialists (South
Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Iowa) developed a training program on
ventilation system management that producers can understand and adopt into
their operations supported by pork producer associations. The workshop
incorporated a hands-on method that allowed participants to learn, not only from
the specialists, but also from putting the newly acquired information into practice.
Specialists worked together to build a model swine facility on wheels that
contains all the equipment, inlets, and controllers needed to let producers
practice ventilation principles.
In Iowa 15 workshops reached 254 pork production operations and/or systems;
189 post-workshop surveys were completed; those completing the survey had
influence over 10.7 million market hogs, representing a third of Iowa's swine
industry. After-workshop survey results indicated that participants had increased
their confidence to make the proper changes to their system. About half of the
participants estimated a value change in energy savings and improved farm air
quality for their operation. The total benefit for all participants was reported at
$411,600 in production improvements and energy cost savings.
? Successful Intergenerational Transition of Farmland Ensured through Education
Access to capital and/or land ownership is a huge limitation for beginning and
non-traditional farmers trying to enter into agricultural production and processing.
Developing strategies to access capital for new start-up businesses or
transferring land and farm operations from generation to generation is critical to a
smooth transition from one owner to the next. More and more women are
assuming farm management roles in existing operations or have become
landowners through purchases or inheritance and are seeking ways to better
manage and sustain the profitability of these farming operations.
In conjunction with an ISU Extension and Outreach farm management specialist,
Value Added Ag staff helped train and prepare educational leaders to conduct
Annie's Project farm management programs fostering improved problem solving,
10
record keeping, and decision making skills for farm women with an emphasis on
estate planning, retirement, and succession planning. Survey results from 74
attendees indicated improved awareness and a request for additional in-depth
training in estate planning (54 percent); 61 percent developed new support
networks and identified new professionals to support their farm management
tasks. Participants learned strategies that they plan to implement on their own
farms.
? Local Foods Potential Expanded
One of the major obstacles constraining local food production in Iowa is limited
availability due to seasonality. Producers have expressed great interest in
expanding their production potential through the use of high tunnels (HT) to
extend their growing season and improve production quality and quantity.
Extension and Outreach developed two related publications on rainwater
catchment and vegetable production budgets for HT. Staff also conducted seven
one-day workshops introducing HT production to growers across the state that
reached 158 current or future growers. Four additional conference presentations
that focused on high tunnel production introduced 100 additional growers to the
production methodology.
A high tunnel publication has been downloaded more than 150 times; 86 growers
attended workshops on the topic. These attendees provided feedback and
requests for additional training on crop specific production methodology. Portions
of these workshops also were presented as breakout sessions at numerous local
foods workshops across the state. Survey results show that as a result of these
workshops 60 percent of attendees plan to increase their fruit and vegetable
production and marketing.
? Lowering Costs for Dairy Producers
More than 40 percent of dairy producers in Iowa are milking in stall barns or
antiquated milking parlors that are achieving only 25 cows milked per person per
hour. This not only creates a labor and financial drain, but also impacts human
health and animal performance. An exceptionally useful tool for producers
considering milking system decisions would be a database of costs, benefits, and
economic ranges of income and expense variables and responses by producers
who have already implemented decisions on building low cost parlors or
automatic milking systems.
The ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Team analyzed surveys from producers
with whom they had worked who had already installed a low cost parlor (LCP) or
automatic milking system (AMS) on their farm. Surveys were completed by 90
percent of LCP producers (18/20 surveyed) and 8 AMS producers (50 percent of
all AMS farms, since this is a very recent technology). Those that built an LCP
are milking 55 percent more cows on average, while decreasing milking labor 28
percent (2.44 hrs/day). LCP milking labor costs decreased from $1.83/cwt milk to
$0.95/cwt (0.98/cow/day to $0.50/day). LCP producers saw a 15 percent
increase in milk production (8 lbs), 23 percent decrease in SCC (improved milk
quality), and a 4 percent reduction in culling rate, equating to more than $80,000
of income increase per farm per year. These changes led to more than $2 million
of additional annual income from the 26 farms completing the survey.
11
? Drought Response Helps in Economic Decisions
The drought of 2012 highlighted the ability of ISU Extension and Outreach to
accurately assess the situation and proactively provide research-based
information and resources for farmers and service providers to help manage their
operations in the face of an extreme weather disaster. Two rapid response
drought webinars efficiently conveyed expert information to a statewide
audience, giving producers the option of viewing the archived version at their
own convenience. In addition, dozens of live regional drought meetings were
held in cooperation with industry partners, with 5,300 farmers attending.
ANR Extension and Outreach specialists at Iowa State University conducted a
drought educational webinar on Aug. 21, 2012, that was hosted at 51 sites
across Iowa. A survey of participants showed a significant increase in their
knowledge about grain quality concerns, feed implications, harvest
considerations, fall fertility decisions, tillage, cover crops, and residue. More than
70 percent of respondents indicated that they plan to check and clean engine
compartments more frequently to reduce the risk of combine and field fires,
conduct soil tests, and adjust rates before applying fertilizer.
Fifteen percent indicated a likely economic impact from the knowledge they
gained during the webinar of more than $50,000, followed by $10,001-25,000 (11
percent), $501-1,000 (10 percent), $1,001-5,000 (10 percent), $5,001-10,000 (10
percent) and $25,001-50,000 (9 percent). Participants identified teaching tools
such as webinars (32 percent) and emails (32 percent) as most useful in
receiving drought related farming information.
? Food Safety Education Allows Local Food Providers to Improve Business
Iowa fruit and vegetable farms received assistance in writing food safety plans for
on-farm production and post-production processes, resulting in more local food
providers being able to continue in business by producing safe and healthy food
and non-food agricultural products, taking into account economical, social, and
environmental sustainability. Arranging for their GAP audits on the same day
they received assistance in writing food safety plans resulted in a cost savings of
up to 50 percent. Through education, Extension and Outreach creates an
environment in which local food providers can support public health by making
healthy food readily available, thus reinforcing good nutrition.
? Local Food Providers Learn Good Ag Practices (GAP)
The growing demand for local and regional food offers an unprecedented market
opportunity for small and mid-sized farms and holds great promise for increasing
the access to healthy and affordable food for rural areas. However, participation
in the food system beyond the local direct market often demands that farms
demonstrate compliance with complex GAP certification. Working with the
Northeast Iowa Food & Farm Coalition, ISU Extension and Outreach used a
grant to achieve two goals: 1) to develop a training program to equip food safety
“coaches” who could provide technical assistance to farmers to implement GAP
and prepare them for food safety certification, and 2) to create a GAP cost-share
program to assist farmers with the cost of an audit.
Through the coaching program, 21 Iowa fruit and vegetable farms received
assistance in writing a food safety plan. The mock audit helped participants
12
identify food safety areas of concern, so they could address them prior to paying
for a real audit. Following the mock audit, 11 farms requested a USDA GAP audit
for their farm and 100 percent passed, allowing these growers greater market
access for their produce.
? Beef Producers Increase Profitability through Technology
Beef cow numbers in the United States are the lowest since the 1950s. The ISU
Iowa Beef Center and the Iowa Cattlemen's Association hosted 10 Heifer
Development Clinics across Iowa in J anuary, February, and March 2012.
Participants who completed a post meeting evaluation managed an average of
103 cows and retained 20 heifers each year. Over 90 percent of the attendees
showed improved understanding of technologies available to develop heifers,
management practices to improve conception and longevity and keys to
successful heifer development. The majority of participants plan to retain heifers
in the future and more than 20 percent plan to increase the number retained.
Participants managed more than 61,800 cows and retained 12,000 heifers each
year.
? Improving Efficiencies in Grazing Helps Producers Increase Production
Improving productivity of pastures through better management allows increased
beef production per acre of land. Improved productivity in turn incentivizes
marginal land to remain in forage production. Profitable forage production on
marginal land improves economic activity in rural Iowa, reduces soil erosion, and
improves water quality. Extension and Outreach initiated the Iowa Certified
Grazier Program in 2012, targeting advanced grazing managers to pilot a new
curriculum for an advanced grazing school, and grazing mentor program.
Survey responses indicated participants managed an average of 129 cattle and
235 acres. Seventy percent of the respondents improved beef production per
acre by at least 20 percent. The median economic value resulting from these
educational efforts was more than $1,000 per operation. The impact resulted in
$1.1M in added economic activity to rural communities and improved the
productivity equivalent to 64,000 acres, or the forage to support more than
35,000 beef cows.
? Timely Farm Management with Online Ag Decision Maker and Estate Planning
Workshops
Farmers, financial lenders, farm managers, and agriculture educators understand
that having current, unbiased agricultural economics and business information is
important to making sound farm management decisions. Knowing where to go in
a rapidly changing agricultural environment to access up-to-date information that
includes new and emerging issues is critical to their success.
The Ag Decision Maker (AgDM) website, www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm, is
such a resource. The website currently has more than 3,200 visitors per day, and
an average of 65,000 unique users each month. These visitors spend a total of
500 hours on the site every day. Of visitors who visit more than once, the
average number of visits is five to six times each month.
AgDM materials were the key component to the Evaluating Your Estate Planning
(EYEP) workshops across the state. Participation went beyond initial
13
expectations, with 13 meetings and 395 participants in the first year; 19 more
meetings are planned. Evaluations found that after attending, 95 percent of
participants knew the kind of information about their estate plan they should take
to an attorney. Eighty-seven percent currently had a will, and 87 percent of
participants were likely to visit their attorney to revise their will as a result of what
they learned at the EYEP program.
A follow-up survey nine months after the EYEP meetings found 64 percent of
participants had visited an attorney regarding their estate plan as a result of the
program. Those who had not visited an attorney hadn’t because they didn’t feel a
need to, already had a plan in place, or were still deciding what to do.
Participants who visited with an attorney post-meeting went into that meeting
more prepared and were able to save legal time and money by making decisions
prior to the visit. More than 60 percent involved their family in decision-making
and increased communications. Sixty-nine percent had held a family meeting to
discuss their estate plan with their spouse, estate planning team, and/or heirs.
The Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation (CALT), the primary source of
professional educational training in agricultural law and taxation, presented
educational opportunities for attorneys regarding legal issues pertaining to estate
planning and farm taxes. Approximately 1,500 attorneys from Iowa, North
Dakota, and Kansas have participated in seminars and webinars on Agricultural
Law, Farm Estate and Business Planning, and Farm Income Tax, ensuring that
farm families have access to attorneys with current legal information to address
their needs.
4-H Youth Development reports the following economic development training activity.
? STEM Skills for Iowa’s Future Workforce
In order for Iowa youth to be successful in the 21st century, they must be
prepared with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills
necessary to meet Iowa’s workforce needs and economic development plans.
ISU Extension and Outreach’s 4-H Youth Development program, in partnership
with many local and national organizations and businesses, provided STEM
opportunities for youth in every Iowa county. These programs inspire and
prepare today’s youth to become science-literate citizens and meet future Iowa
workforce needs. ISU Extension and Outreach plays a vital role in filling the
STEM pipeline for Iowa companies. 4-H provides leadership for pre-collegiate
(K–12) STEM outreach, including the State Science and Technology Fair of
Iowa, 4-H STEM projects and exhibits, STEM camps, county STEM
programming, 4-H STEM special events at the Iowa State Fair, and STEM
focused 4-H clubs. In FY12, 590 sixth through twelfth grade students participated
in the State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa. County Extension and
Outreach programs engaged 20,379 participants in STEM focused programs or
4-H STEM projects ranging from environmental stewardship to geospatial
mapping — from which 35 STEM exhibits advanced to the Iowa State Fair and
11,646 youth were enrolled in groups using STEM curricula or engaging in STEM
activities in 4-H programs. In addition, 68 youth participated in STEM events at
the Iowa State Fair, 12 youth participated in a STEM workshop at the State 4-H
Youth Conference, and 12 youth participated in STEM workshops at the Iowa 4-
H Center.
