Description
Georgia Techs Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2) helps enterprises improve their competitiveness through the application of science, technology, and innovation.
Enterprise Innovation Institute
Annual Report 2009
Table of Contents:
Services to Health Care Providers 4
Services to Manufacturers 6
Services to Entrepreneurs 8
Services to Communities,
Policy-makers, and
State Agencies 10
Connecting Companies to
Georgia Tech 12
Technology Partnership Services 14
Georgia Tech Regional O?ces 16
Report Card
During ?scal year 2009, the Enterprise Innovation Institute:
n Evaluated 149 Georgia Tech innovations and formed 20 new companies
based on this intellectual property. Startups based on Georgia Tech
intellectual property attracted nearly $111 million in investment.
n Helped manufacturing companies reduce operating costs by $67 million,
increase sales by $143 million, and create or save 1,150 jobs.
n Assisted 44 startup technology companies through the Advanced
Technology Development Center (ATDC). ATDC companies attracted
$151 million in capital activity (venture capital investment and mergers/
acquisitions).
n Helped Georgia companies win $664 million in government contracts,
creating an estimated 13,679 jobs.
n Served 52 Georgia communities with projects and helped train 314
economic developers.
n Provided assistance to Georgia companies in preparing 76 proposals that
won more than $7 million in federal Small Business Innovation Research
(SBIR) grants.
n Helped more than a dozen Georgia hospitals adopt process improvement
techniques that reduce costs and improve services to patients.
Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
) helps
enterprises improve their competitiveness through the
application of science, technology, and innovation.
Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
) Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
)
Cover: This sign is the gateway to Technology
Square, the portion of the Georgia Tech campus
where the Enterprise Innovation Institute is
headquartered.
Table of Contents:
Services to Health Care Providers 4
Services to Manufacturers 6
Services to Entrepreneurs 8
Services to Communities,
Policy-makers, and
State Agencies 10
Connecting Companies to
Georgia Tech 12
Technology Partnership Services 14
Georgia Tech Regional O?ces 16
A Message from the Vice Provost A Message from the Vice Provost
Welcome to the 2009 annual report of the Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation
Institute, also known as EI
2
. We are the largest and most comprehensive university-
based program of business and economic development assistance in the United States.
Our overall goal is to help enterprises of all types and sizes use science, technology, and
innovation to improve their competitiveness – and bottom lines. As the report card on
the preceding page shows, our impact on Georgia’s economy is signi?cant.
Like other Georgia state organizations, we have faced challenges from the dismal
economic climate and continued reductions in our state funding. To address those
challenges, we have realigned some of our key programs to re?ect those economic
realities and to serve the changing needs of our state. Te most signi?cant of these are
in our services to entrepreneurs and in the creation of a new initiative focused on the
state’s health care providers.
Perhaps our best-known program is ATDC, which helps Georgia entrepreneurs launch
and build successful technology companies. In July, we broadened ATDC by merging
it with two related programs that also serve entrepreneurs: VentureLab, which creates
companies based on Georgia Tech intellectual property, and the SBIR Assistance
Program, which helps companies win federal Small Business Innovation Research
grants. Te resulting organization provides entrepreneurs a more comprehensive
service, and allows us to better use our limited resources.
Our Healthcare Performance Group has established a national reputation for applying
process improvement techniques to hospitals and other providers of health care. Tese
techniques, originally developed for manufacturers, help providers both reduce costs
and improve their quality of service. We are now building on this foundation with
additional o?erings to help health care organizations adopt electronic medical records
systems, and we recently conducted the ?rst survey of Georgia’s health care information
technology industry.
Te Enterprise Innovation Institute continues to serve Georgia manufacturers with
integrated programs aimed at helping these companies become more competitive
through the application of lean principles, energy management, growth techniques,
and related assistance. We help communities adopt technology and use it to guide the
di?cult decisions they must make. We also support technology partnerships, and help
connect companies to R&D, continuing education, and other resources at Georgia
Tech.
Te state of Georgia faces signi?cant challenges ahead, and we will continue to work
with our colleagues at Georgia Tech and with our partner organizations to help address
these issues. Please let me know if you have suggestions on how we can serve Georgia
better, or if you have questions about our activities.
Stephen Fleming
Vice Provost and Executive Director
[email protected]
404-894-1700
December 2009
Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
)
serves Georgia’s health care
providers by applying process improvement and lean techniques – long proven
in manufacturing – to hospitals and other health care organizations. EI
2
is also
bringing together resources that will accelerate the development of new and more
efective medical devices.
As part of its services
to Georgia hospitals
and other health care
providers, EI
2
helped
Athens Regional Medical
Center implement process
improvement techniques
in its laboratory. The
project reduced processing
times and freed up storage
space.
Services to Health Care Providers
4
Services to Health Care Providers
Process improvement at Athens Regional Medical
Center, one of a dozen hospitals assisted by EI
2
,
included removing doors from shelving and stor-
age cabinets so the supplies they contain could be
more easily identifed.
Streamlining Emergency Services:
EI
2
lean specialists led a team of physicians, nurses, technicians, and administrators
at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to analyze and streamline ?ow processes from the
moment a patient arrives in the emergency department until he or she is discharged.
Te new system they developed reduced the time patients spent waiting for a
physician assessment, enhanced physician and nurse partnering, eliminated order
confusion, and streamlined discharge if no additional treatment was needed. Most
importantly, it improved the patient and family experience by providing a more timely
initial interaction with a physician. Ultimately, lean principles will be applied to other
areas of patient care at the hospital, including operating rooms, in-patient units, and
radiology services.
Reducing Wasted Steps:
Before implementing process improvement techniques, nurses at St. Francis Hospital
in Columbus were losing approximately 750 minutes each day by walking as much
as 50,000 feet to retrieve intravenous pumps from the hospital’s Sterile Processing
Department. Lean specialists with EI
2
trained St. Francis sta? on lean principles,
assisted with data analysis, brainstormed and prioritized ideas, updated management
on the new process, and implemented the lean plan. Now, a certain number of pumps
are kept on each ?oor, and each ?oor has clean, sterile space for an over?ow or staging
area. Pumps are cleaned by nurses within three to ?ve minutes of use, as opposed to
the previous turnaround time of 12 to 24 hours. Cost savings equate to $90,000 a
year.
Assisting Georgia’s Rural Hospitals:
To improve customer satisfaction, enhance the quality of services, and reduce costs,
Peach Regional Medical Center worked with EI
2
to adopt process improvement
techniques ?rst used by the manufacturing industry. Already, the hospital has noted
a 20 percent decrease in average length of stay for its patients. Tis project was part
of an initiative, funded by a $349,000 grant from Healthcare Georgia Foundation,
to help train rural hospital sta?s in lean principles that identify and eliminate waste
in processes while improving customer and sta? satisfaction. In addition to these
rural hospitals, Georgia Tech has successfully used the approach with hospitals in
Athens, Atlanta, Columbus, Newnan, and Vidalia, and its training programs have
been licensed for use nationwide by the American Hospital Association.
Accelerating Medical Device Development:
Four of Georgia’s leading research and health care organizations joined together under
EI
2
’s leadership to create a new innovation center that will accelerate the development
and commercialization of next-generation medical devices and medical technology. Te
Global Center for Medical Innovation (GCMI) will include a comprehensive medical
device prototyping center and be the ?rst of its kind in the Southeast. Supported by
Georgia Tech, Saint Joseph’s Translational Research Institute, Piedmont Healthcare,
and the Georgia Research Alliance, the new center will bring together the complete
medical device marketplace – including universities, research centers and clinicians,
established drug and device companies, investors, and early-stage companies.
