A cohort of five primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs) from across the country has aligned efforts to enhance their capacity to develop applied research partnerships with local innovation ecosystem partners, including industry, government, and other educational institutions. The ARISE cohort has established plans to enhance each institution’s ability to prepare for, and successfully execute applied research partnerships to strengthen each institution’s role in regional innovation and economic development. Additionally, the cohort will create an internal assessment tool that will allow each university to assess and improve its capacity to execute these university-industry partnerships that will advance each member’s engagement in its regional innovation ecosystem.
Collectively, the ARISE cohort will showcase best practices for PUIs to catalyze workforce development and industry research and development (R&D) projects supported by each institution’s faculty and administration to match university research expertise with regional R&D demands, now and in the future. ARISE member institutions share the common goal of increasing their capacity to support R&D activities in partnership with regional industries. With improved institutional capacity, each institution will be able to leverage their assets to engage with regional industry and governmental partners at the speed of business to support workforce and economic development. Cohort members will support one another through shared best practices, regular meetings, and a regional meeting that will include industry representatives. Each cohort member has developed a plan to create new capacity via both internal and external programming to engage with regional industry and governmental partners at the speed of business to support workforce and economic development.
Additionally, the cohort will create an internal assessment tool that will allow each university to assess and improve its capacity to execute these university-industry partnerships that will advance each member’s engagement in its regional innovation ecosystem As a result of this work, each cohort institution will become more able to take on regional leadership roles in emerging technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing) and, ultimately, to become more active leaders and partners in economic development in their respective regions. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
The University of West Florida
The University of West Florida is using its EPIIC ARISE award to strengthen its capacity for applied research partnerships with industry, government, and educational partners across Northwest Florida and the Gulf Coast. UWF is developing internal frameworks to assess and grow university-industry collaboration, sharing best practices with peer ARISE institutions, and supporting faculty engagement in regional R&D priorities in emerging technologies like AI, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing.
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
The University of Wisconsin-Parkside is leveraging its EPIIC ARISE award to deepen its applied research partnerships with industry and government across southeastern Wisconsin's manufacturing and innovation corridor. UW-Parkside is developing internal capacity assessments, sharing best practices with peer ARISE institutions, and growing its role in regional R&D for emerging technologies like AI, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing.
Northern Virginia Community College
Northern Virginia Community College is using its EPIIC ARISE award to expand its capacity for applied research partnerships with industry and government across the National Capital Region. The college is working alongside peer ARISE institutions to develop assessment tools and best practices for university-industry collaboration, sharpening NOVA's role in workforce development and economic engagement in emerging technologies such as AI, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing.
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Frostburg State University
Frostburg State University is leveraging its EPIIC ARISE award to grow its capacity for applied research partnerships with industry, government, and educational organizations across Western Maryland and the Appalachian region. The university is developing internal frameworks to assess and strengthen university-industry collaboration, sharing best practices with peer ARISE institutions, and positioning faculty and students to play a larger role in regional R&D in emerging technologies like AI, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing.
The University of Texas Permian Basin
The University of Texas Permian Basin is using its EPIIC ARISE award to launch a dedicated external partnership program through its Office of Innovation & Commercialization, communicating UTPB's research capabilities to industry, academic, and governmental partners. The grant supports institutional assessments, faculty and staff workshops on partnership development, and standardized partnering agreements that let the university engage regional partners at the speed of business, strengthening UTPB's contribution to advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, and other emerging technologies in West Texas.