14
Keeping Iowa youth interested and participating in STEM initiatives will create a
better prepared future workforce and ultimately help improve economic
development in the state of Iowa. The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council
established the North Central STEM Hub at ISU. As part of the STEM Initiative
the North Central Hub supported STEM events in the region that had 155 youth
attend and also hosted a STEM Festival event at VEISHEA that was conducted
by 25 youth with an estimated attendance of more 2,000 youth. 4-H supported
and participated in the Regional Scale-Up program that was overseen by the hub
managers that as an aggregate of all regions had 283 Scale-Up programs
reported, documenting 10,046 K-12 participants.
Human Sciences Extension and Outreach reports the following economic
development training activity.
? Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Helps Families Build Financial Security
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) augments the wages of low- and
moderate-income workers and, in turn, this flow of income makes a substantial
economic impact in local communities. EITC recipients circulate their refunds
through the local economy, creating a ripple effect that exceeds the size of the
original refund. This money strengthens neighborhoods, assists small
businesses, and spurs local economic development. ISU Extension and
Outreach worked with community partners to recruit and train 60 volunteers to
provide free tax preparation services to low- and moderate-income families
through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. In 2013, VITA
volunteers working at 24 VITA sites helped 1,633 low- and moderate-income
Iowans complete their 2012 income tax returns. Special efforts were made to
increase awareness of the EITC and VITA in rural Iowa. As a result, 675 filers
qualified for the EITC and received $959,550 in the 25 counties that participated
in the extension-community partnerships to expand VITA programs in rural Iowa.
Ames Economic Development Commission
The Ames Economic Development Commission’s (AEDC) five-year plan focuses on
building key infrastructure, supporting business growth, and collaborating with Iowa
State University and the Research Park on new ventures. AEDC has also developed its
Workforce Development Initiative (WDI) that will target high-value projects and train
skilled workers for a variety of industries.
2. Please provide the following information for FY13: (If your institution utilizes additional
metrics specific to your institution’s specialized areas of research or service, please
include them here)
Note: Unless noted, the data provided below are FY13 data.
a. Number of disclosures of intellectual property: 98
b. Number of patent applications filed: 39
c. Number of patents awarded: 24
15
d. Number of license and option agreements executed on institutional technologies,
in total and in Iowa: 79 total, 39 in Iowa
e. Number of license and option agreements yielding income: 173
f. Revenue to Iowa companies as a result of licensed technology: $45 million
(CY12)
g. Number of startup companies formed, in total and in Iowa (through licensing
activities): 2 total, 1 in Iowa
h. Number of companies in research parks and incubators: ISU Research Park: 40
private and 13 university-related; Plant Sciences Institute Innovations
Development Facility (IDF): 3 (all university-related or affiliated)
i. Number of new companies in research parks and incubators: ISU Research
Park: 3 private,0 university-related and 0 affiliates; Plant Sciences Institute IDF: 0
(university-affiliated)
j. Number of employees in companies in research parks and incubators: ISU
Research Park: 1009 private and 231 university-related; Plant Sciences Institute
IDF: 3 FTE (all university-related or affiliated)
k. Royalties and license fee income: $9.1 million
l. Total sponsored funding received: $326.4 million of which $193.8 million is for
research
m. Corporate sponsored funding received for research and economic development,
in total and in Iowa: $28.1 million total, $13 million in Iowa
n. Iowa special appropriations for economic development in the following
categories:
o Annual state appropriations for ongoing economic development programs
(such as research parks, SBDC, IPRT): $2.4 million—includes $936,345
SBDC (includes state-wide programs), $122,355 ISU Research Park, and
$1,365,602 IPRT
o Regents Innovation Fund appropriations: $1,050,000
o. Research expenditures (federal, state and local; business; nonprofit; institution
funds; all other sources): $261.0 million—Note that this is the FY12 total reported
to NSF for its Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey.
p. Licenses and options executed per $10 million research expenditures: 4 (est.)—
Note that this is an FY12 figure, the most recent number available.
q. Sales of licensed products by Iowa-based companies: See d. above
r. Number of employees for current Research Park tenants and incubators, as well
as former tenants that are still in existence in basic form world-wide: 3,802
3. Please describe the ways in which your institution is engaged in the following activities
(For example, what is the nature of the outreach and service activities? Which units
provide it? What kinds of people and organizations benefit?)
A. Direct and hands-on technical assistance to businesses and entrepreneurs
B. Direct economic development assistance to Iowa communities
C. Economic development services provided by research parks, incubators or similar
service units
16
3A. Direct and Hands-on Technical Assistance to Businesses and Entrepreneurs
Iowa State Economic Development
ISU has developed a comprehensive system to foster innovation. Our focus is on the
transfer of university technologies into commercial applications in startup or existing
companies. Functions include:
? Business Development and Assistance and Entrepreneurial Activities: Efforts
related to startup companies, including business assistance services and
SBIR/STTR applications.
? Technical Assistance and Technology Development: Solving technical problems,
assisting in product development and process improvement projects for existing
businesses. This includes the current efforts of no-cost technical assistance and
cost-sharing projects.
? Industry Relations: Facilitation of a multitude of interactions between ISU and its
industry partners, including the management of research relationships and
interactions with economic development groups, legislative groups, and other
third parties.
? Community Development: To disseminate and develop programming, facilitating
community organizations, fostering community planning, and coordinating with
community and regional economic development networks and organizations.
? Technology Transfer and Licensing: The transfer of intellectual property
(patentable inventions, copyright works and proprietary materials) to business
and industry through license agreements.
? Physical Space: Physical space for business incubation is available in the ISU
Research Park, the Plant Sciences Institute’s Innovations Development Facility,
the Center for Crops Utilization Research, and the BioCentury Research Farm.
? Research and Instrumentation Facilities: Iowa State University maintains more
than 20 central research facilities that also serve communities and businesses on
a fee-for-service basis.
ServSafe
®
ISU Extension and Outreach nutrition and health specialists are registered instructors for
the National Restaurant Association’s Educational Foundation’s internationally
recognized food safety certification program. ISU Extension and Outreach specialists
have taught the ServSafe
®
food safety certification program for more than 15 years.
From J uly 1, 2012 through J une 30, 2013, more than 1,000 Iowans participated in
ServSafe
®
courses taught by ISU Extension and Outreach, with 90 percent successfully
earning certification. Participants are from commercial retail foodservices such as
restaurants and institutional operations such as hospitals and schools. Commercial
operations recognize the value of training staff in safe food handling procedures, as an
incidence of a foodborne illness can be devastating for business. In addition, promotion
that staff members are certified in food safety can be a marketing advantage as many
operations post these certificates. Proper preparation, holding, and service of food are
critical in any place where food is served. Many of participants work in operations that
serve those considered at greater risk of contracting a foodborne illness due to
compromised immune systems; food safety training can avoid costly medical expense.
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Technical Assistance for Startup Company
Harrisvaccines, located in the ISU Research Park, is a revolutionary animal health
vaccine company started in 2005 by Dr. Hank Harris, a College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences professor. The company turned to CIRAS to improve speed to market—
accelerating their transition from start-up to an established corporation. Prior to the
project, the company took eight to ten weeks to get a vaccine delivered. This decreased
to four to six weeks as a result of the technical assistance. This project leveraged
previous support from the ISU Research Park, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and the
Iowa Economic Development Authority.
$17M Impact Generated by Student Projects with Companies
Senior capstone design projects are the culmination of engineering education for
undergraduate students. Iowa companies, through a partnership between CIRAS and
the College of Engineering, provide students challenging opportunities to apply their
engineering knowledge to real-world applications as a final step in preparation for joining
the workforce.
By working with the students, companies gain a new perspective on difficult engineering
problems as well as the value engineers bring to an organization. As a result of the
projects, many companies achieve innovative solutions that lower costs and enhance
productivity. The ability to showcase the company and recruit engineering students
nearing graduation is an added benefit to the partnering businesses.
In addition to the senior capstone design projects, engineering students have worked
with companies on projects related to cellular lean, materials, and facility planning.
In 2012, students worked on 53 projects with 27 different companies. Companies
responding to surveys reported impact of more than $17 million for these projects.
$30 Million Impact Reported by Dyersville, IA, Manufacturer
ESAPCO, a manufacturer of fabric structures and greenhouses, in Dyersville, Iowa, saw
an immediate impact from changes made as a result of a productivity improvement
project with CIRAS. The company reported a $26M increase in sales and $3.9M in cost
savings.
Department of Commerce and Department of Defense Programs Assist Company
Quality Machine of Iowa increased sales by $1M due to combined expertise from two
CIRAS managed federal programs. This technical assistance was provided through the
Department of Commerce Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and the Defense
Logistics Agency Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) administered on
behalf of the Department of Defense. The Audubon, Iowa, company received technical
assistance in defense contract marketing skills, resulting in an award of a five-year
defense contract. Technical assistance in lean manufacturing techniques resulted in cost
improvements.
Applied Research Project on Company Worksite Wellness Program
With the upcoming implementation of the Affordable Care Act, understanding the impact
of a worksite wellness program is increasingly important. Through funding provided by
the Economic Development Administration University Center Program, CIRAS and
Human Sciences Extension and Outreach partnered to conduct a pilot worksite wellness
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program with three Iowa manufacturers: The Graphic Edge in Carroll, Timberline
Manufacturing, Inc., in Marion, and Rosenboom Machine & Tool in Sheldon.
Research suggests that worksite wellness programs can generate a return on
investment (ROI) of $4-8 per $1 invested as a result of increased productivity and
decreased absenteeism and healthcare claims. A goal of the pilot program is to examine
the ROI for Iowa employers.
This year, 60 employees from each of the three worksites were recruited to complete a
baseline health risk appraisal (HRA) as well as an emotional and financial assessment -
with 30 employees then randomly assigned to the control group, receiving no additional
programming, and 30 employees assigned to an intervention group, which completed a
6-month educational program.
In J anuary, 2014 the HRA will be repeated with the 60 employees to examine effects of
the program on the workers. Health claim information and absenteeism records will also
be collected. An analysis of the results will help companies make better informed
decisions about the ROI of wellness programs on the company’s bottom line as well as
the impact on employee well-being.
3B. Direct Economic Development Assistance to Iowa Communities
? Sustainable Economies Program
ISU Extension and Outreach CIRAS and Community and Economic
Development partnered to leverage $614,000 of state funding with $614,000 of
federal funding through a 3-year grant from the Economic Development
Administration University Center Program (EDA UCP). This Sustainable
Economies Program provided Regional Trade Centers (RTCs) in rural Iowa with
an in-depth economic assessment of the financial, social, and environmental
“triple bottom line” well-being of the region, coupled with technical assistance to
the critical organizations and businesses of the region.
Technical assistance was provided in the Carroll region, Lee County (Fort
Madison and Keokuk), Appanoose County (Centerville), and Cerro Gordo
County. Assistance helped these rural areas to better understand their economic
sustainability and provided support in taking steps to long-term prosperity. In
addition to the economic analysis, technical assistance projects were launched
within the communities and businesses participating in the program.
In 2012, more than 38 distinct clients were served with more than 400 regional
stakeholders attending planning meetings and sustainability sessions facilitated
by ISU Extension and Outreach focusing on the steps needed for long-term
success in the RTC. Stakeholders included participants from the business
sector, government, nonprofits, education, and interested citizens — uniting a
variety of existing programs to create a common set of goals and actions for their
region.