Supporting the Health IT Industry:
A new survey conducted by EI
2
showed that Georgia is a national center for the
health information technology industry. Researchers found more than 100 companies
developing information technology products and services for the nation’s health care
industry, and estimated that those ?rms employ nearly 10,000 people in Georgia. Te
national focus on health care should be good news for these companies; 57 percent
of them expect to expand over the next two years. Te survey was part of an EI
2
initiative to support the growth and development of the industry – and to assist with
implementation of information systems for the state’s health care providers.
Contact: Jennifer Lingenfelter (404-386-7472) or
[email protected]
innovate.gatech.edu
5
Georgia Tech President G.P. “Bud” Peterson announced
the Global Center for Medical Innovation (GCMI) at
the BIO 2009 trade show.
Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
) provides a comprehensive set
of services designed to improve the competitiveness of Georgia manufacturing
companies. These services include direct technical and engineering assistance,
continuing education courses, networking opportunities, and connecting
companies to Georgia Tech resources. EI
2
is a NIST Manufacturing Extension
Partnership afliate and serves manufacturers from Georgia Tech regional ofces
located throughout the state.
Services to Manufacturers
As a result of Georgia
Tech manufacturing
assistance, Rotary has
experienced positive
impacts that included
$1.5 million in increased
sales, $2 million in
retained sales that would
have otherwise been lost,
and 50 jobs saved.
Services to Manufacturers
6
Ed Nelson (left), president of Rotary, discusses
new strategies for growth with Georgia Tech’s
Bob Wray.
Implementing Cellular Factory Design:
Spectral Response, a Duluth manufacturer of circuit
boards, had to develop innovative ways of thinking to
survive and thrive. EI
2
lean specialists helped the company
implement a cellular design in its factory to reduce the
length of time from order initiation until shipping, and
also to help with orders that needed to be reworked or
changed. As a result, total work-in-process has decreased
by more than 50 percent, lead times have been cut in half,
overtime is down from 15 percent to less than 5 percent,
the company has 40 percent more ?oor space for future
growth, and electricity costs have fallen by 20 percent.
Reducing Environmental Footprint:
In 2007, Athens-based Power Partners expanded its
product line to manufacture solar water heater systems,
which use the sun’s energy to heat water and can provide
up to 85 percent of the energy needed to produce
residential hot water. After working on projects in lean
manufacturing and quality standards with EI
2
, the
company contacted the organization again to conduct
an energy assessment. Energy specialists evaluated Power
Partners’ process heating systems for potential energy-
saving opportunities – an estimated energy savings of 30
percent. In addition, tank inventory was reduced by 34
percent, total supply-chain lead time for tanks went from
more than 17 days to less than a week, water usage was
reduced by 10,000 gallons per day, quality improved, and
productivity increased.
Streamlining Quality Processes:
Termal Ceramics, an Augusta insulation manufacturer,
needed assistance revamping and streamlining its quality
management system to meet current needs with existing
sta?ng levels. EI
2
reviewed the company’s documentation,
developed a system that had a more value-added process,
and identi?ed training needs. EI
2
team members also
conducted a gap audit, helped with the development
of an implementation plan, assisted with initial internal
audits and a management review, conducted a pre-
assessment audit, and corrected system issues prior to the
registration audit. As a result of becoming ISO certi?ed,
Termal Ceramics increased its sales by $6 million while
saving $2 million in costs.
Winning Government Contracts:
Over the past nine years, Unique Clean’s government
contracts have grown from one to more than 60, a
feat management partially attributes to Georgia Tech’s
Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC), part of EI
2
.
Sta? members from the Marietta-based janitorial company
have attended every seminar o?ered by GTPAC and have
also contacted procurement counselors for assistance on
a variety of issues. Te company has increased its revenue
from $225,000 its ?rst year to $4.8 million last year, with
approximately 90 percent of its revenue generated from
government-related contracts.
Jump-starting Growth:
Over the past 30 years, Rotary Corporation, a lawnmower
blade manufacturer in Glennville, has tapped into
nearly every service o?ered by EI
2
, including feasibility
studies; energy, environmental, and safety audits; and
lean manufacturing implementation. Recently, Rotary
participated in “Eureka! Winning Ways®,” an award-
winning three-step process being o?ered by EI
2
that
helps companies assess how to best jump-start growth
through innovative and creative ideas. As a result of this
growth strategies project, Rotary has experienced positive
impacts that included $1.5 million in increased sales, $2
million in retained sales that would have otherwise been
lost, and 50 jobs saved.
Fighting Import Competition:
In 2007, Quality Filters, Inc., a Robertsdale, Ala.
manufacturer of HVAC, gas phase, and paint ?ltration
products, began to feel competitive pressure from
overseas companies. To address the foreign competition,
company management applied for funding support from
the Southeastern Trade Adjustment Assistance Center
(SETAAC), a federal program based at EI
2
that helps
manufacturers in the Southeast develop and implement
turnaround strategies to better compete with imports. An
EI
2
project manager developed an adjustment plan that
detailed projects to receive funding support, including
assistance in research and development, marketing, and
new product development. As a result, the company has
developed a new, environmentally friendly product and
seen growth of more than 12 percent.
Contact: Chris Downing (404-894-7700) or
[email protected]
innovate.gatech.edu
7
A worker at Spectral Response in Duluth inspects a circuit board before
it is shipped. The Enterprise Innovation Institute assisted the company
with improving its manufacturing processes.
Services to Entrepreneurs
Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
) provides integrated support to
entrepreneurs and early-stage companies in Georgia. Assistance can begin before
a company is even formed through help in evaluating the commercial potential of
intellectual property. EI
2
staf members help companies with business planning,
team-building, and making connections to the people and resources they need to
succeed. Programs include the ATDC, a nationally known science and technology
incubator.
Services to Entrepreneurs
Advanced solar cell
technology developed at
Georgia Tech with
funding from the U.S.
Department of Energy
provided the foundation
for Suniva, the
Southeast’s frst solar cell
manufacturer. The
company, incubated at
Georgia Tech’s ATDC,
opened a manufacturing
facility in Norcross and
plans rapid expansion.
8
In Suniva’s manufacturing facility in Norcross,
company founder Professor Ajeet Rohatgi
holds a solar cell made there.
Growing the Southeast’s First Photovoltaics Firm:
Using technology developed at Georgia Tech, Suniva became the Southeast’s ?rst
solar cell manufacturer in early 2009. Te company, which is based on long-term
research funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, has opened a 73,000-square-foot
manufacturing facility in Norcross and has more than $1 billion in outstanding orders.
Suniva’s founders received initial assistance from EI
2
in formation of the company
before being incubated at the ATDC. Suniva uses a patented technology it calls Star™
to extract maximum performance from wafers of monocrystalline silicon, a material
often used in photovoltaic systems.
Winning SBIR Funding:
Early-stage technology company Simatra, which o?ers high-performance modeling
software that solves complex mathematical equations faster with low-cost computer
resources, received assistance from EI
2
when it applied for research and development
funds in the form of a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the
National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH funded Simatra with a Phase I SBIR grant
of $183,000 to begin moving the technology forward and provided an additional
$1.5 million grant in 2008. Each year, the federal SBIR program and its parallel Small
Business Technology Transfer program provide more than $2 billion to small companies
that are developing leading-edge technologies of interest to federal agencies.
