IHSI and OCR collaborate to help researchers build industry partnerships

The Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute, in partnership with the Office of Corporate Relations (OCR), recently hosted a webinar, Building Effective Industry Partnerships. Attracting researchers from more than 50 departments and 12 colleges and schools across the Illinois campus, this informational webinar explored the various aspects of engaging in industry-sponsored research and building successful industry partnerships. The presentation slides and video recording are now available.

The event began with opening remarks from IHSI Senior Director for Research and Core Development Gillian Snyder. “We see great opportunities for making the work done on campus more accessible and more impactful for our community through industry partnerships, and IHSI is here to help lower those barriers and continue building the necessary infrastructure to support and strengthen these relationships,” said Snyder. “Today’s event is one step toward this goal, and we hope we can continue to provide these important insights and education to empower researchers and innovators across campus.”

During the webinar, speakers from OCR, Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA), and the Office of Technology Management discussed their roles in facilitating industry-academic partnerships and technology transfer. Live attendees heard from a panel of researchers and corporate partners about their experience and advice for developing and maintaining these relationships.

Campus resources for building industry partnerships
The Office of Corporate Relations can connect you with the resources you need to be successful in a rapidly changing business environment and assist researchers in their corporate engagement strategies. OCR brings leaders in business and academia together and will remain a resource for you through the process of crafting mutually beneficial licensing agreements. Contact OCR Executive Director Megan Puzey for support in engaging with industry partners.

Sponsored Programs Administration is a service unit with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and supports the research enterprise throughout the entire lifecycle of an externally-sponsored project, from idea, to proposal, to contract, to close out. SPA can make sure your proposals adhere to sponsor guidelines and university regulations and negotiate terms with industry partners. Contact SPA Senior Award Negotiator Justin Blount for support with non-disclosure agreements for industry partners.

The Office of Technology Management moves the innovations that result from university research into public use by protecting and licensing University intellectual property. Contact OTM Assistant Director & Senior Technology Manager Jeff Wallace or OTM Director Nathan Hoffman for support with patenting and copyrighting your intellectual property.

Connect with IHSI
The Research Development core works directly with Illinois investigators to expand health sciences research. The team provides proposal development support, offers grant seeking workshops and resources, and coordinates campuswide responses to local and national funding priorities. Please contact Maggie Berg with questions or to discuss partnership and support for your research project.

Subscribe to the IHSI e-newsletter to learn more about upcoming webinars, program announcements, research support services, and more.