? Student Involvement in Business and Community Development
This year the Partnering Landscape and Community Enhancements (PLaCE)
program involved nearly 200 students in outreach projects in dozens of Iowa
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communities, including Mapleton, Cedar Rapids, Perry, Ottumwa, Des Moines,
Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, Audubon County, and Sioux City. The ILR Community
Visioning Program employed student interns to work in the Amana Colonies and
seven other communities, and the Community Design Lab employed several
interns to assist community design projects in Waukon, Maquoketa, and
Clarinda. Funding through the ISU Provost office also has led to the development
of the new Community Design Laboratory, providing a new venue for student
engagement with Iowa’s communities
? Regional, State and Local Partnerships with ISU Extension and Outreach
ISU Extension and Outreach maintains partnerships and shares joint community
development specialist positions with the Chamber of Commerce of Keokuk, the
City of Fairfield, the economic development organization of West Liberty (WE-
LEAD), the development organization of Cedar County (CCEDCO) and the
regional development organization of Southwest Iowa (SWICO). Each of the
local economic development positions are jointly funded by ISU Extension and
Outreach and a local partner for which the person serves as a local development
official who provides economic development education part time.
ISU Extension and Outreach has established a unique partnership with the City
of Dubuque and the University of Wisconsin to create a joint faculty position
specializing in community planning and leadership. This partnership has resulted
in a joint faculty hire who is located in Dubuque but serves both Wisconsin and
Iowa. The agreement and joint appointment is one of the first of its kind in the
country between two land-grant institutions. The person was hired at the rank of
associate professor and is tenured at Iowa State University. Each state extension
system pays half the associated costs. The research and extension programming
focuses upon community leadership development extension education, and
community leadership in response to natural disasters.
ISU Extension and Outreach cosponsors a joint educational position with the
Iowa League of Cities, focusing upon local government finance. J oint
programming coordinated through this position included the Iowa state municipal
clerks institute and webinar series on tax incremental financing attended by more
than 500 across the state.
In part because of collaborations with cities and organizations, and direct
extension education and applied research assistance, ISU Extension and
Outreach leveraged more than $130 million in local grants, infrastructure
development, local staff time, volunteer time, and loans within the communities
served.
? Iowans Walking Assessment Logistics Kit (I-WALK)
First offered in 2010, I-WALK is a partnership of the Iowa Department of Public
Health and ISU Extension and Outreach. The goal of I-WALK is to develop
community coalitions and provide them with relevant, local information to help
them continuously update, implement, and evaluate the infrastructure and
programs to support a more walkable, healthy, and safe community. I-WALK has
a heavy emphasis on data collection and analysis, with the goal of providing
communities with the up-to-date information and data analysis necessary to
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assist with identifying priorities that will make the best use of the limited financial
resources available. To date, 31 sites representing 41 communities have
participated in the program. More than 2,300 surveys have been completed in
which 2,500 locations of barriers/opportunities were mapped. Teachers
submitted 650 teacher tallies to formulate a baseline to use in grant applications,
and more than 500 residents attended GPS workshops to collect infrastructure
data. These GPS workshops yielded data for more than 8,200 midblock
sidewalks, 5,300 intersections, and 2,500 additional features – all information for
which the communities had no mapped data. In 2013 I-WALK was expanded and
now includes assessment programs for both Safe Routes to Schools and Older
Adults. More than 350 citizens have joined local coalitions, and although it often
takes several years for efforts to materialize, several communities have used the
generated data to submit grant proposals—a few of which have already been
successful and will result in new infrastructure being built—to develop local
programs (such as the Walking School Bus) and to develop plans for new
sidewalks and trails to be constructed in the future.
? Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning Program
Since 1996 the Community Visioning Program has helped rural communities plan
transportation enhancements using state funds from the Iowa DOT. To date, 200
Iowa towns have completed the process and collaborated with design teams to
create conceptual transportation enhancement plans. Documented impacts of
the program since 1996 include the following:
• Ninety-four percent of participating communities complete at least one
project.
• Internet research of state funding shows that to date, 124 visioning
communities received funding from five state programs to do 285 projects.
Seventy-seven percent of the projects were directly related to visioning
concept plans and 27 percent were not directly related to the program.
• Nearly $30 million has been awarded to communities that have participated in
community visioning.
• Estimated cash matches from awardees exceed $12.6 million for an
estimated $42 million generated.
For example, since completing the Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning
process in 2012, the city of Manning has started the process of implementing
concepts proposed through the visioning process, including new entrance
signage, roadside plantings along Highway 141, Main Street improvements, and
trail amenities. Estimated completion times for the signage and roadside
plantings are Summer 2013 and Spring 2014, respectively.
(http://www.manningia.com/current-projects.html).
? Mapleton Rebuild and Recover
The fall 2012 landscape architecture community design studio worked with the
Mapleton Rebuild and Recover Committee and Foundation to identify landscape-
based strategies for Mapleton’s long-term recovery. In 2011, more than half of
the community was damaged by a Category 3 tornado. Students conducted
focus groups, surveys, interviews, and mapping workshops with Mapleton
residents to gain a better understanding of the needs and desires of the
community. Based on the information they gathered, the class developed a
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series of project proposals that address community infrastructure, renewable
energy, recycling existing resources, and new uses for open spaces—including
those created by the tornado. Since the completion of the studio, Mapleton
applied for and was accepted to the 2013 Iowa’s Living Roadways Community
Visioning Program through which they are continuing with transportation
enhancement planning. Mapleton also applied for and was accepted to the 2013
Iowa’s Living Roadways Projects Program to do roadside planting, which was
completed in spring 2013.
? Fairfield Receives Environmental Excellence Award
Fairfield was one of three communities picked by Alliant Energy to participant in
Alliant’s Hometown Rewards efficiency program. CED sustainability specialist
Scott Timm organized the program in Fairfield. Participation resulted in Fairfield’s
residential customers reducing their energy use by about 8.5 percent and
commercial customers cutting energy use by about 8 percent. Because of the
program, Fairfield earned Governor Terry Branstad’s Environmental Excellence
Award for Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy. Since early 2012, 1,800
volunteer hours have been spent planting trees at various locations in town. With
a $1,000 grant from Home Depot, volunteers led by Timm weatherized 22
homes, half of which belong to military veterans. An energy-efficient Habitat for
Humanity house is currently under construction.
3C. Services Provided—ISU’s Key Units Engaged in Economic Development
The Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development has worked
closely with all of the key units previously mentioned, including the Office of the Vice
President for Extension and Outreach, in promoting the University’s mission related to
economic development and technology transfer. University administration has made
some strategic changes for rapid expansion of the university’s economic development
efforts.
? President Steven Leath appointed Michael Crum the new Senior Policy Adviser
on Economic Development to work with internal and external groups. In addition
to representing Iowa State on economic development boards, he'll work to
strengthen coordination with constituents that include those boards, business
associations, government agencies, communities and foundations. Crum will
serve as a gateway for Iowa's business community to the expertise and business
services offered through Iowa State.
? The ISU Research Park now reports directly to the President’s Office, to allow
the university to be more aggressive and more nimble in pursuing partnerships.
? The Iowa legislature this past spring invested $7.5 million to support Iowa State's
Leading the Bioeconomy initiative. The investment is being used to leverage
ISU’s student education and to conduct research that strengthens Iowa's
bioeconomy and leads to new biosciences jobs in the state of Iowa. The initiative
will invest $2.25 million to expand the Biorenewables Laboratory and the
BioCentury Research Farm, providing new equipment, facilities and capabilities
that both create discoveries and translate those discoveries into successful
commercial processes. The initiative will invest $2.75 million to expand work in
eight new and existing research projects. Another $1.45 million will be used to
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renovate three existing laboratories: the Animal Science Nutrition Laboratory, the
Livestock Health and Feed Efficiency Laboratory and the High Throughput Mass
Spectrometry Laboratory. Iowa State will use $500,000 to attract high caliber
graduate students interested in the biorenewables field. This initiative will
strengthen the university's research programs by awarding 12 one-year graduate
fellowships in 2014, and support Iowa's bioeconomy workforce by offering new
specialized courses in biorenewables.
Iowa State will invest $600,000 ($200,000 each) in efforts to build partnerships
with companies and agencies on biosciences research projects; establish an
industrial liaison office to work with Iowa biosciences companies; and expand the
Biobased Foundry program of technological entrepreneurship.
The following units are the key units that focus attention on economic development and
technology transfer at ISU; however, significant additional activity also occurs across
campus in individual academic departments, centers and institutes, and colleges.
Iowa State University Research Park
The Iowa State University Research Park is a 230-acre development with over 446,000
square feet of building space and is located south of the Iowa State University campus.
Iowa’s governor and legislators provided $12 million in funding to support a new building
in the Iowa State University Research Park. The new facility will bring together formerly
scattered services and agencies that support technology transfer and economic
development, Construction of the new building is expected to be completed within the
next three years. Currently, the Research Park offers two types of incubator facilities.
• Biotech Wet-lab Incubator: ISU Research Park houses an 8,000 sq. ft. wet-lab
incubator facility. The incubation facility provides laboratory space for the growth
and development of start-up, spin-off and established biotechnology companies.
Features include:
• Technology Incubator: The Technology Incubator identifies early-stage, tech-
based concepts and businesses and aids in economic development and
technology transfer. This provides an environment for growth by helping develop
viable business plans and secure financial backing. To date, the Technology
Incubator has supported over 80 start-up companies. To qualify, businesses
must be Iowa companies formed under Iowa law, in the pre-venture capital stage
of development, show potential for growth and development as an Iowa
company, be based on a technology and related to ISU research and/or research
services.
Innovations Development Facility (IDF). This is a business incubator operated by the
Plant Sciences Institute to promote the commercialization of plant biotechnology. IDF
encourages ISU faculty, staff, and students to commercialize their research in the plant
sciences and promotes the development of startup companies among aspiring
entrepreneurs. IDF is housed in the Roy J . Carver Co-Laboratory and consists of six
well-equipped laboratory modules and three office spaces. The facility offers an
environment to transition research from a university to a business setting. The IDF
facility is a productive research location where scientists from academe and industry can
work together to advance the mission of the Plant Sciences Institute and to promote
economic development in Iowa.
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Institute for Physical Research and Technology (IPRT)
Through IPRT Company Assistance, Iowa companies can leverage the expertise of the
IPRT research centers and other ISU capabilities in order to solve technical problems,
create new products and processes, and increase productivity and quality. IPRT
Company Assistance provides help through both its R&D cost-sharing program and
through short-term, no-cost technical assistance. IPRT actively collaborates with Iowa
companies on technology development projects. Many successful businesses have
emerged from IPRT technologies, including Mechdyne of Marshalltown and BodyViz of
Ames. In addition, startup companies such as Iowa Powder Atomization Technologies of
Ames and Avello Bioenergy of Boone have received assistance from IPRT and are
showing great commercial potential.
The staff members of the Materials Group and the Nondestructive Evaluation Group
within Company Assistance provide significant and broad expertise to help Iowa
manufacturers address material and inspection issues. These programs offer state-of-
the-art capabilities to businesses, and both groups have expanded their capabilities and
facilities to keep pace with research advances and modern industrial needs. This
direction allows them to interact with various industrial clients and tackle an increasingly
wide range of challenges.
The Research Cost-Sharing Program is available to Iowa companies for pursuing
research conducted at ISU. The program, offered through IPRT Company Assistance
and funded by the state, provides an effective yet inexpensive way to access the
facilities, expertise, and knowledge of the faculty and professionals working at Iowa
State. Through the Cost-Sharing Program companies can receive 1:1 cash matching on
their research projects.
The Virtual Reality Applications Center (VRAC) is an interdisciplinary research center
under IPRT whose primary focus is developing computer interfaces that integrate virtual
environments, wireless networking, pervasive computing and third generation user
interface devices to amplify the creativity and productivity of people. Research facilities
at VRAC assist companies in addressing a diverse range of challenging problems
spanning science, engineering, and the humanities.