Assisting Company Growth:
Te Georgia Statewide Minority Business Enterprise Center, operated by EI
2
, has
been instrumental in assisting ARS Mechanical, an African-American-owned heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning services ?rm in Conyers. Sta? members have helped
ARS Mechanical with securing bonding and lines of credit, providing proposal writing
assistance, and helping implement a quality management system. Most recently, EI
2
assisted with writing a proposal that landed ARS Mechanical a contract with Fort
Gordon to implement an innovative geothermal heat pump project, a $1.7 million
project that will convert 11 buildings from traditional energy systems to deep-well
geothermal heat pump systems.
Commercializing Multi-electrode Arrays:
Axion Biosystems has developed the next generation of microelectrode array
technology that can simultaneously stimulate and record responses from living
cells. Tis capability has applications in the research, clinical, and drug discovery
markets. Based on technology developed at Georgia Tech, Axion has received more
than $2 million in funding from the Georgia Research Alliance VentureLab program,
the federal government, and private investors. Te company’s initial focus is on
pharmaceutical drug screening. Additional developments include a medical diagnostic
device, supported by a Small Business Innovation in Research (SBIR) grant, and
biohazard detection. Axion is located in the ATDC Biosciences Center.
Helping Inventors Be More Successful:
EI
2
and the Technology Association of Georgia have joined forces to expand education
and professional networking opportunities for Georgia’s inventor community. Te
?rst joint e?ort was a series of workshops in Atlanta, Savannah, and Valdosta to help
independent inventors gain information that will help them improve their product
development and business e?orts, while connecting them with resources in marketing,
?nancing, manufacturing/prototyping, and licensing – four of the key building
blocks for commercialization. Te workshops were sponsored by the U.S. Economic
Development Administration to provide education, increase the awareness of available
resources, and demonstrate the importance of inventors to Georgia’s economic
growth.
Contact: Stephen Fleming (404-894-1700) or [email protected]
9
CEO Tom O’Brien (left) and Chief Technical Ofcer
James Ross show the electronic devices and analysis
software developed by Axion Biosystems.
In 2004, Georgia
Tech became part of
a fve-year National
Science Foundation-
funded Center for
Nanotechnology in
Society. Afliated
Georgia Tech
researchers are exploring
diverse facets of the
socioeconomic impacts
of nanotechnology.
Services to Communities, Policy-makers,
and State Agencies
Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
) assists state agencies,
communities, policy-makers, and economic developers with feasibility studies, fscal
and economic impact analyses, information technology needs, workforce development
eforts, strategic planning, sustainability, and other research and technical assistance.
EI
2
partners with Georgia Tech academic units and other state organizations to provide
these services.
EI
2
researchers are part of a team evaluating
the socioeconomic impacts of nanotechnology.
In an example of a potentially revolutionary
change from nanotechnology, Georgia Tech
Regents’ Professor Zhong Lin Wang is shown
with a new solar cell concept based on
nanometer-scale structures.
10
Services to Communities, Policy-makers,
and State Agencies
Studying the Impacts of Nanotechnology:
In 2004, Georgia Tech became part of a ?ve-year National
Science Foundation-funded Center for Nanotechnology
in Society headquartered at Arizona State University.
A?liated Georgia Tech researchers are exploring diverse
facets of socioeconomic impacts of nanotechnology. For
example, authors from the Enterprise Innovation Institute
and Georgia Tech School of Public Policy have written 30
peer-reviewed journal articles, working papers, and reports
on topics ranging from the emergence of “nanodistricts”
in the United States and nano activity in the South to
competitive challenges in places such as China.
Bringing Information Technology to
Communities:
States, regions, cities, and towns must use Information Age
tools and know-how to survive and thrive in today’s fast-
paced, highly competitive global economy. Te TechSmart
Program, supported partly by the OneGeorgia Authority
and partly by those it serves, takes information technology
to communities across the state, customizing it to local
needs. In 2009, TechSmart sta? worked on 12 projects
– from a four-county area in north Georgia to the Clarks
Hill Partnership in east Georgia centered around Columbia
County.
Building a Foundation for Technical Workers:
Companies increasingly seek technically pro?cient workers.
To help meet this demand, EI
2
and Georgia Tech’s
Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics
and Computing (CEISMC) developed a pilot program
in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM) and deployed it in school systems in Co?ee
and Emanuel counties. Among other activities, students
visited robotics labs at Georgia Tech, saw automation in
action at manufacturing plants, and engaged in robotics
competitions. Nearly 150 students participated in the
pilot, which also exposed several teachers to the high-
tech workplace. Te Enterprise Innovation Institute is
now partnering with Albany Technical College and the
Southwest Georgia Agribusiness Consortium to increase
STEM skills development through the Work Ready Region
program.
Cutting Energy Costs for Cities:
Georgia Tech has long helped industry conserve energy, but
it also works with community facilities – schools, hospitals,
and government o?ces – to cut energy costs. In Savannah,
which has adopted several “green” initiatives, EI
2
conducted
audits at three government buildings to measure their energy
consumption. Recommendations ranged from installing
?uorescent lighting to implementing automatic HVAC
controls. Tis assistance enabled the city to have an energy
conservation strategy in place, a requirement of a stimulus
funding application. Although many investments have yet
to be made, electricity expenditures were $350,000 below
what the city had targeted through May 2009, a savings
that leaders attributed to changing employee behavior,
which was implicit in the EI
2
recommendations.
Improving Customer Service in State Agencies:
EI
2
has worked with the Governor’s O?ce of Customer
Service to apply rapid process improvement (RPI) and
culture-changing techniques to state agencies – with
dramatic results. For example, with Georgia Tech’s
assistance, the O?ce of Child Support Services (OCSS)
cut the amount of time required to process a request –
from intake to legal ?ling – from 71 days to one day. Te
Division of Family and Children Services can now provide
same-day Medicaid eligibility determinations to citizens
who have all documentation necessary; the process had
previously taken as long as 49 days. In another project,
the Department of Driver Services (DDS) was able to
reduce the time required to process applications for driver
examiner positions by 56 percent by reducing the number
of processing steps from 45 to 20.
Strategically Planning for Growth:
Faced with managing economic growth spurred by an
expansion at Fort Benning and the location of Kia and
its suppliers, Troup County and the cities of LaGrange,
West Point, and Hogansville sought help with strategic
planning. Via EI
2
’
s Accelerator Program, EI
2
and
Georgia Tech’s Center for Quality Growth & Regional
Development assisted on numerous fronts, including
research, assessments, strategy design, and facilitation
of organizational development. Te local leadership
team identi?ed 10 strategic goals, 50 speci?c strategies,
and more than 120 actionable initiatives. Results so far
include development of a Web portal to link employees
with job applicants, creation of the non-pro?t Troup
County Center for Strategic Planning, Inc., and Troup
County’s incorporation of a “development scorecard” into
its land-use codes.
Contact: Robert Lann (404-894-3475) or
[email protected]
innovate.gatech.edu
11
The Troup County Government Center in LaGrange is home to the Troup County Center
for Strategic Planning, Inc., formed to help plan for growth.
