Business Engagement Center
URI’s Front Door for Industry
The Business Engagement Center What can we do for your business? • Find fresh talent • Bring great ideas to market • Partner on sponsored research • Plan professional conferences • Provide access to URI’s facilities and meeting spaces • Offer specialized training for your current employees uri.edu/bec
Connecting large and small businesses with URI resources. The Business Engagement Center (BEC) serves as a front door for companies and businesses looking to engage with the University for any purpose, including finding students for internships or permanent careers, sponsoring research, taking advantage of conference planning services, and fostering workforce development. The BEC is all about being accessible to the business community and providing resources to help strengthen Rhode Island’s economy. From technology transfer and the creation of new companies to workforce training that ensures robust employment opportunities, the BEC is carrying out the University’s economic development agenda in real time, with real businesses, for real growth. Leaders in a variety of fields including bioscience, defense and marine trades, composites research, pharmacokinetics, and manufacturing came to campus to meet with faculty, students, and administrators, tour facilities, and learn more about ways to partner with the University. University of Rhode Island 1
Business Engagement Center Success Stories Cox Business, a broadband communications and entertainment company, helped the URI College of Business Administration launch the “Senior Bootcamp” program. This program helps senior students as they transition to their careers and helps them prepare for the job search process, master interviews, negotiate their salary, and manage their personal finances. Top Rhode Island corporations, including Toray Plastics (America), a leading manufacturer of polyester, polypropylene, bio-based, and metallized films based in North Kingstown; Johnston-based mutual insurance company, FM Global; and Taco, a Cranston-based manufacturer of hydronic systems and equipment, all provided critical advocacy, financial support, and votes for the ultimate passage of the URI College of Engineering bond issue. This $125 million bond will create a 21st century facility for URI engineering students and faculty, and a brighter economic future for the state of Rhode Island. Modeling simulation company Dassault Systèmes has provided software licenses, along with support and mentorship, for students using the company’s computer-aided engineering programs in the College of Engineering computer lab. This partnership has not only helped future engineers utilize industry-standard technology, but it has also allowed the company to make their products visible to their future clientele. Through its Innovation Voucher Program, Rhode Island Commerce Corporation provided four small Rhode Island companies with funds to utilize the resources of URI. These funds will enable these companies to work with URI on essential R&D to build the capacity of their organizations. Over 130 companies from across the region participated in URI’s annual Spring Career and Internship Fair to discuss career and internship possibilities with our students.
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We’re looking for partners who can Think Big with us.
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Maximizing the economic impact of URI’s intellectual property portfolio. The BEC has many University partners focused on helping your company make the most of URI’s resources.
The University of Rhode Island Research Foundation (URIRF) works with businesses to find real-world applications for University inventions. Faculty and staff launch companies with licensed technology. The Polaris Manufacturing Extension Program (MEP) offers on-site training and facilitations, one-on-one consulting, and public workshops as it helps Rhode Island’s small and mid-sized manufacturers achieve operational excellence and to incorporate University innovations. In collaboration with the Rhode Island Manufacturers’ Association, Polaris MEP also works to identify skills gaps and facilitates the development of solutions to identify and train a qualified manufacturing workforce. The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) operates out of URI’s Division of Research and Economic Development. Providing in-depth business counseling and advanced business skills, the SBDC works with Polaris MEP, and is part of a network of 63 centers across the United States and its territories.
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Corporate Affiliates Programs The Graduate School of Oceanography and College of Pharmacy Corporate Affiliates Programs give business leaders immediate access to leading faculty, scientists, students, innovative research, and exciting new research developments. Collaborative Clinical Placement Team (CCP) Through URI’s Academic Health Collaborative, the University educates students across eight health care disciplines, more than any other institution in Rhode Island. Hospitals, clinics, health care companies and others benefit from the education and experience URI offers in pharmacy, nursing, dietetics, kinesiology, psychology, speech pathology, physical therapy, and human development and family studies. Our team will help you find talented students with the experience to meet your organization’s needs. College of Engineering Capstone Design Program URI’s senior engineering students complete a yearlong capstone project with a local business. The projects are a win-win partnership—companies receive an extra boost in R&D and students get valuable experience. For example, URI engineering students helped Toray Plastics (America) boost productivity and worked with Neptune-Benson to create a better water filter. University of Rhode Island 5
Since opening its doors in 2013, the BEC has helped hundreds of companies connect with the resources of URI, the state’s public flagship research university. We expect that the BEC will continue to grow and elevate its visibility as we support the growing industries identified in the Brookings Institution state economic strategy report released in early 2016. As partners with companies large and small, we offer wonderful opportunities: exciting discoveries; new technologies; high-tech facilities; faculty expertise; and practical continuing education programs. When our students intern with companies, they are able to apply valuable classroom learning to real problems, and in turn companies benefit from fresh ideas, innovative thinking and energy. Through the BEC, we are collaborating on many levels with businesses that Think Big with us – to build a strong economy, grow their organizations, and enhance the mission of URI, and the prosperity of the entire state.
David M. Dooley President, University of Rhode Island
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URI is a vital partner in building Rhode Island’s economy. “We look at the BEC as a valuable part of our ongoing relationship with URI, including our longtime partnership with the URI College of Engineering Capstone Design program. We find the students to be energetic and full of new ideas that have helped us to solve critical problems, and many have gone on to successful careers at our company. We foresee that the BEC will continue to play a major role in fostering this strong link with Toray and URI.” Michael Brandmeier, President and CEO, Toray Plastics (America), Inc.
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Katharine Hazard Flynn is the Center’s executive director. A Brown University graduate with decades of experience in economic development, finance, and philanthropy, she also serves as URI’s director of corporate and foundation relations. Katharine will help your business take advantage of URI’s resources in technology, research, engineering and other critical areas. The BEC is located on the first floor of the Alumni Center on the Kingston campus. Email Katharine 24/7 at khflynn@uri.edu, or visit us at uri.edu/bec.
“Companies contact us thinking they need one resource, such as interns, and realize quickly that URI has a great deal more to offer.” Katharine Hazard Flynn, BEC Executive Director
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We will connect your business to a world of resources at URI, 24/7.
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BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT CENTER Katharine Hazard Flynn, Executive Director khflynn@uri.edu | 401.874.7084 George Nickolopoulos, Relationship Manager georgen@uri.edu | 401.874.2083 Alumni Center, 73 Upper College Road Kingston, RI 02881 uri.edu/bec @URI_BEC
Corporate Partners Alex and Ani Amgen, Inc. Amica Amtrol, Inc. Astro-Med, Inc. Citizens Bank Cox Communications CVS Health Dassault Systèmes Deloitte Electro Standards Laboratories FM Global Fidelity General Dynamics Electric Boat Gilbane Building Co. Hasbro Hexagon Metrology Hope Global IGT Lifespan National Grid Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Navatek Neptune Benson Ocean State Job Lot Raytheon Company Sensata Schneider Electric Shimadzu Taco, Inc. Teknor Apex Company Textron Toray Plastics (America), Inc. United Natural Foods, Inc. Verizon
URI is an equal opportunity employer committed to the principles of affirmative action. 5/2016 500/BEC PHOTOS: JOE GIBLIN, NORA LEWIS, MICHAEL SALERNO, ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
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