Small Business Development Center at ISU (SBDC) and Pappajohn Center for
Entrepreneurship
These units work with researchers to define the technologists' role in the company,
evaluate markets, assist in the creation of a business plan and help the company
develop connections with a network of business resources including consultants,
accountants, attorneys, prospective employees and investors. In a typical year, the
Pappajohn Center, working with IPRT, the Plant Sciences Institute, ISURF/OIPTT and
other research centers, identifies approximately 25 prospective new technologies. These
technologies can take six to 26 months to develop sufficiently to justify the formation of
businesses. During this time the researcher receives business development assistance
from, the Small Business Development Center and Pappajohn Center for
Entrepreneurship to move the technology from the researcher's bench to the
marketplace. The Pappajohn Center helps the researcher develop the model for the
business and establish the network of resources necessary to implement the plan.
These resources can include business assistance, students or capital. The Pappajohn
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Center/SBDC also continues to provide a referral network and facilitates the recruitment
of students including access to internships.
ISU Research Foundation (ISURF) and the Office of Intellectual Property and
Technology Transfer (OIPTT). ISURF owns and ISURF and OIPTT jointly manage,
market, and license the intellectual property for Iowa State University. ISURF/OIPTT
works with faculty members in regard to the reporting and protection of innovations,
including patenting inventions. It markets the innovations to find commercial partners
interested in licensing. ISURF also provides assistance to Iowa companies, including
ISU faculty startups with SBIR and STTR applications. An FY13 reorganization brought
the team responsible for negotiating industry-sponsored research agreements into
OIPTT to more closely coordinate efforts to build public-private relationships.
? Iowa State University and the University of Iowa began offering a new research
sponsorship option in 2013 that allows industry to pre-negotiate exclusive
licenses to breakthroughs that grow out of their partnerships with university
researchers. The new option spurs increased partnerships between Iowa’s
Regents universities and industry by giving companies more tools to protect their
research investments, and increase the rate of technology transfer to the private
sector.
? The ISU Research Foundation hired a part-time Entrepreneur in Residence, Kurt
Heiar. The intent is that his experience as a private sector CEO and entrepreneur
will assist university efforts to move technology into the marketplace and create
jobs for Iowans. He assists faculty and researchers; builds databases of investor,
state and corporate contacts who will assist ISU companies; helps young ISU-
affiliated companies and fledgling entrepreneurs overcome problems to keep
them moving forward; presents guest lectures to classes and student
organizations; and reviews existing technologies at ISU to help determine which
have business viability.
Extension and Outreach Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) helps
companies grow and prosper. The CIRAS mission is to improve the quality of life in Iowa
by enhancing the performance of industry through applied research, education, and
technical assistance. CIRAS has been working with companies in communities across
Iowa for 50 years and has a vision for Iowa of healthy communities through business
prosperity. Because multiple resources are necessary to meet the needs of Iowa
businesses, CIRAS partners with Iowa's universities, community colleges, government
agencies, and business associations throughout the state.
? Account managers meet with clients to assess needs and provide links to
resources that companies can use to increase their competitiveness. Solutions
are offered through a combination of direct assistance from center staff,
university faculty, partner organizations, and outside consultants.
? CIRAS staff has expertise in •engineering •innovation •government contracting
•productivity •management practices •safety •supply chain management •
sustainability •quality management •community-business economic
development.
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? Service to industry includes technical assistance and applied research in
conjunction with ISU College of Engineering labs; regional economic
development studies to better understand rural economies; development of
company transformational plans for profitable growth; and educational workshops
and mentoring for small to medium sized businesses.
? CIRAS manages the statewide National Institute of Standards and Technology’s
Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a program of the
Department of Commerce. The objective of the MEP program is to be a catalyst
for strengthening American manufacturing — accelerating its ongoing
transformation into a more efficient and powerful engine of innovation driving
economic growth and job creation. Through this program, CIRAS provides small
to medium sized companies with the training, tools, and connections to
accelerate innovation, leading to new opportunities in domestic and export
markets.
? The Defense Logistics Agency, on behalf of the Department of Defense,
administers the Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP). The
purpose of the program is to generate employment and to improve the general
economy by serving as a resource for businesses pursuing and performing under
contracts with the Department of Defense, other federal agencies, state and local
governments and with government prime contractors. CIRAS is responsible for
this program in the state of Iowa. Staff helps businesses determine if they are
suitable for government contracting, provides workshop training and outreach
events, assists businesses with capturing government sales, and provides post
award contract assistance.
? CIRAS manages the Economic Development Administration (EDA) University
Center Program in Iowa. The EDA’s mission is to lead the federal economic
development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing
American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. CIRAS was
awarded a three-year grant to develop and implement the Sustainable
Economies Program. This program integrated detailed economic studies with
financial, social, and environmental technical assistance to communities and
businesses in rural trade centers across Iowa. This integrated, scientific-based
approach to sustainability and the triple bottom line helped the businesses,
communities, and overall regional economy begin the process of reliable, long-
term growth.
Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension and Outreach provides unbiased,
research-based information and education to agricultural professionals to grow the
economic base of Iowa agriculture. Extension and Outreach educates Iowans about
local actions to produce a safe, sustainable, accessible, and affordable food supply for
the state, the nation, and the world. Programs address all segments of the food supply
chain, from productive capacity of Iowa’s agricultural and human resources, to
production and processing technology, market functions, and management.
Programming also includes accessibility, affordability, and safety to reduce food
insecurity of Iowa families. Assessment, analysis, and education are provided on a
broad scope and scale of Iowa’s food system.
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? Commercial agriculture production programs provide research-based information
and education on economically viable commercial production of commodity crop
and livestock producers. Field days, research reports, webinars, meetings, peer
groups, decision support software, and on-farm research and consultation help
farmers and agribusinesses stay current on latest trends and technologies to
improve efficiency and sustainability. Emphasis is placed on long-term
economically and environmentally optimal production systems.
? Protecting Iowa’s natural resources is essential to a sustainable agriculture
based economy and for quality of life for all Iowans. Education, demonstration,
and information programming address management decisions effecting farmed
and natural landscapes as they relate to soil and water quality, conservation
practices, tree management, recreational activities, energy efficiency, certification
programs, and connecting youth and families with nature.
? Global market conditions and increasing climate volatility contribute to increased
risk for farmers. Educational programming and decision support software provide
farmers with methods to evaluate market conditions, government programs, crop
insurance, farm leasing arrangements, and how production systems impact risk
exposure.
? Financial management of farm businesses has a significant impact on long-term
sustainability, growth, and overall success. Programs address economic
decisions for crop and livestock production, land management and values,
machinery investments, and human resource management. The farm population
is aging and facing decisions about their retirement and estate and the next
generation of farmers. Programs address the needs of new farmers and estate
planning for farm families and tax and estate professionals.
? Local food production is rapidly growing in the Midwest to address the increasing
demand for locally produced fruits, vegetables, and animal products. These
farming operations typically are smaller with lower capital and provide
opportunities for new farmers to get started or existing farms to diversify their
operation. Programs address strategic and tactical decisions, as well as the day-
to-day production and marketing decisions for these farms.
Community and Economic Development Extension and Outreach helps
organizations and local governments develop and build their capacity to make Iowa
communities better places to live and work.
? Extension and Outreach community and economic development specialists
provide skills training each year for more than 40,000 community leaders, local
government officials, business owners, entrepreneurs and volunteers.
? Community sustainability services focus on helping organizations and individuals
meet the needs of the present without sacrificing the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs. These services provide communities, economic
developers, individuals, and businesses with the tools to manage the financial,
social, and environmental issues they face to ensure success in the long run.
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? CD-DIAL (Community Development — Data, Information, and Analysis
Laboratory) works with communities and organizations to build decision-making
capacity as they collect and use information about their local population. Iowa
Community Indicators Program provides Web-based information products such
as local retail trade analysis and demographic and economic indicators. Regional
trade center analysis provides an in-depth economic assessment of the financial,
social, and environmental "triple bottom line" well-being of a regional trade
center.
? The Community Visioning Program empowers local leaders through a planning
process that results in a transportation enhancement plan reflecting the values
and identity of the community. Community tourism assessments help
communities learn how their current tourism assets and readiness place them
within today’s tourism marketplace. In addition, they receive recommended steps
for building tourism as a community economic tool.
Human Sciences Extension and Outreach provides research-based information and
education to help families make decisions that improve and transform their lives.
? Programming focuses on activities and projects to help Iowans live healthier lives
through improved healthy behavior and physical health, and enhanced family,
work, and community environments. Programs address caregiving for the aging
population, community health, financial health, nutrition and physical health, and
parenting.
? Specialists help individuals, families, communities, professionals, and
organizations assess their health and well-being needs; provide training, tools,
and resources to meet those needs; and evaluate the impacts of these efforts to
help Iowa reach the Governor’s goal of becoming the healthiest state in the
nation by 2016.
? Human Sciences Extension and Outreach addresses emerging issues that affect
the economic viability of Iowa families. Specialists help unmarried parents or
parents in unstable relationships who have young children to build the knowledge
and skills necessary to form and sustain healthy family and co-parenting
relationships. The Planning Your Financial Future program helps child care
providers manage their money and plan for retirement. Interactive workshops are
designed to increase consumer knowledge and self-confidence in making health
insurance decisions, so consumers can meet both their health insurance needs
and budget.
4-H Youth Development prepares Iowa’s young people for future careers. One in every
five Iowa youth develops communication, citizenship, leadership and life skills by
participating in 4-H programs.
? Extension programs that engage Iowa youth in science, technology, engineering
and math activities build skills to ensure that more students are well equipped to
be knowledgeable citizens and begin college or career training prepared for
success.
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? K-12 outreach programming connects Iowa children and youth with Iowa State
University’s knowledge and research base to help them reach their full potential.
Education and positive youth development experiences are offered on campus,
within counties, and out of state.
? K-12 outreach includes both 4-H Youth Development programs as well as
outreach partnerships through the Iowa State colleges. These experiences help
youth get excited about learning and discover new career choices.
? Youth are challenged to actively pursue education beyond high school and build
skills that improve their communities today. Programs are delivered through
volunteers, community-based partners, educators, and county staff. Specialists
assess youth programming needs, train adults who implement quality
educational programs and experiences, ensure safe environments, and evaluate
programs.
4. Please briefly describe two or three examples of major economic development
collaborative projects with such other entities as Regent universities, Iowa
community colleges, the Iowa Department of Economic Development, Iowa
Workforce Development, or other state agencies.
Major Economic Development Collaborative Projects
NSF EPSCoR
Iowa EPSCoR, a $22 million NSF-supported effort of the three Regent university
partners to boost the state’s research capacity in renewable energy and energy
utilization, aims to make impacts far beyond the universities’ research labs. A Future
Leaders in Advancing Renewable Energy (FLARE) Institute has been established. The
statewide institute is designed to develop a skilled and diverse workforce that can meet
the needs of Iowa’s emerging green economy. The program works with Iowa’s
community colleges to strengthen their courses in science, technology, engineering, and
math. And, the program is working to identify effective strategies for encouraging women
and underrepresented minorities to enter science and technology fields. Iowa EPSCoR
is also making connections with industry and policy leaders across the state and the
country.
STEM education
Iowa State University is one of six Iowa STEM hubs selected by the Governor’s STEM
Advisory Council in May. Each STEM network hub will work with business, education
institutions, non-profit groups and others in their region in a way that best fits local
needs, interests and resources. The hubs will provide more equitable statewide access
to outstanding Iowa STEM education programs.
Proof of Concept Initiative
In a collaborative effort with the Iowa Innovation Corporation, Iowa State has established
an initiative that focuses on increasing the transfer of technology while reducing the time
to commercialize. Technology development and business development occur in parallel
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by engaging staff from the ISU Research Foundation, the ISU Research Park, the
Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, and technology experts. This initiative provides
a single, visible interface for faculty, staff, and students seeking state-supported
research funding opportunities and provides simplified, coordinated communication.
More information appears in Appendix 1 of this report.