Connecting Companies to Georgia Tech
The Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
) connects companies to a broad range of
resources at the Georgia Institute of Technology, a $500 million research institution
ranked seventh in the United States among all public universities by U.S. News &
World Report. Specialists at EI
2
work with companies to identify their needs and
match them with Georgia Tech resources, including world-class researchers, unique
technical facilities, the nation’s top science and technology students, and customized
continuing education opportunities.
Connecting Companies to Georgia Tech
Based on a unique
“blended learning”
format that combines
traditional teaching with
group learning, distance
education, and face-to-
face interactions, the new
Professional Master’s
Degree in Applied
Systems Engineering
will fll a signifcant
gap in the higher
education oferings for
working engineers at
organizations in Georgia
and throughout the
nation.
12
The Tech Tower symbolizes the Georgia Institute
of Technology, whose technical, R&D, and
student resources are increasingly important to
companies.
Supporting NCR’s Move to Georgia:
Te Enterprise Innovation Institute played a signi?cant role in one of Georgia’s largest
economic development successes – the recent move of Fortune 500 Corporation NCR
to Georgia. And EI
2
will continue to connect the company to Georgia Tech as a source
of engineering talent and as a partner in developing technological innovations. In
announcing the move, the company listed the opportunity to partner with Georgia Tech
among the key reasons for moving more than 2,100 jobs to the state. NCR is best
known for automated teller machines (ATMs), self-service kiosks, and other assisted-
and self-service solutions. Working with EI
2
for more than a year, NCR o?cials learned
about a broad range of Georgia Tech resources and expertise – in collaboration with the
University System’s Intellectual Capital Partnership Program (ICAPP) and the Georgia
Research Alliance (GRA).
Connecting to the Biotechnology Industry:
Because the state is home to a large university-based research and development program
in the life sciences, Georgia has targeted the bioscience and biotechnology industry for
future growth. EI
2
helped connect Georgia Tech to that industry through a comprehensive
set of activities surrounding BIO 2009, a large trade show that was held in Atlanta during
May 2009. Tose activities included an exhibit booth at the show, technical presentations
by Georgia Tech faculty, an on-campus event to familiarize key attendees with bio-related
facilities, a media training event, programs for K-12 educators, and networking events.
Georgia Tech’s connection to the BIO show began in 2006 with participation at the
Georgia Pavilion sponsored by the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
Expanding Systems Engineering Training:
In collaboration with the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) and Georgia Tech’s
Distance Learning and Professional Education, EI
2
has been helping companies and
government agencies take advantage of new educational opportunities in systems
engineering. Georgia Tech has recently launched a new professional master’s degree
program designed to help experienced engineers expand their knowledge in the
growing ?eld of systems engineering. O?ered for the ?rst time in fall 2009, the new
interdisciplinary degree is taught from an applied perspective and targeted to mid-level
engineers in corporations and government agencies that must design, develop, and manage
complex systems. Based on a unique “blended learning” format that combines traditional
teaching with group learning, distance education, and face-to-face interactions, the new
Professional Master’s Degree in Applied Systems Engineering will ?ll a signi?cant gap
in the higher education o?erings for working engineers at organizations in Georgia and
throughout the nation.
Contact: Carl Rust (404-385-7405) or [email protected]
innovate.gatech.edu
13
EI
2
collaborated with the Georgia Tech School of
Industrial and Systems Engineering to assist NCR
with the design of its new Columbus facility. Shown
are Professor Dave Goldsman (right) and student
Thomas Teyrasse.
Technology Partnership Services
Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
) specialists in commercialization and
technology transfer assist a broad range of clients in evaluating opportunities for
new products and services, advising on optimal pathways to commercialization, and
assisting with market research.
Technology Partnership Services
EI
2
has worked for
several years with the
Carpet and Rug Institute
in Georgia, supporting
various fooring initiatives
through partnerships
with NASA, the National
Science Foundation, and
Georgia Tech. Part of
the efort was assistance
to a Georgia company,
Novana, that has
developed a new approach
for carpet recycling.
EI
2
worked with Novana, Inc. , a Georgia
company that developed an innovative concept
for recycling carpet waste, a major industry
priority. Shown is Daniel Tsai, president of the
company.
14
Supporting the Carpet and Rug Industry:
EI
2
has worked for several years with the Carpet and Rug Institute in Georgia, supporting
various ?ooring initiatives through partnerships with NASA, the National Science
Foundation (NSF), and Georgia Tech. Te partnership e?orts began with the application
of a NASA-enhanced X-ray ?uorescence device to detect carpet soiling and cleaning
e?cacy. Te partnership has resulted in the development of “seal of approval” cleaning
regimens for carpet and rugs, extending carpet life, and reducing the land?ll impact. Te
partnership spawned the development of the Nanotechnology Infusion Center (NTIC),
which is developing applications for the NASA-enhanced X-ray ?uorescence device in
quality control. Also part of the e?ort is Novana, Inc., a small Georgia company that
developed an innovative concept for recycling carpet waste, a major industry priority.
EI
2
worked with the company to secure a Small Business Innovation Research/Small
Business Technology Transfer grant from the NSF to fund research on the project.
Developing a Korea-U.S. Partnership:
In response to a call for proposals from the South Korean government, EI
2
assisted faculty
from Georgia Tech’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering in preparing a
proposal for a next-generation, in-home media system. Te team was awarded a $9 million
contract through the 2008 KORUS Tech Program, an initiative of the Korean Industrial
Technology Foundation. Project investigators will develop immersive technologies using
a hybrid graphics processing unit (GPU)/central processing unit (CPU) platform. EI
2
will provide guidance for the commercial development of the device, which is targeted
for launch in 11 broadband countries. Georgia Tech was chosen from 109 universities to
lead the development and design of this next-generation digital convergence device that
will let users establish and participate in digitally connected communities. Tis award
marks the ?rst time that the Korean government has chosen a U.S. university to lead one
of its research and development programs.
Analyzing Tourism in Kingsland:
In the fall of 2005, the city of Kingsland’s Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB)
requested that pro?les be developed of travelers staying in its lodging facilities. Te
city had been a partner in a major research project conducted by Georgia Tech for the
Camden Partnership, a group making preparations to retain Kings Bay Naval Base during
the latest federal base realignment and closure (BRAC) competition. Because a county-
wide travel and tourism development component was a key part of this original study,
o?cials imagined it might be possible to isolate the city’s visitors for such an analysis. Te
results achieved by the CVB with EI
2
assistance were dramatic. Te number of lodging
rooms in Kingsland doubled, more than $5 million has been developed in non-lodging
assets, and the CVB built a new $2 million visitor center.
Contact: David Bridges (404-894-6786) or [email protected]
innovate.gatech.edu
15
.
EI
2
assisted the city of Kingsland’s Convention and
Visitors Bureau with profles of travelers staying in its
lodging facilities. The efort resulted in an expansion of
tourism in the coastal community.
Enterprise Innovation Institute
75 Fifth Street, N.W., Suite 380
Atlanta, Georgia 30308 USA
Phone: 404-385-3871
Georgia Tech Regional Network
North Metro Atlanta: 678-699-1690
South Metro Atlanta: 404-895-5237
Northwest Region: 770-387-4002
Northeast Region: 706-542-8901
West Region: 706-881-0535
Central Region: 478-275-5125
Augusta Region: 706-721-4522
Coastal Region: 912-963-2519
South Region: 229-430-6195
Contact your nearest Georgia Tech Regional
Ofce for assistance.
www.innovate.gatech.edu
doc_380172021.pdf
Georgia Techs Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2) helps enterprises improve their competitiveness through the application of science, technology, and innovation.