State-wide committees
Many people from ISU serve on committees that promote economic development
programs, such as the Iowa Innovation Council, the Iowa Innovation Corporation, the
Biosciences Alliance of Iowa, the Iowa Innovation Council’s Iowa Advanced
Manufacturing Committee, Iowa Meat Processors Association, Institute of Food
Technologists-Iowa Section, the Iowa Lean Consortium, the Partnership for Industrial
Energy Efficiency, Professional Developers of Iowa, the Iowa Business Council, the Iowa
Alliance for Wind Innovation and Novel Development (IAWIND), Innovate Iowa!, and
Capital Crossroads.
5. Please provide the following information about Grow Iowa Values Fund projects for
FY 2013:
A. Identify and briefly describe each project or initiative which received GIVF funding in
FY 2013 including information on outcomes or progress made
B. Identify metrics which were used to measure outcomes for each project and report
progress on each metric for FY 2013
C. Provide a description of the sources of the matching institutional dollars for each
GIVF-funded project
The Regents Innovation Fund (formerly Grow Iowa Values Fund [GIVF]) program has a
competitive research component that pairs ISU faculty members with Iowa industries to
create economic benefit for the companies. See Appendix 1 for a complete report.
6. Optional: If desired, please include observations regarding:
A. Availability of startup and venture capital for technology entrepreneurs
B. Suggestions for new programs or activities that could further enhance the impact of
university technology transfer and service on creation of jobs and wealth in Iowa.
6A. Availability of startup and venture capital for technology entrepreneurs
The Values Funds to the universities have provided a valuable source of funding for
proof of concept/early-stage development funding for the innovations that will become
the next generation of businesses. Iowa State University has established a Proof of
Concept Initiative (POCI) to fill a portion of the funding gap created by the loss of Values
Funds. The POCI provides early-stage funding and commercialization assistance to
researchers with promising discoveries.
Iowa has multiple seed funds, most of which are regional with varying capabilities or
capacity to make investments. The Wellmark Fund has also provided early-stage capital
to early-stage companies.
30
There remain several challenges to overcome. There are very few true venture capital
firms located in the state of Iowa actively investing funds at this point in time. Iowa
continues to suffer from a lack of investment capital to start up and rapidly grow
technology and innovation-based firms. In addition, each fund has a particular focus, the
investment profile further limiting choices and resulting in very little competition. Most
venture firms invest with other venture firms, one as lead with the others in secondary
positions to spread risk and assure the ability to continue to fund the needs of the
company, and this is a major problem in Iowa. Firms must look outside the state for
significant investments of more than $5 million. As always, really good businesses with
really good management teams will attract money; developing experienced and skilled
management teams remains a major challenge. Iowa State works with the Iowa
Innovation Council and Iowa Economic Development Authority to identify breaks in the
small business support system and to build supports in those areas.
6B. Suggestions for new programs or activities that could further enhance the
impact of university technology transfer and service on creation of jobs and
wealth in Iowa.
Restoration of funds for economic development and technology transfer activities due to
budget cuts in the past several years would greatly enhance the University’s efforts in
this area. The following is a summary of what benefits would occur if funds were
restored in the units affected by budget cuts.
? Small Business Development Centers. The SBDC helps its clients generate
new taxes for the Iowa treasury in the form of income taxes on new jobs and
sales taxes on increased sales. During the last full program year ending
September 30, 2012, SBDC clients generated a total of $2,300,400 in new taxes,
resulting in a return on investment of $1.72 for every Iowa tax dollar expended on
the program. In addition, the SBDC helped clients avoid eliminating through
layoffs or firm closings 524 jobs, resulting in a savings of unemployment
compensation benefits of $2,197,043. Additional state support to SBDC would
increase the state’s return on investment and retain Iowa jobs.
? Iowa State University Research Park. Any new funds to the ISU Research
Park would be utilized to support costs associated with the planned expansion of
the Park as well as to increase marketing efforts to attract new tenant
companies.
? Institute for Physical Research and Technology (IPRT). The need for IPRT’s
expertise by Iowa industries is rapidly growing. Over 75% of the Iowa
manufacturers that IPRT serves have fewer than 100 employees. This means
that Company Assistance’s typical industrial client will likely not have the needed
expertise internally to address its material and inspection issues.
The Materials Group of the IPRT economic development program provides short-
term technical assistance to Iowa manufacturers at no cost to the user, and this
is often the first interaction that manufacturers have with the University.
Additional funding would allow for growth of materials assistance, enhancing the
program’s delivery of services. The unit seeks to offer a wider scope of services
that directly meet the needs of Iowa manufacturers, such as in areas of IT and
biotech.
31
The Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Group functions similarly to the Materials
Group in that short-term technical assistance is provided to Iowa manufacturers
on a no-cost basis. The focus of the NDE Group is to assist companies in areas
of inspection and quality control. To that end, the NDE Group serves as an
unbiased source of information, offering clients a broad range of expertise in
various inspection methodologies. Manufacturers often do not have staff
acquainted with these capabilities, so the NDE Group in effect complements the
engineering capabilities of their clients. The unit assists client companies in
addressing problem areas, ensuring product development and quality. This
assistance requires robust budget support to maintain the needed flexibility to
successfully address the wide range of industrial concerns.
The Company Assistance Research Cost-Sharing Program administers cost-
sharing contract research projects, working with Iowa’s small to medium-sized
manufacturers. These small companies have very limited R&D dollars and
facilities. Additional funding would help Company Assistance to leverage Iowa
companies’ limited resources. These are projects that impact the economy by
introducing new products, addressing manufacturing processes, and improving
quality. All of these areas strengthen Iowa's global competitiveness in the
manufacturing sector.
A unique feature of the economic development program in IPRT is the active
participation of scientists from internationally renowned ISU centers such as the
Center for Nondestructive Evaluation, the Virtual Reality Applications Center, and
the Center for Catalysis. These centers have excellent track records of spinning
off new Iowa startup companies in the areas in which they excel. Additional state
funding to IPRT units would have a rapid positive impact on Iowa’s
manufacturing sector. An investment now would result in continuing benefits to
Iowa’s companies, important opportunities to retain our brightest students, and
new startup companies based on increased technology transfer from IPRT
centers.
? ISU Extension and Outreach Center for Industrial Research and Service
(CIRAS) has successfully leveraged its state budget to bring in additional federal
grants and fees to expand technical assistance, education programs, and
economic development studies to support Iowa businesses. In FY13 CIRAS
helped generate an additional $1.39 of external funds for each $1 of state funds
provided, yielding approximately $3 million of additional funding. More than $1
million of CIRAS grant funds were distributed to other business outreach units on
campus and to community colleges to help them expand their work with Iowa
companies.
For every $100,000 of additional state funds that are made available, CIRAS
would be able to leverage the funds to bring in an additional $150,000 from
grants and fees and hire two new business professionals to provide services in
the areas of engineering, biorenewables, energy systems, management
practices, government contracting, productivity, growth services, supply chains,
quality systems, and community-business economic development. These two
staff would help create nearly 50 jobs and $5,000,000 of new sales, cost savings,
and investment impact in Iowa companies.
32
? ISU Extension and Outreach works across ISU colleges and with external
partners to provide technical assistance, research-based education, and access
to the resources of ISU to improve the quality of life in the state. Iowans want an
economy that can form new businesses, grow existing industry, enhance
communities, and recruit companies to the state. With Iowa STEM jobs expected
to grow by 16% this decade, Iowans see the need to stop the “brain drain” and
take steps to develop the state’s future workforce, connecting youth with
opportunities here in Iowa. These are only a few of the basic needs and urgent
trends facing this state. ISU Extension and Outreach has the capability to
address these concerns with education for Iowa’s people, but needs additional
resources to operate at the full capacity required to meet these challenges.
• ISU Extension and Outreach work in economic development is growing
businesses and strengthening communities.
• ISU Extension and Outreach tackles food and environmental challenges by
supporting local actions to produce a safe, sustainable, and affordable food
supply.
• Programs for health and well-being are helping Iowa become the healthiest
state in the nation.
• Through K-12 youth outreach, ISU Extension and Outreach is preparing
Iowa’s young people for the future, including through one of our most
recognizable programs- 4-H.
ISU Extension and Outreach expects to leverage every $100,000 in new state funds with
$180,000 in new federal matching funds, grants, fees and gifts to generate a projected
$2.8 million of impact and 28 new jobs throughout Iowa. For every $100,000 of new
funds, an estimated three additional staff will be hired to address growing demands and
increase the depth and reach of work with families, businesses, and communities in all
99 counties across the state.
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
1
University of Northern Iowa
Annual Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report
FY 2013
Section 1. UNI’s Economic Development Activities to Enhance Economic Growth in Iowa
Capitalizing on the niche strengths of unique outreach programs, UNI is a reliable resource for
supporting Iowa’s economic development efforts. Each year, these programs strive to deliver
increasingly customized technical assistance, meeting the various needs of a statewide client
base. Specific service areas for UNI include: entrepreneurship, community and economic
development; market research; environmental research and service; sustainability; metal casting;
and new Iowans. The Business and Community Services (BCS) division houses a host of
programs that emphasize hands-on assistance to advance business, community and
entrepreneurial development. Serving clients in each of Iowa’s 99 counties, BCS programs
capitalize on the intellectual resources of the University to better meet Iowa’s economic
development needs. BCS strives to also engage the broader university community – the faculty,
staff and students – all of which play critical roles in providing practical assistance. Outcomes
realized by key economic development/technology transfer programs during FY 2013 include:
Overall
• Provided service in all 99 counties to more than 1,273 unique business, community and
local government clients with an additional 12,800 engaged in MyEnte.Net/
IASourceLink.
• Involved 212 faculty members and nearly 2,000 students in the delivery of these services.
• Leveraged each $1 invested by the state with $5 in private grants, fees or federal funding.
Entrepreneurship, Business Incubation and Technology Transfer
• UNI’s 2 incubator/accelerator programs and MyEntre.Net helped start or expand 221
ventures creating 430 FTE jobs.
• 12,800 individuals are now actively engaged in the MyEntre.Net online community.
• 60 innovators have graduated from the Innovation Incubator and 4
th
Street Incubator.
• MyEntre.Net provided on-demand business and market information to 302 businesses
through its new Business Concierge service; another 183 clients were served by the UNI
SBDC.
• 20 student businesses were tenants in the J ohn Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center’s R.J .
McElroy Student Business Incubator and 50 additional student entrepreneurs were
assisted by the affiliate program.
• One of the UNI J ohn Pappajohn Center’s student incubator tenants was selected as
National Student Entrepreneur of the Year by the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization.
• UNI faculty and staff submitted 10 new intellectual property disclosures.
• 2 patents were received and 4 new patents were filed.
• 2 new license agreements were approved and a total of 9 license agreements are currently
generating income.
• Completed the pilot year of Advance Iowa, the state’s certified economic gardening
center, by providing job growth assistance to 12 second-stage Iowa companies.
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
2
Waste Reduction, Environmental Assistance and the Bioeconomy
• Environmental technical assistance and on-site reviews were provided to 160 small
businesses.
• The GeoTREE program developed GIS applications to assist the Integrated Roadside
Vegetation Management program and assisted multiple state and local agencies with
geospatial mapping projects.
• Recycling and reuse project funding was provided to 42 companies and organizations;
another 170 businesses or individuals were provided testing assistance for products using
recycled materials.
• Buy Fresh, Buy Local participating restaurants and institutional buyers spent $2.65 million
on locally grown foods in 2012.
• Green Iowa AmeriCorps weatherized 404 homes and conducted 723 energy audits, saving
nearly $1.3 million in utility costs.
• The CEEE FREE loan program increased the understanding of energy for 12,225
students and 499 teachers. Eleven professional development workshops and classes
reached 195 teachers. The program conducted 9 workshops for 4 STEM Hubs.
• The Tallgrass Prairie Center distributed native prairie seeds to 55 Iowa counties as part of
its roadside vegetation project.
• The Tallgrass Prairie Center initiated a Plant Iowa Natives marketing program to increase
prairie plantings.
• NABL developed a microwave biobased grease manufacturing process and licensed the
technology to an Iowa company.
Local Economic Development
• The Institute for Decision Making (IDM) launched the Entrepreneurial Communities
project in two economically distressed communities.
• IDM conducted workforce assessments in eastern and western Iowa in partnership with
Iowa Workforce Development and community colleges.
• Community clients report creating approximately 1,500 jobs as a result of local economic
development technical assistance from IDM.
• Strategic planning and comprehensive technical assistance was provided to 39
community partners and 5 regional groups and has served 700 communities across Iowa.
• Restructuring of Iowa’s regions was led by IDM in collaboration with Professional
Developers of Iowa.
Advanced Manufacturing & Market Research
• UNI’s Metal Casting Center (MCC) provided custom technical assistance and outreach
services to 30 foundries and suppliers.
• Continued DOE-sponsored research was successfully completed by the MCC to enhance
the effectiveness of biobased foundry binders.
• Market research and competitive intelligence was provided to 9 Iowa companies and
Strategic Marketing Services (SMS) has assisted 271 Iowa companies.
• Market research clients of SMS report an average sales increase of 14%, due in part to
the competitive intelligence information provided by UNI.
• Customized painter training and testing was provided to 12 Iowa businesses by the Iowa
Waste Reduction Center.
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
3
Section 2. Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property
FY 2013
UNI
Number of disclosures of intellectual property 10
Number of patent applications filed 4
Number of patents awarded 2
Number of license and option agreements executed on institutional
intellectual property
2
Number of license and option agreements yielding income 9
Revenue to Iowa companies as a result of licensed technologies $2,230,000
Number of start-up companies formed, in total and in Iowa 78/78
Number of companies in research parks and incubators 28
Number of new companies in research parks and incubators 18
Number of employees in companies in research parks and incubators 64
Royalties/license fee income $75,839
Total sponsored funding $41,192,000
Corporate-sponsored funding for research and economic development
and revenue generation (excludes corporate philanthropy - all in Iowa)
$1,153,500
i. Annual appropriations for economic development
ii. Regents Innovation Fund
$574,716
$900,000
Section 3. Overview of UNI’s Economic Development Programs
UNI outreach services for community and economic development activities are outlined in a
table format on the following seven pages. The format provides a brief overview of each
program, its purpose, those served and outcomes. Together, the programs served 1,273 unique
businesses and organizations in the past year and another 12,800 individuals through the
MyEntre.Net entrepreneurial development system.
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
4
Section 3. Overview of UNI’s Economic Development Programs (continued)
Programs Services
Those Typically
Served
FY 2013 Results Cumulative Results
Institute for
Decision
Making (IDM)
Hands-on community
and economic
development
guidance and
research
Economic
development
organizations,
chambers, city
councils,
communities and
others
? Conducted in collaboration with IWD, the
Iowa Corridor Alliance Regional
Workforce Assessment
? Assistance and research provided to 39
community partners and 5 regional
development groups
? Launched initial Entrepreneurial
Communities Project
? Served 700 communities,
counties and groups in all of
Iowa’s counties to date
? Community clients report
1,500 – 2,000 new jobs
annually as a result of IDM
assistance
? Trained over 1,000 economic
development professionals
Iowa Waste
Reduction
Center (IWRC)
Free, confidential,
non-regulatory
environmental
assistance for small
businesses
Small businesses
throughout Iowa
? Environmental technical assistance and on-
site reviews were provided to 160 small
businesses
? Online resources were provided to 158
registered businesses and 60 businesses
were assisted in-person with Minor Source
Emission Inventory documentation
? Created educational materials and
developed interactive website to reduce the
amount of food waste going into Iowa
landfills
? Provided painter training and testing
services to 12 Iowa businesses
? Certified 421 military and contractor
painters at Cedar Falls facility and 10
satellite sites nationwide
? Provided 5,516 on-site
reviews to Iowa small
businesses
? Provided online resources to
315 businesses with Minor
Source Emission Inventories
? Certified 2248 military and
contractor painters
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
5
Section 3. Overview of UNI’s Economic Development Programs (continued)
Programs Services
Those Typically
Served
FY 2013 Results Cumulative Results
National Ag-
Based
Lubricants
(NABL) Center
Biobased lubricants
research &
development, testing
services laboratory,
development of
performance
standards, bio-
lubricant product
certification, and
lubricant mfg.
process research
Companies and
individuals
developing biobased
lubricants, traditional
lubricant companies,
and lubricant
consumers
? Provided fee-based testing services to
industry clients
? Completed first segments of field research
activity to support wide-spread market
adoption of biobased railroad greases
? Completed final tasks of 10-year federally
funded research & development project
? Accomplished advanced crop oil testing to
compile comprehensive catalog of
biobased oil & derivative properties for
future product formulation resource
? Licensed microwave-based
grease manufacturing
technology to industry
? Over 40 soy lubricants,
greases, metalworking fluids
and specialty lubricants
developed to date.
? A national testing and
certification center
established, leading the
nation’s biobased lubricants
industry
Strategic
Marketing
Services (SMS)
Market research and
analysis
Businesses,
entrepreneurs and
non-profit
organizations
? Market research and analysis services
were provided to 9 Iowa companies
? Since 1990, market research
and analysis services have
been provided to 271 Iowa
companies
New Iowans
Center (formally
the Iowa Center
for Immigrant
Leadership and
Integration
Iowa's leading
research, training and
consultation center on
the challenges and
opportunities
associated with the
state's rapidly
growing and
diversifying
immigrant and
refugee populations
Clients include
school districts,
health care providers,
law enforcement
agencies, first
responders, and
social service
providers
? Conducted research on ethnic disparities
and outcomes in Iowa's child welfare
system
? Delivered trauma-informed care for
children in Northwest Iowa
? Created early childhood initiatives for
diverse and underserved children
Trainings and consultations
include:
? Cultural responsive
health care
? Multilingual
communication for law
enforcement and first
responders
? Interpreter training
? Literacy
? Social marketing
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
6
Section 3. Overview of UNI’s Economic Development Programs (continued)
Programs Services
Those Typically
Served
FY 2013 Results Cumulative Results
J ohn Pappajohn
Entrepreneurial
Center (J PEC)
Research,
entrepreneurship
education, technology
transfer, and capital
investment programs
Students interested in
entrepreneurship,
UNI faculty and staff
entrepreneurs, new
ventures and rapidly
growing small
companies
? 171 K-12 students and 23 teachers were
served in FY13 with J PEC K-12 outreach
via presentations, workshops, and camps
? 1,858 businesses and individuals were
assisted through all JPEC programs
? 20 student businesses owners with 13
employees were provided space and
services in the student business incubator
? 50 student business owners were provided
services as part of the student business
affiliate incubator program
? From FY08 to FY13, 9,155
people were served by JPEC
programs
? The J PEC has provided 40
students with internships
through its CIPCO program
since FY05
? The J PEC Student Business
Incubator has provided space
to more than 60 business
owners since FY05
? The J PEC has consulted with
287 faculty and staff from
universities around the U.S.
and world on student
business incubation since
FY08
Metal Castings
Center (MCC)
and Center for
Advanced
Biobased
Foundry
Binders
(CABB)
Metal casting
technologies, applied
research, testing and
training
Iowa casting users,
foundries and
foundry suppliers
? Maintained active contracts with 24
companies, provided outreach projects to
2 Iowa foundries and technical assistance
to 30 additional foundries
? Conducted DOE-sponsored research into
bio-based foundry binders – 2 patents
submitted
? Sponsored commercialization of bio-based
foundry binders
? Collaborated with University of Iowa and
Iowa State on DOD-sponsored research
? Over 50 industry-funded
research projects have been
completed to date
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
7
Section 3. Overview of UNI’s Economic Development Programs (continued)
Programs Services
Those Typically
Served
FY 2013 Results Cumulative Results
Tallgrass Prairie
Center (TPC)
Research, techniques,
education and source-
identified seed for
restoration and
preservation of native
vegetation
Iowa counties, state
and federal agencies,
commercial native
seed producers, the
community, students,
educators, restoration
ecology discipline,
and others
? Continued Carex germination research
and agronomic production of Carex seed
? Continued research on biomass production
for electrical generation
? Continued research on wildlife response to
prairie biomass production
? Distributed native seed to 55 counties in
Iowa via federal transportation
enhancement funding
? Provided financial and in kind support
for Iowa Prairie Conference, 270
attendees
? Initiated a Plant Iowa Natives marketing
program in eastern Iowa
? Completed survey of prairie planting
techniques of Iowa counties
? More than 15,500 acres of
Iowa counties rights-of-way
have been restored to native
vegetation
? Completed publication of
Proceedings of 22
nd
North
American Prairie Conference
? Made research information
available to restoration.
ecology community
? Made Carex available to
native seed growers
? More than 100 acres of
prairie plantings on campus
Geoinformatics
Training,
Research,
Education and
Extension
Center
(GeoTREE)
Geospatial
technologies,
education, research,
and outreach
activities for federal,
state, local and tribal
agencies
Federal, state, local
and tribal (FSLT)
government agencies
(NASA), non-profits
? Worked with Dry Run Creek Watershed
coordinator, City of Cedar Falls, City of
Dubuque and UNI Facilities on urban
water quality issues
? Continued to host Cedar Falls Utilities
thermal web mapping application
? Developed web mapping application for
Iowa STEM program
? Developed web GIS application to assist
state Integrated Roadside Vegetation
Management Program
? Assisted with Interdisciplinary Research
Experience in Hyperspectral Imaging for
10 undergraduates
? Delivered greater than 60
terabytes of geospatial data
throughout all counties in
Iowa
? Provided free geospatial
software tools downloaded
by users throughout Iowa
and the world
? GeoTREE has provided 19
training and educational
workshops for approximately
560 federal, state, local and
tribal government staff
members
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
8
Section 3. Overview of UNI’s Economic Development Programs (continued)
Programs Services
Those Typically
Served
FY 2013 Results Cumulative Results
Regional
Business Center/
Entrepreneurship
Outreach,
Small Business
Development
Center,
Advance Iowa
Rural/ Urban
Entrepreneurship
development, online
entrepreneurship
resources, business
consulting, business
training, business
incubation
Small and medium
sized businesses,
entrepreneurs,
entrepreneurial
service providers,
community leaders
? Nearly 15,000 Iowans were served by an
RBC program or online resource; 2,793
small business owners were directly
served with MyEntre.Net resources:
1,240 participated in a webinar; 218
attended EntreFest
? A statewide program called Advance
Iowa was launched in J anuary. 12 firms
from every quadrant of the state received
an average of 36 hours of assistance
? The MyEntre.Net Business Concierge
provided business intelligence to 302
businesses with 702 hours of research.