Enterprise Innovation Institute
Annual Report 2009
Table of Contents:
Services to Health Care Providers 4
Services to Manufacturers 6
Services to Entrepreneurs 8
Services to Communities,
Policy-makers, and
State Agencies 10
Connecting Companies to
Georgia Tech 12
Technology Partnership Services 14
Georgia Tech Regional O?ces 16
Report Card
During ?scal year 2009, the Enterprise Innovation Institute:
n Evaluated 149 Georgia Tech innovations and formed 20 new companies
based on this intellectual property. Startups based on Georgia Tech
intellectual property attracted nearly $111 million in investment.
n Helped manufacturing companies reduce operating costs by $67 million,
increase sales by $143 million, and create or save 1,150 jobs.
n Assisted 44 startup technology companies through the Advanced
Technology Development Center (ATDC). ATDC companies attracted
$151 million in capital activity (venture capital investment and mergers/
acquisitions).
n Helped Georgia companies win $664 million in government contracts,
creating an estimated 13,679 jobs.
n Served 52 Georgia communities with projects and helped train 314
economic developers.
n Provided assistance to Georgia companies in preparing 76 proposals that
won more than $7 million in federal Small Business Innovation Research
(SBIR) grants.
n Helped more than a dozen Georgia hospitals adopt process improvement
techniques that reduce costs and improve services to patients.
Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
) helps
enterprises improve their competitiveness through the
application of science, technology, and innovation.
Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
) Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
)
Cover: This sign is the gateway to Technology
Square, the portion of the Georgia Tech campus
where the Enterprise Innovation Institute is
headquartered.
Table of Contents:
Services to Health Care Providers 4
Services to Manufacturers 6
Services to Entrepreneurs 8
Services to Communities,
Policy-makers, and
State Agencies 10
Connecting Companies to
Georgia Tech 12
Technology Partnership Services 14
Georgia Tech Regional O?ces 16
A Message from the Vice Provost A Message from the Vice Provost
Welcome to the 2009 annual report of the Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation
Institute, also known as EI
2
. We are the largest and most comprehensive university-
based program of business and economic development assistance in the United States.
Our overall goal is to help enterprises of all types and sizes use science, technology, and
innovation to improve their competitiveness – and bottom lines. As the report card on
the preceding page shows, our impact on Georgia’s economy is signi?cant.
Like other Georgia state organizations, we have faced challenges from the dismal
economic climate and continued reductions in our state funding. To address those
challenges, we have realigned some of our key programs to re?ect those economic
realities and to serve the changing needs of our state. Te most signi?cant of these are
in our services to entrepreneurs and in the creation of a new initiative focused on the
state’s health care providers.
Perhaps our best-known program is ATDC, which helps Georgia entrepreneurs launch
and build successful technology companies. In July, we broadened ATDC by merging
it with two related programs that also serve entrepreneurs: VentureLab, which creates
companies based on Georgia Tech intellectual property, and the SBIR Assistance
Program, which helps companies win federal Small Business Innovation Research
grants. Te resulting organization provides entrepreneurs a more comprehensive
service, and allows us to better use our limited resources.
Our Healthcare Performance Group has established a national reputation for applying
process improvement techniques to hospitals and other providers of health care. Tese
techniques, originally developed for manufacturers, help providers both reduce costs
and improve their quality of service. We are now building on this foundation with
additional o?erings to help health care organizations adopt electronic medical records
systems, and we recently conducted the ?rst survey of Georgia’s health care information
technology industry.
Te Enterprise Innovation Institute continues to serve Georgia manufacturers with
integrated programs aimed at helping these companies become more competitive
through the application of lean principles, energy management, growth techniques,
and related assistance. We help communities adopt technology and use it to guide the
di?cult decisions they must make. We also support technology partnerships, and help
connect companies to R&D, continuing education, and other resources at Georgia
Tech.
Te state of Georgia faces signi?cant challenges ahead, and we will continue to work
with our colleagues at Georgia Tech and with our partner organizations to help address
these issues. Please let me know if you have suggestions on how we can serve Georgia
better, or if you have questions about our activities.
Stephen Fleming
Vice Provost and Executive Director
[email protected]
404-894-1700
December 2009
Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
)
serves Georgia’s health care
providers by applying process improvement and lean techniques – long proven
in manufacturing – to hospitals and other health care organizations. EI
2
is also
bringing together resources that will accelerate the development of new and more
efective medical devices.
As part of its services
to Georgia hospitals
and other health care
providers, EI
2
helped
Athens Regional Medical
Center implement process
improvement techniques
in its laboratory. The
project reduced processing
times and freed up storage
space.
Services to Health Care Providers
4
Services to Health Care Providers
Process improvement at Athens Regional Medical
Center, one of a dozen hospitals assisted by EI
2
,
included removing doors from shelving and stor-
age cabinets so the supplies they contain could be
more easily identifed.
Streamlining Emergency Services:
EI
2
lean specialists led a team of physicians, nurses, technicians, and administrators
at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to analyze and streamline ?ow processes from the
moment a patient arrives in the emergency department until he or she is discharged.
Te new system they developed reduced the time patients spent waiting for a
physician assessment, enhanced physician and nurse partnering, eliminated order
confusion, and streamlined discharge if no additional treatment was needed. Most
importantly, it improved the patient and family experience by providing a more timely
initial interaction with a physician. Ultimately, lean principles will be applied to other
areas of patient care at the hospital, including operating rooms, in-patient units, and
radiology services.
Reducing Wasted Steps:
Before implementing process improvement techniques, nurses at St. Francis Hospital
in Columbus were losing approximately 750 minutes each day by walking as much
as 50,000 feet to retrieve intravenous pumps from the hospital’s Sterile Processing
Department. Lean specialists with EI
2
trained St. Francis sta? on lean principles,
assisted with data analysis, brainstormed and prioritized ideas, updated management
on the new process, and implemented the lean plan. Now, a certain number of pumps
are kept on each ?oor, and each ?oor has clean, sterile space for an over?ow or staging
area. Pumps are cleaned by nurses within three to ?ve minutes of use, as opposed to
the previous turnaround time of 12 to 24 hours. Cost savings equate to $90,000 a
year.
Assisting Georgia’s Rural Hospitals:
To improve customer satisfaction, enhance the quality of services, and reduce costs,
Peach Regional Medical Center worked with EI
2
to adopt process improvement
techniques ?rst used by the manufacturing industry. Already, the hospital has noted
a 20 percent decrease in average length of stay for its patients. Tis project was part
of an initiative, funded by a $349,000 grant from Healthcare Georgia Foundation,
to help train rural hospital sta?s in lean principles that identify and eliminate waste
in processes while improving customer and sta? satisfaction. In addition to these
rural hospitals, Georgia Tech has successfully used the approach with hospitals in
Athens, Atlanta, Columbus, Newnan, and Vidalia, and its training programs have
been licensed for use nationwide by the American Hospital Association.
Accelerating Medical Device Development:
Four of Georgia’s leading research and health care organizations joined together under
EI
2
’s leadership to create a new innovation center that will accelerate the development
and commercialization of next-generation medical devices and medical technology. Te
Global Center for Medical Innovation (GCMI) will include a comprehensive medical
device prototyping center and be the ?rst of its kind in the Southeast. Supported by
Georgia Tech, Saint Joseph’s Translational Research Institute, Piedmont Healthcare,
and the Georgia Research Alliance, the new center will bring together the complete
medical device marketplace – including universities, research centers and clinicians,
established drug and device companies, investors, and early-stage companies.