? Dream Big Grow Here attracted 225
entrant and 350 attended the pitch off
events. More than 100,000 supporters
visited the site during the contests
? 16 companies were served in the
Innovation Incubator. Five new
companies enrolled, seven graduated and
46 new FTE jobs were created
? UNI SBDC served 183 small business
owners with 1:1 technical assistance
? MyEntre.Net online
network touches 12,400
twice monthly. A
partnership with Iowa
Economic Development
Authority rebranded the
MyEntre.Net site to
www.IASourcelink.com
? 4,440 small businesses
attended a Webinar since
2003
? 60 businesses have
graduated from the RBC
and Innovation
Incubators
? The Innovation Incubator
has generated 96 FTE
jobs since inception
? MyEntre.Net social
media reach grew to
3,580 across Facebook,
LinkedIn, Twitter, and
Materials
Innovation
Service (MIS)
Mechanical, physical
and chemical tests of
metals, polymers and
cementitious
materials
Serving Iowa
manufacturers and
suppliers
? Technical assistance provided to more than
168 individuals and testing contracts from
five companies
? Technical assistance or
testing provided to
approximately 160
individuals this year. More
than 2,000 hours of testing
provided since the
beginning of the program
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
9
Section 3. Overview of UNI’s Economic Development Programs (continued)
Programs Services
Those Typically
Served
FY 2013 Results Cumulative Results
Center for
Energy and
Environmental
Education
(CEEE)
Technical assistance,
educational programs
and leadership in
energy conservation
and renewable
energy,
environmental
conservation and
community-based
agriculture
Iowa cities, counties,
Iowa schools,
teachers, farmers,
businesses, elected
officials, state
agencies, community
leaders, citizen
organizations
? Green Iowa AmeriCorps members
weatherized 404 homes, performed 723
energy audits, engaged 1,683 volunteers,
and saved $1,269,500 in utility costs
? The CEEE FREE loan program
increased the understanding of energy for
12,225 students and 499 teachers.
? UNI Local Food Program facilitated the
formation of the Cedar Valley Community
Garden Network. Buy Fresh, Buy Local
participating restaurants and institutional
buyers in the Black Hawk County area
spent $2.65 million on locally grown foods
? Making Energy Use Visible Through
Neighborhood Competitions reached 70
Cedar Falls residents and provided
education to help them reduce their energy
use
? Get Energized Iowa energy reduction
competition among four small Iowa
communities engaged many of the 5,400
community members, educating themon
how to reduce their electric usage
? In 2013, CEEE's waste reduction
initiative reached 85 teachers and 70 pre-
service teachers. They, in turn, reached
about 2,000 students
? Since 1998, UNI’s Local
Food Program has
facilitated purchase of $18
million dollars worth of
locally grown fruits,
vegetables, meats, eggs and
dairy from hundreds of area
farmers by institutional food
buyers
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
10
Section 3. Overview of UNI’s Economic Development Programs (continued)
Programs Services
Those Typically
Served
FY 2013 Results Cumulative Results
Recycling and
Reuse
Technology
Transfer Center
(RRTTC)
Recycling and by-
products research,
education and
outreach
Serving Iowa
businesses the
recycling industry
and Iowa citizens.
? Outreach services and project research
related to recycling and reuse continues to
be an ongoing focus to the UNI campus,
the community and Iowa businesses
? Over 42 RRTTC funded
research projects. Over 170
reports and publications
available
? Outreach and services
provided to more than 2,600
individuals this year,
including business/industry,
K-12 students and teachers,
and Iowa citizens
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
11
Section 4: Grow Iowa Values Funding Projects
UNI’s 2013 Regents Innovation Funding Annual Report has been submitted and is on file with
the Board of Regents.
Section 5: Collaborative Projects
Metal Casting Center (MCC) Collaborates with Ames Laboratory, ISU and UI
• The MCC is collaborating with the Ames Lab at Iowa State University to investigate the
casting of aluminum castings with Ultra-hard boride-based matrix reinforcement.
• The MCC is collaborating with the University of Iowa on a project funded by the Iowa
Energy Center. UNI has been subcontracted to pour castings for UI and assist in the
determination of thermo physical properties of foundry insulating materials and a grant
awarded by the Iowa Energy Center to investigate Ablation casting of steel components.
IDM Collaborates with IEDA and PDI and Iowa Workforce Development
and MidAmerican Energy
• IDM, in collaboration with the Professional Developers of Iowa, Iowa Economic
Development Authority and Mid America Energy are working on the Regional
Development for Iowa 2.0 project. The objective of this project is to move Iowa’s
regional economic development efforts to the next level. This project is also intended to
provide a basis for analyzing the state’s economic regions to better understand intra-
regional economic relationships as well as the impact of the national and international
economic environment on Iowa’s economic regions.
• Creative Corridor Clusters Employment and Staffing Pattern Summary Study
IDM collaborated with Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) to complete the study
“Clusters Employment and Staffing Pattern Summary” to assist the Iowa City Area
Development Group (ICAD), Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, Kirkwood
Community College and other local economic development organizations in the Creative
Corridor Region to better understand the workforce needs of specific industries in order
to help existing and prospective businesses. The study contains a detailed review of the
region’s composition and labor characteristics within thirteen primary industry clusters
based on key employers in the region. Information from this project is being used to seek
community and employer input regarding the region’s workforce challenges and potential
workforce solutions for the region. The study describes the staffing patterns and skill
capabilities that are necessary to support our growing industrial base.
Iowa Waste Reduction Center Collaborates with State and National Partners
• The IWRC’s STAR4D painter training program continues to work with and be funded by
the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Corrosion Prevention and Control (CPAC)
office. CPAC provides oversight to the initiatives taken throughout the year, as well as
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
12
the subcontracts with Science Applications International Corporation and Vision Point
Systems. Initiatives include providing painter training to U.S. military base spray painters
and completing research and development projects.
• Beginning in October 2012, the IWRC began work on the Iowa Food Waste Reduction
Project, funded by an Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Solid Waste
Alternatives Program grant. The project consists of developing food waste reduction and
diversion resources and workshops in which the IDNR provides oversight to ensure grant
requirements are fulfilled.
Regional Business Center Partnerships Key to Success
• IASourceLink: UNI MyEntre.Net and the Iowa Economic Development Authority have
partnered to deliver one of the top SourceLink models in the nation to Iowa business
owners. Through collaborative outreach, additional state and national resource partners
have been recruited to assist in this exciting initiative - ISED Ventures, Women’s Business
Center, Iowa Department of Revenue, Technology Association of Iowa, Pappajohn
Entrepreneurial Center, Connect Iowa, Iowa Waste Reduction Center, U.S. SourceLink,
U.S. Small Business Administration, Iowa Small Business Development Centers, Iowa
Farm Bureau/Renew Rural Iowa, Iowa Area Development Group, Iowa Association of
Business and Industry, BizStarts, and more. Only eight months old, this new web portal has
achieved impressive results, including: almost 20,000 visitors, 888 direct interactions with
Iowa business owners via the MyEntre.Net Business Concierge and IEDA Business License
Information Center services. Additionally, 12 UNI MyEntre.Net powered webinars made
available on IASourecLink have attracted 519 attendees – an average of 40+business owner
attendees per online presentation.
• UNI MyEntre.Net Webinars: UNI MyEntre.Net has entered into a new collaborative effort
with the Iowa Department of Revenue to provide tax specific webinars to Iowa’s small
business community. The partnership has been hugely successful; attracting almost 200
attendees through just two presentations thus far (Iowa Sales Tax Basics & Sales Tax for
Landscaping Firms). On-going work together is anticipated, with future webinars scheduled
until the end of this calendar year and discussions to continue to cooperate into the fall of
2014.
• Dream Big Grow Here: UNI Entrepreneurship Outreach, the Iowa Bankers Association, the
Technology Association of Iowa, Renew Rural Iowa, the Iowa Economic Development
Authority, Delta Dental and eight regional economic development organizations statewide
are partnering to conduct the second Dream Big Grow Here contest. The first and second
years attracted more than 100,000 visitors and tens of thousands of online votes and
comments supporting Iowa small business owners. The number of regionally sponsored
contests represents two-thirds of all Iowa counties, and hundreds of small business
contestants are expected to compete for up to $15,000 in winnings.
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
13
Tallgrass Prairie Center Partners with Cedar Falls Utilities in Testing
Feasibility of Burning Prairie Plants for Electrical Generation
• As a part of a project to determine maximum productivity of prairie biomass for burning
for electrical generation, the Tallgrass Prairie Center teamed with Cedar Falls Utilities to
gain experience in preparing prairie vegetation for burning and determining energy yield
from burning. The prairie biomass was harvested by baling material from the TPC test
plots, partially ground onsite by Vermeer Corporation of Pella and trucked to Pellet
Technology of Gretna, Nebraska for further grinding and pelletizing. A test burn was
conducted at Cedar Falls Utilities on February 27 and 28. For comparative purposes corn
stover was burned the first day and 40.13 tons of prairie biomass was burned the second
day. The test burn was conducted under the direction of Tim Titus of Comprehensive
Emission Services, Inc. and Cedar Falls Utilities. This was a very useful project for
examining various steps in the field to furnace process and in providing an indication of
the energy potential of prairie biomass.
Center for Energy and Environmental Education (CEEE) \
• CEEE is working with ISU Extension in Black Hawk and surrounding counties to
strengthen commerce around local foods and as well as creating a network of
community-run gardens to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
• CEEE collaborated with University of Iowa Flood center in raising awareness of factors
leading to the floods of 2008, and the importance of better planning to significantly
reduce damage due to floods of the future.
Section 6. Suggestions for New or Expanded Programs to Enhance UNI’s Impact in Iowa
UNI proposes a combination of new and expanded services to better meet the needs of Iowa’s
entrepreneurs and small businesses. Services will be provided to entrepreneurs in all regions of
Iowa and will also expand the culture of entrepreneurship on the UNI campus by serving
students and faculty.
Business Concierge (BC) - Small business owners are provided free access to business
intelligence and personal referrals to an Iowa service provider partner or source of capital by the
BC team. The BC supports entrepreneurs statewide, many of whom seek assistance via IA
SourceLink. As the BC team is expanded, more entrepreneurs will be served. We also propose
adding a Small Business Ombudsperson to the BC services. Regulatory issues, access problems
and poor communication skills are some of the immediate needs we have identified for this
service. The BC team will serve as an objective entity to solve issues and get Iowa’s small
business owners through red tape and connected to the right people at the right time.
UNI Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report – 2013
14
Network Iowa – a statewide liaison to assist small businesses is needed. For example, if a
business owner receives a Targeted Small Business (TSB) loan, the Network Iowa liaison will
follow up to see if their needs were met and/or what is needed next. Whether it is TSB, Micro-
loans, SBDC, SBA, or some other service being delivered, the BC would be the follow up voice
to insure the small business is getting what they need and then insure they know where to go
next.
AppsLab - The growing interest in mobile applications (Apps) is very similar to the demand for
web-based technologies in the late 90s. Numerous organizations on campus see Apps as a way
to contact and support their constituents. The UNI J ohn Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center has
launched a pilot phase of an AppsLab where students and faculty from a wide range of
disciplines will work together with trained staff to explore the commercial potential of this
technology and expand UNI’s technology transfer initiatives.
Local Foods Entrepreneurship Support – numerous student and non-student entrepreneurs are
interested in pursuing food-based businesses. Local food initiatives are supported by UNI
outreach programs for growing and marketing fresh foods. The next step is adding value to fresh
produce, which includes small-scale, and large-scale food manufacturing, restaurants, catering,
and other food businesses. Food businesses also need an expert who can help them turn a
personal recipe into a commercial or larger-scale producible recipe. Finally, the demand is high
for a commercial kitchen which can be used for food preparation or packaging.
UNI MarketPlace – UNI has several inventions, learning tools and products that have been
developed, with many focused on K-12 education and learning. In order to provide easy access
to these resources, UNI will develop a MarketPlace website to market the products throughout
Iowa and beyond. Funding also will support additional development of faculty and staff tools
and resources.
University of Northern Iowa – as of June 30, 2013
Regents Innovation Fund
FY 2013 RIF Appropriation ? $900,000
1. Economic Gardening and Entrepreneurship Outreach $300,000
2. Technology Transfer and Business Incubation $300,000
3. Regional Development $100,000
4. Competitive and Market Intelligence $50,000
5. National Ag?Based Lubricants (NABL) Center 150,000
University of Northern Iowa Project List of all FY 2013 Revenue Sources
5907
Revenue
Dollars for
FY 2012?
2013
Amount Expended as
of 12/31/2012
List of all FY 2013 Revenue Sources
5907
Revenue
Dollars
For
FY 2013
Amount of FY
2013 Regents
Appropriations
Expended as of
6/30/2013
1 Economic Gardening and Entrepreneurship Outreach
FY 2013 Regents Appropriations (RIF) $300,000 $85,863 FY 2013 Regents Appropriations (RIF) $300,000 $300,000
FY 2013 Federal Support $16,502 FY 2013 Federal Support $30,351
FY 2013 Other $91,195 FY 2013 Other $270.137
Description of Project
UNI Entrepreneurship Outreach proposes to launch a statewide Economic Gardening (EG) program in Iowa to address a compelling need among smaller, locally?owned employer firms for actionable business intelligence
and support. UNI will create and certify a strategic research team in accordance with the National Center for Economic Gardening to provide Stage II companies (those with 9?99 employees) with secondary market
research and business intelligence.
Anticipated End Results
The Iowa Economic Gardening Network will be formalized, participating organizations certified, and 50?75 Stage II clients identified for service delivery during calendar year 2013. At least 12 companies will receive expert
research team services during the pilot phase between January and June of 2013. Three of MyEntre.Net’s entrepreneur resources will be transformed into customizable technology modules increasing overall small
business use from 2,000 annually to 2,500. Dream Big Grow Here will expand to ten contests and attract 250 contestants.
Results Achieved to Date
A pilot program for Economic Gardening has been launched as an advance effort for a statewide program. A Strategic Resource Team has been certified and twelve economic development organizations from throughout
Iowa have been trained in EG and have begun referring Stage II business clients for services. Twelve companies were served with EG services and networked services formalized through the pilot. Ten Dream Big Grow
Here contests were hosted in the fall of 2013. An additional four regional hosts were placed on a waiting list. The ten contests served entrepreneurs in 66 counties, attracted 225 contestants and generated 100,000
online votes and comments over a four week period. Regional winners will compete in a Pitch?Off event during EntreFest in 2013 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Work continues on scaling three MyEntre.Net resources. The
Dream Big Grow Here technologies are fully scaled and two others are underway.
Plans
Economic gardening projects will be conducted for 12 stage II companies in collaboration with local economic developers. MyEntre.Net resources will be reconfigured into stand?alone program modules. These will
include Dream Big Grow Here, Business Concierge and Webinars. The sixth annual EntreFest was held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on March 7th and 8th, 2013.
University of Northern Iowa Project List of all FY 2013 Revenue Sources
5906
Revenue
Dollars for
FY 2012?2013
Amount Expended as
of 12/31/2012
List of all FY 2013 Revenue Sources
5906
Revenue
Dollars
For
FY 2013
Amount of FY
2013 Regents
Appropriations
Expended as of
6/30/2013
2 Technology Transfer and Business Incubation
FY 2013 Regents Appropriations
(RIF)
$300,000 $59,758 FY 2013 Regents Appropriations
(RIF)
$300,000 $230,520
FY 2013 Federal Support FY 2013 Federal Support
FY 2013 Other $132,288 FY 2013 Other $302,902
Description of Project
UNI continues to advance intellectual property disclosures, protection and commercialization across campus. Strategies for commercialization include licensing, strategic partnerships and new business development.
The Innovation Incubator has created a hub facility, coalescing the existing strength of Intellectual Property disclosures and University research with quality business services to support business incubation and growth.
The incubator and support facilities offer a physical link between the Iowa business community, campus innovators and faculty researchers to enhance technology transfer. UNI will be forging a formal agreement with
the ISU Research Foundation to assist and guide commercialization activities and starting discussions with the University of Iowa Research Foundation.
Anticipated End Results
UNI expects ten disclosures, two patent applications and two license agreements. UNI's incubator will remain full and graduate 4?5 businesses into the regional economy and launch 15 student businesses in the JPEC
student Business Incubator. Five late stage faculty research projects will also be assisted. Formal agreements with ISURF and UIRF will be completed.
Results Achieved to Date
During FY 2013, 10 disclosures were received with three moving toward commercialization. Six faculty research grants were awarded for early?stage research with commercial potential. UNI has begun active
collaboration with the ISU Research Foundation, receiving due diligence technical assistance on five technologies. The Innovation Incubator is full and five companies have recently graduated into the regional economy
with one of the companies a former tenant in the Student Business Incubator. The Innovation Incubator conducted a regional BarCamp event, which attracted more than 100 participants to the incubator and led a joint
Cedar Valley/UNI Innovation Day with the announcement of the Dream Big Grow Here winner. Another faculty spin?off was started in the past 6 months and a license agreement has been signed with an Iowa company.
Plans
UNI will continue to focus on commercialization initiatives, including license negotiations and business startups. At least ten intellectual property disclosures will be received with two licensing agreements executed
under patent or trade?secret provisions and UNI will conduct a faculty research grant competition. In addition, the Student Business Incubator and Innovation Incubator will remain full, generating spin?off companies for
the Iowa economy. UNI will also expand its corporate research and development program to assist existing businesses in Iowa.
University of Northern Iowa Project List of all FY 2013 Revenue Sources
5908
Revenue
Dollars for
FY 2012?2013
Amount Expended as
of 12/31/2012
List of all FY 2013 Revenue Sources
5906
Revenue
Dollars
For
FY 2013
Amount of FY
2013 Regents
Appropriations
Expended as of
6/30/2013
3 Regional Development
FY 2013 Regents Appropriations
(RIF)
$100,000 $57,912 FY 2013 Regents Appropriations
(RIF)
$100,000 $100,000
FY 2013 Federal Support $3,402 FY 2013 Federal Support $6,237
FY 2013 Other $45,158 FY 2013 Other $101,166
Description of Project
IDM will lead an effort to assess and structure Iowa’s regions for economic growth. This will include asset mapping to determine regional strengths and linkages and thereby outline the most appropriate regional
boundaries. In partnership with the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), Regent universities, community colleges, utilities, Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI) and the Iowa Department of Education, IDM will
enhance the Business Expansion & Strategic Trends (BEST) of Iowa program.
Anticipated End Results
Make recommendations for reorganizing Iowa's Regions, focusing on mapping regional strengths and linkages, propose new regional boundaries and suggest best practices for overall structure and leadership. Outline key
benefits of regional development and assist Professional Developers of Iowa with communications and implementation.
Results Achieved to Date
IDM has helped organize Regionalism 2.0 and conducted multiple planning meetings with PDI and steering committee members. IDM worked with IWD to complete regional asset maps for four regions. In addition, IDM
worked with a Geography Department professor to outline new regional boundary options for Iowa, ranging from 6 to 16 regions. IDM partnered with utility companies and economic development service providers to
update the Synchronist existing industry survey and helped local development organizations conduct more effective existing industry programs. Entrepreneurial community projects were launched in two regions to
integrate entrepreneurship into the regional economy.
Plans
IDM will lead the process for developing a new set of economic boundaries to help restructure and reenergize regions across the state and engage the economic development profession in the process. IDM will continue
supporting regional targeting, marketing, organizational management and planning efforts as requested. IDM will participate in the Business Expansion and Strategic Trends (BEST) of Iowa program and expand the
Entrepreneurial Communities Project to enhance and increase entrepreneurship initiatives in regional economic development. Working with the BEST of Iowa Partnership, IDM will enhance the data collection and analysis
process.
University of Northern Iowa Project List of all FY 2013 Revenue Sources
5908
Revenue
Dollars for
FY 2012?2013
Amount Expended as
of 12/31/2012
List of all FY 2013 Revenue Sources
5906
Revenue
Dollars
For
FY 2013
Amount of FY
2013 Regents
Appropriations
Expended as of
6/30/2013
4 Competitive and Market Intelligence
FY 2013 Regents Appropriations
(RIF)
$50,000 $25,339 FY 2013 Regents Appropriations
(RIF)
$50,000 $50,000
FY 2013 Federal Support FY 2013 Federal Support
FY 2013 Other $25,410 FY 2013 Other $51,101
Description of Project
Strategic Marketing Services (SMS) will develop and manage a competitive and market intelligence program for mid?sized Iowa companies. The purpose of devoting RIF investments to competitive and market intelligence
projects is to expand economic growth across Iowa by stimulating business expansion opportunities. Accurate information is needed to make sound market entry or expansion decisions. Gathering and using data to make
decisions is what SMS provides. Established businesses will be required to pay at least one?half of their project cost. SMS expects to assist at least five Iowa companies with advanced competitive and market intelligence
projects. Priority will be given to businesses in the state’s target industry clusters.
Anticipated End Results
SMS will complete five competitive intelligence projects to expand market share, increase profitability and expand the workforce and market research projects for smaller Iowa companies and new startups and conduct five
market feasibility assessments for technology transfer.
Results Achieved to Date
SMS has used RIF dollars to provide market research services for the following Iowa companies: Iowa Mold Tooling in Garner; Clean Water Technologies in Cedar Falls; i?Tracking in Cedar Falls; United Equipment Accessories
in Waverly; Casey’s General Stores in Ankeny; Mid States Steel in Boone; and Plaid Swan in Dubuque. Market research and due diligence was provided to UNI’s technology transfer program for five early?stage technologies.
Plans
SMS will continue to consult with Iowa businesses, entrepreneurs, statewide associations and local governments to conduct competitive intelligence and develop market research plans. In some cases, the client may wish to
undertake some or all of the research activities on their own, utilizing the market research plan as a guide. The final piece of competitive and market intelligence assistance will be devoted to phase one market research
feasibility assessments for the technology transfer process.
University of Northern Iowa Project List of all FY 2013 Revenue Sources
5908
Revenue
Dollars for
FY 2012?2013
Amount Expended as
of 12/31/2012
List of all FY 2013 Revenue Sources
5906
Revenue
Dollars
For
FY 2013
Amount of FY
2013 Regents
Appropriations
Expended as of
6/30/2013
5 National Ag?Based Lubricants (NABL) Center
FY 2013 Regents Appropriations
(RIF)
$150,000 $0 FY 2013 Regents Appropriations
(RIF)
$150,000 $150,000
FY 2013 Federal Support $15,000 FY 2013 Federal Support $150,000
FY 2013 Other FY 2013 Other
Description of Project
NABL will evaluate and enhance microwave lubricant production technology by partnering with Cedar Rapids?based companies (Marion Mixers and AMTek) to investigate the effectiveness and economics at pilot?scale
production levels of a new microwave?based lubricant production technology. NABL will conduct fundamental research activities including ongoing development of a Continuous Oil Recirculation System (CORS)
incorporating biobased oils and derivatives into the diesel engine crankcase. NABL will support Iowa’s biobased products Industry through active participation with industry organizations and provide appropriate
standardized testing methods and industry compliance to help prevent sub?par products from entering the marketplace, thus protecting consumers, end?users and producers.
Anticipated End Results
NABL will refine the microwave lubricant production technology, provide fee?based testing services to at least five biolubricant and/or biofuels industry clients and develop or enhance at least three vegetable oil based
products.
Results Achieved to Date
To date, NABL has provided oil testing services to three industry clients, leading to two ongoing product development research relationships with major biofuels and agriculture industry partners. NABL's patent pending
microwave?based grease processing technology has been licensed to Marion Mixers in Marion, Iowa and the technology has been refined. Progress is being made in the CORS diesel engine test cell set up and
configuration with key support from a major agriculture equipment manufacturer. NABL led working groups at national and international?level lubricants industry association conferences to advocate for biobased
lubricant product standards and industry acceptance.
Plans
The NABL Center will continue to collaborate with industry partners on development of full?scale microwave?based biolubricant manufacturing processes and equipment, measure and evaluate final product quality
differences and identify major cost drivers in vegetable lubricant processes for comparison of microwave vs. traditional methods. New research work investigating the isolation of specific fatty acids such as lubricant
feedstocks, coupled with new derivatives of soybean and other oilseeds, will continue and shows potential for expanded value?added activities in Iowa's biobased products manufacturing industry. NABL will participate
with industry organizations to provide appropriate standardized testing methods and compliance.
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