Supporting the Health IT Industry:
A new survey conducted by EI
2
showed that Georgia is a national center for the
health information technology industry. Researchers found more than 100 companies
developing information technology products and services for the nation’s health care
industry, and estimated that those ?rms employ nearly 10,000 people in Georgia. Te
national focus on health care should be good news for these companies; 57 percent
of them expect to expand over the next two years. Te survey was part of an EI
2
initiative to support the growth and development of the industry – and to assist with
implementation of information systems for the state’s health care providers.
Contact: Jennifer Lingenfelter (404-386-7472) or
[email protected]
innovate.gatech.edu
5
Georgia Tech President G.P. “Bud” Peterson announced
the Global Center for Medical Innovation (GCMI) at
the BIO 2009 trade show.
Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
) provides a comprehensive set
of services designed to improve the competitiveness of Georgia manufacturing
companies. These services include direct technical and engineering assistance,
continuing education courses, networking opportunities, and connecting
companies to Georgia Tech resources. EI
2
is a NIST Manufacturing Extension
Partnership afliate and serves manufacturers from Georgia Tech regional ofces
located throughout the state.
Services to Manufacturers
As a result of Georgia
Tech manufacturing
assistance, Rotary has
experienced positive
impacts that included
$1.5 million in increased
sales, $2 million in
retained sales that would
have otherwise been lost,
and 50 jobs saved.
Services to Manufacturers
6
Ed Nelson (left), president of Rotary, discusses
new strategies for growth with Georgia Tech’s
Bob Wray.
Implementing Cellular Factory Design:
Spectral Response, a Duluth manufacturer of circuit
boards, had to develop innovative ways of thinking to
survive and thrive. EI
2
lean specialists helped the company
implement a cellular design in its factory to reduce the
length of time from order initiation until shipping, and
also to help with orders that needed to be reworked or
changed. As a result, total work-in-process has decreased
by more than 50 percent, lead times have been cut in half,
overtime is down from 15 percent to less than 5 percent,
the company has 40 percent more ?oor space for future
growth, and electricity costs have fallen by 20 percent.
Reducing Environmental Footprint:
In 2007, Athens-based Power Partners expanded its
product line to manufacture solar water heater systems,
which use the sun’s energy to heat water and can provide
up to 85 percent of the energy needed to produce
residential hot water. After working on projects in lean
manufacturing and quality standards with EI
2
, the
company contacted the organization again to conduct
an energy assessment. Energy specialists evaluated Power
Partners’ process heating systems for potential energy-
saving opportunities – an estimated energy savings of 30
percent. In addition, tank inventory was reduced by 34
percent, total supply-chain lead time for tanks went from
more than 17 days to less than a week, water usage was
reduced by 10,000 gallons per day, quality improved, and
productivity increased.
Streamlining Quality Processes:
Termal Ceramics, an Augusta insulation manufacturer,
needed assistance revamping and streamlining its quality
management system to meet current needs with existing
sta?ng levels. EI
2
reviewed the company’s documentation,
developed a system that had a more value-added process,
and identi?ed training needs. EI
2
team members also
conducted a gap audit, helped with the development
of an implementation plan, assisted with initial internal
audits and a management review, conducted a pre-
assessment audit, and corrected system issues prior to the
registration audit. As a result of becoming ISO certi?ed,
Termal Ceramics increased its sales by $6 million while
saving $2 million in costs.
Winning Government Contracts:
Over the past nine years, Unique Clean’s government
contracts have grown from one to more than 60, a
feat management partially attributes to Georgia Tech’s
Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC), part of EI
2
.
Sta? members from the Marietta-based janitorial company
have attended every seminar o?ered by GTPAC and have
also contacted procurement counselors for assistance on
a variety of issues. Te company has increased its revenue
from $225,000 its ?rst year to $4.8 million last year, with
approximately 90 percent of its revenue generated from
government-related contracts.
Jump-starting Growth:
Over the past 30 years, Rotary Corporation, a lawnmower
blade manufacturer in Glennville, has tapped into
nearly every service o?ered by EI
2
, including feasibility
studies; energy, environmental, and safety audits; and
lean manufacturing implementation. Recently, Rotary
participated in “Eureka! Winning Ways®,” an award-
winning three-step process being o?ered by EI
2
that
helps companies assess how to best jump-start growth
through innovative and creative ideas. As a result of this
growth strategies project, Rotary has experienced positive
impacts that included $1.5 million in increased sales, $2
million in retained sales that would have otherwise been
lost, and 50 jobs saved.
Fighting Import Competition:
In 2007, Quality Filters, Inc., a Robertsdale, Ala.
manufacturer of HVAC, gas phase, and paint ?ltration
products, began to feel competitive pressure from
overseas companies. To address the foreign competition,
company management applied for funding support from
the Southeastern Trade Adjustment Assistance Center
(SETAAC), a federal program based at EI
2
that helps
manufacturers in the Southeast develop and implement
turnaround strategies to better compete with imports. An
EI
2
project manager developed an adjustment plan that
detailed projects to receive funding support, including
assistance in research and development, marketing, and
new product development. As a result, the company has
developed a new, environmentally friendly product and
seen growth of more than 12 percent.
Contact: Chris Downing (404-894-7700) or
[email protected]
innovate.gatech.edu
7
A worker at Spectral Response in Duluth inspects a circuit board before
it is shipped. The Enterprise Innovation Institute assisted the company
with improving its manufacturing processes.
Services to Entrepreneurs
Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
) provides integrated support to
entrepreneurs and early-stage companies in Georgia. Assistance can begin before
a company is even formed through help in evaluating the commercial potential of
intellectual property. EI
2
staf members help companies with business planning,
team-building, and making connections to the people and resources they need to
succeed. Programs include the ATDC, a nationally known science and technology
incubator.
Services to Entrepreneurs
Advanced solar cell
technology developed at
Georgia Tech with
funding from the U.S.
Department of Energy
provided the foundation
for Suniva, the
Southeast’s frst solar cell
manufacturer. The
company, incubated at
Georgia Tech’s ATDC,
opened a manufacturing
facility in Norcross and
plans rapid expansion.
8
In Suniva’s manufacturing facility in Norcross,
company founder Professor Ajeet Rohatgi
holds a solar cell made there.
Growing the Southeast’s First Photovoltaics Firm:
Using technology developed at Georgia Tech, Suniva became the Southeast’s ?rst
solar cell manufacturer in early 2009. Te company, which is based on long-term
research funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, has opened a 73,000-square-foot
manufacturing facility in Norcross and has more than $1 billion in outstanding orders.
Suniva’s founders received initial assistance from EI
2
in formation of the company
before being incubated at the ATDC. Suniva uses a patented technology it calls Star™
to extract maximum performance from wafers of monocrystalline silicon, a material
often used in photovoltaic systems.
Winning SBIR Funding:
Early-stage technology company Simatra, which o?ers high-performance modeling
software that solves complex mathematical equations faster with low-cost computer
resources, received assistance from EI
2
when it applied for research and development
funds in the form of a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the
National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH funded Simatra with a Phase I SBIR grant
of $183,000 to begin moving the technology forward and provided an additional
$1.5 million grant in 2008. Each year, the federal SBIR program and its parallel Small
Business Technology Transfer program provide more than $2 billion to small companies
that are developing leading-edge technologies of interest to federal agencies.
Assisting Company Growth:
Te Georgia Statewide Minority Business Enterprise Center, operated by EI
2
, has
been instrumental in assisting ARS Mechanical, an African-American-owned heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning services ?rm in Conyers. Sta? members have helped
ARS Mechanical with securing bonding and lines of credit, providing proposal writing
assistance, and helping implement a quality management system. Most recently, EI
2
assisted with writing a proposal that landed ARS Mechanical a contract with Fort
Gordon to implement an innovative geothermal heat pump project, a $1.7 million
project that will convert 11 buildings from traditional energy systems to deep-well
geothermal heat pump systems.
Commercializing Multi-electrode Arrays:
Axion Biosystems has developed the next generation of microelectrode array
technology that can simultaneously stimulate and record responses from living
cells. Tis capability has applications in the research, clinical, and drug discovery
markets. Based on technology developed at Georgia Tech, Axion has received more
than $2 million in funding from the Georgia Research Alliance VentureLab program,
the federal government, and private investors. Te company’s initial focus is on
pharmaceutical drug screening. Additional developments include a medical diagnostic
device, supported by a Small Business Innovation in Research (SBIR) grant, and
biohazard detection. Axion is located in the ATDC Biosciences Center.
Helping Inventors Be More Successful:
EI
2
and the Technology Association of Georgia have joined forces to expand education
and professional networking opportunities for Georgia’s inventor community. Te
?rst joint e?ort was a series of workshops in Atlanta, Savannah, and Valdosta to help
independent inventors gain information that will help them improve their product
development and business e?orts, while connecting them with resources in marketing,
?nancing, manufacturing/prototyping, and licensing – four of the key building
blocks for commercialization. Te workshops were sponsored by the U.S. Economic
Development Administration to provide education, increase the awareness of available
resources, and demonstrate the importance of inventors to Georgia’s economic
growth.
Contact: Stephen Fleming (404-894-1700) or [email protected]
9
CEO Tom O’Brien (left) and Chief Technical Ofcer
James Ross show the electronic devices and analysis
software developed by Axion Biosystems.
In 2004, Georgia
Tech became part of
a fve-year National
Science Foundation-
funded Center for
Nanotechnology in
Society. Afliated
Georgia Tech
researchers are exploring
diverse facets of the
socioeconomic impacts
of nanotechnology.
Services to Communities, Policy-makers,
and State Agencies
Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
) assists state agencies,
communities, policy-makers, and economic developers with feasibility studies, fscal
and economic impact analyses, information technology needs, workforce development
eforts, strategic planning, sustainability, and other research and technical assistance.
EI
2
partners with Georgia Tech academic units and other state organizations to provide
these services.
EI
2
researchers are part of a team evaluating
the socioeconomic impacts of nanotechnology.
In an example of a potentially revolutionary
change from nanotechnology, Georgia Tech
Regents’ Professor Zhong Lin Wang is shown
with a new solar cell concept based on
nanometer-scale structures.
10
Services to Communities, Policy-makers,
and State Agencies
Studying the Impacts of Nanotechnology:
In 2004, Georgia Tech became part of a ?ve-year National
Science Foundation-funded Center for Nanotechnology
in Society headquartered at Arizona State University.
A?liated Georgia Tech researchers are exploring diverse
facets of socioeconomic impacts of nanotechnology. For
example, authors from the Enterprise Innovation Institute
and Georgia Tech School of Public Policy have written 30
peer-reviewed journal articles, working papers, and reports
on topics ranging from the emergence of “nanodistricts”
in the United States and nano activity in the South to
competitive challenges in places such as China.
Bringing Information Technology to
Communities:
States, regions, cities, and towns must use Information Age
tools and know-how to survive and thrive in today’s fast-
paced, highly competitive global economy. Te TechSmart
Program, supported partly by the OneGeorgia Authority
and partly by those it serves, takes information technology
to communities across the state, customizing it to local
needs. In 2009, TechSmart sta? worked on 12 projects
– from a four-county area in north Georgia to the Clarks
Hill Partnership in east Georgia centered around Columbia
County.
Building a Foundation for Technical Workers:
Companies increasingly seek technically pro?cient workers.
To help meet this demand, EI
2
and Georgia Tech’s
Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics
and Computing (CEISMC) developed a pilot program
in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM) and deployed it in school systems in Co?ee
and Emanuel counties. Among other activities, students
visited robotics labs at Georgia Tech, saw automation in
action at manufacturing plants, and engaged in robotics
competitions. Nearly 150 students participated in the
pilot, which also exposed several teachers to the high-
tech workplace. Te Enterprise Innovation Institute is
now partnering with Albany Technical College and the
Southwest Georgia Agribusiness Consortium to increase
STEM skills development through the Work Ready Region
program.
Cutting Energy Costs for Cities:
Georgia Tech has long helped industry conserve energy, but
it also works with community facilities – schools, hospitals,
and government o?ces – to cut energy costs. In Savannah,
which has adopted several “green” initiatives, EI
2
conducted
audits at three government buildings to measure their energy
consumption. Recommendations ranged from installing
?uorescent lighting to implementing automatic HVAC
controls. Tis assistance enabled the city to have an energy
conservation strategy in place, a requirement of a stimulus
funding application. Although many investments have yet
to be made, electricity expenditures were $350,000 below
what the city had targeted through May 2009, a savings
that leaders attributed to changing employee behavior,
which was implicit in the EI
2
recommendations.
Improving Customer Service in State Agencies:
EI
2
has worked with the Governor’s O?ce of Customer
Service to apply rapid process improvement (RPI) and
culture-changing techniques to state agencies – with
dramatic results. For example, with Georgia Tech’s
assistance, the O?ce of Child Support Services (OCSS)
cut the amount of time required to process a request –
from intake to legal ?ling – from 71 days to one day. Te
Division of Family and Children Services can now provide
same-day Medicaid eligibility determinations to citizens
who have all documentation necessary; the process had
previously taken as long as 49 days. In another project,
the Department of Driver Services (DDS) was able to
reduce the time required to process applications for driver
examiner positions by 56 percent by reducing the number
of processing steps from 45 to 20.
Strategically Planning for Growth:
Faced with managing economic growth spurred by an
expansion at Fort Benning and the location of Kia and
its suppliers, Troup County and the cities of LaGrange,
West Point, and Hogansville sought help with strategic
planning. Via EI
2
’
s Accelerator Program, EI
2
and
Georgia Tech’s Center for Quality Growth & Regional
Development assisted on numerous fronts, including
research, assessments, strategy design, and facilitation
of organizational development. Te local leadership
team identi?ed 10 strategic goals, 50 speci?c strategies,
and more than 120 actionable initiatives. Results so far
include development of a Web portal to link employees
with job applicants, creation of the non-pro?t Troup
County Center for Strategic Planning, Inc., and Troup
County’s incorporation of a “development scorecard” into
its land-use codes.
Contact: Robert Lann (404-894-3475) or
[email protected]
innovate.gatech.edu
11
The Troup County Government Center in LaGrange is home to the Troup County Center
for Strategic Planning, Inc., formed to help plan for growth.
Connecting Companies to Georgia Tech
The Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
) connects companies to a broad range of
resources at the Georgia Institute of Technology, a $500 million research institution
ranked seventh in the United States among all public universities by U.S. News &
World Report. Specialists at EI
2
work with companies to identify their needs and
match them with Georgia Tech resources, including world-class researchers, unique
technical facilities, the nation’s top science and technology students, and customized
continuing education opportunities.
Connecting Companies to Georgia Tech
Based on a unique
“blended learning”
format that combines
traditional teaching with
group learning, distance
education, and face-to-
face interactions, the new
Professional Master’s
Degree in Applied
Systems Engineering
will fll a signifcant
gap in the higher
education oferings for
working engineers at
organizations in Georgia
and throughout the
nation.
12
The Tech Tower symbolizes the Georgia Institute
of Technology, whose technical, R&D, and
student resources are increasingly important to
companies.
Supporting NCR’s Move to Georgia:
Te Enterprise Innovation Institute played a signi?cant role in one of Georgia’s largest
economic development successes – the recent move of Fortune 500 Corporation NCR
to Georgia. And EI
2
will continue to connect the company to Georgia Tech as a source
of engineering talent and as a partner in developing technological innovations. In
announcing the move, the company listed the opportunity to partner with Georgia Tech
among the key reasons for moving more than 2,100 jobs to the state. NCR is best
known for automated teller machines (ATMs), self-service kiosks, and other assisted-
and self-service solutions. Working with EI
2
for more than a year, NCR o?cials learned
about a broad range of Georgia Tech resources and expertise – in collaboration with the
University System’s Intellectual Capital Partnership Program (ICAPP) and the Georgia
Research Alliance (GRA).
Connecting to the Biotechnology Industry:
Because the state is home to a large university-based research and development program
in the life sciences, Georgia has targeted the bioscience and biotechnology industry for
future growth. EI
2
helped connect Georgia Tech to that industry through a comprehensive
set of activities surrounding BIO 2009, a large trade show that was held in Atlanta during
May 2009. Tose activities included an exhibit booth at the show, technical presentations
by Georgia Tech faculty, an on-campus event to familiarize key attendees with bio-related
facilities, a media training event, programs for K-12 educators, and networking events.
Georgia Tech’s connection to the BIO show began in 2006 with participation at the
Georgia Pavilion sponsored by the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
Expanding Systems Engineering Training:
In collaboration with the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) and Georgia Tech’s
Distance Learning and Professional Education, EI
2
has been helping companies and
government agencies take advantage of new educational opportunities in systems
engineering. Georgia Tech has recently launched a new professional master’s degree
program designed to help experienced engineers expand their knowledge in the
growing ?eld of systems engineering. O?ered for the ?rst time in fall 2009, the new
interdisciplinary degree is taught from an applied perspective and targeted to mid-level
engineers in corporations and government agencies that must design, develop, and manage
complex systems. Based on a unique “blended learning” format that combines traditional
teaching with group learning, distance education, and face-to-face interactions, the new
Professional Master’s Degree in Applied Systems Engineering will ?ll a signi?cant gap
in the higher education o?erings for working engineers at organizations in Georgia and
throughout the nation.
Contact: Carl Rust (404-385-7405) or [email protected]
innovate.gatech.edu
13
EI
2
collaborated with the Georgia Tech School of
Industrial and Systems Engineering to assist NCR
with the design of its new Columbus facility. Shown
are Professor Dave Goldsman (right) and student
Thomas Teyrasse.
Technology Partnership Services
Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI
2
) specialists in commercialization and
technology transfer assist a broad range of clients in evaluating opportunities for
new products and services, advising on optimal pathways to commercialization, and
assisting with market research.
Technology Partnership Services
EI
2
has worked for
several years with the
Carpet and Rug Institute
in Georgia, supporting
various fooring initiatives
through partnerships
with NASA, the National
Science Foundation, and
Georgia Tech. Part of
the efort was assistance
to a Georgia company,
Novana, that has
developed a new approach
for carpet recycling.
EI
2
worked with Novana, Inc. , a Georgia
company that developed an innovative concept
for recycling carpet waste, a major industry
priority. Shown is Daniel Tsai, president of the
company.
14
Supporting the Carpet and Rug Industry:
EI
2
has worked for several years with the Carpet and Rug Institute in Georgia, supporting
various ?ooring initiatives through partnerships with NASA, the National Science
Foundation (NSF), and Georgia Tech. Te partnership e?orts began with the application
of a NASA-enhanced X-ray ?uorescence device to detect carpet soiling and cleaning
e?cacy. Te partnership has resulted in the development of “seal of approval” cleaning
regimens for carpet and rugs, extending carpet life, and reducing the land?ll impact. Te
partnership spawned the development of the Nanotechnology Infusion Center (NTIC),
which is developing applications for the NASA-enhanced X-ray ?uorescence device in
quality control. Also part of the e?ort is Novana, Inc., a small Georgia company that
developed an innovative concept for recycling carpet waste, a major industry priority.
EI
2
worked with the company to secure a Small Business Innovation Research/Small
Business Technology Transfer grant from the NSF to fund research on the project.
Developing a Korea-U.S. Partnership:
In response to a call for proposals from the South Korean government, EI
2
assisted faculty
from Georgia Tech’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering in preparing a
proposal for a next-generation, in-home media system. Te team was awarded a $9 million
contract through the 2008 KORUS Tech Program, an initiative of the Korean Industrial
Technology Foundation. Project investigators will develop immersive technologies using
a hybrid graphics processing unit (GPU)/central processing unit (CPU) platform. EI
2
will provide guidance for the commercial development of the device, which is targeted
for launch in 11 broadband countries. Georgia Tech was chosen from 109 universities to
lead the development and design of this next-generation digital convergence device that
will let users establish and participate in digitally connected communities. Tis award
marks the ?rst time that the Korean government has chosen a U.S. university to lead one
of its research and development programs.
Analyzing Tourism in Kingsland:
In the fall of 2005, the city of Kingsland’s Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB)
requested that pro?les be developed of travelers staying in its lodging facilities. Te
city had been a partner in a major research project conducted by Georgia Tech for the
Camden Partnership, a group making preparations to retain Kings Bay Naval Base during
the latest federal base realignment and closure (BRAC) competition. Because a county-
wide travel and tourism development component was a key part of this original study,
o?cials imagined it might be possible to isolate the city’s visitors for such an analysis. Te
results achieved by the CVB with EI
2
assistance were dramatic. Te number of lodging
rooms in Kingsland doubled, more than $5 million has been developed in non-lodging
assets, and the CVB built a new $2 million visitor center.
Contact: David Bridges (404-894-6786) or [email protected]
innovate.gatech.edu
15
.
EI
2
assisted the city of Kingsland’s Convention and
Visitors Bureau with profles of travelers staying in its
lodging facilities. The efort resulted in an expansion of
tourism in the coastal community.
Enterprise Innovation Institute
75 Fifth Street, N.W., Suite 380
Atlanta, Georgia 30308 USA
Phone: 404-385-3871
Georgia Tech Regional Network
North Metro Atlanta: 678-699-1690
South Metro Atlanta: 404-895-5237
Northwest Region: 770-387-4002
Northeast Region: 706-542-8901
West Region: 706-881-0535
Central Region: 478-275-5125
Augusta Region: 706-721-4522
Coastal Region: 912-963-2519
South Region: 229-430-6195
Contact your nearest Georgia Tech Regional
Ofce for assistance.
www.innovate.gatech.edu
doc_380172021.pdf