University of Illinois: Office of the Vice President for Technology and Economic Development




Contact VPTED

Office of the Vice President
for Technology and
Economic Development
Henry Administration Building,
Room 346
506 S. Wright St.
Urbana, IL 61801

Email: vpted@uillinois.edu
Phone: (217) 265-5440
Fax: (217) 265-5444

Office of the Vice President for
Technology and Economic Development

Programs

Seminar on Economic Development and the University

There are many issues concerning the nature, scope, scale, and implications of the University’s involvement in technology commercialization to foster high-tech economic development. For example, what are the appropriate goals for technology commercialization within the University’s missions of teaching, research, and service? How can the University best accomplish those goals? How should the University be configured to achieve its economic development goals and continue its preeminence as an institution for fostering unbiased inquiry? What are the potential threats to the University’s core mission and how do we eliminate them?

The University Senates Conference and the Vice President for Economic Development and Corporate Relations have jointly convened a Seminar on Economic Development and the University to engage faculty in a dialogue. The Seminar comprises eleven distinguished faculty from the University's three campuses who are examining the potential opportunities and risks associated with expanding our University's contributions to economic development in the state of Illinois and beyond. The exchange of ideas and insights under the auspices of the Seminar will resurrect in a more enlightened and successful technology commercialization system within the University.

Public events on the University’s technology commercialization activities in the spring semester of 2002 included town meetings conducted jointly by the Vice President for Economic Development and Corporate Relations and the Vice Chancellor of Research on the Chicago and Urbana campuses, and a presentation and discussion forum led by Stanley O. Ikenberry, UI President Emeritus and Regent Professor.

 

Membership of the Seminar on Economic Development and the University:
Elliot Kaufman (Chair) - Associate Professor and Interim Head, Molecular Genetics Dept, UIC
Albert S. Feng - Professor of Physiology, Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Professor, Engineering Bioengineering Program, Professor, Beckman Institute, UIUC
Nancy Ford - Associate Professor, Institute of Public Affairs, Legal Studies, UIS

Sander Gilman - Director, Humanities Laboratory, UIC

Rassule Hadidi - Professor, Management Information Systems, UIS

Lewis D. Hopkins - Professor, Urban and Regional Planning, UIUC
Robert A. Jones - Professor, Religious Studies,Director of the Advanced Tech Lab, UIUC
Paula T. Kaufman - University Librarian, UIUC

Mark J. Kushner - Professor, Computer and Electrical Engineering, UIUC
Walter B. Michaels - Professor of English, Head, Department of English, UIC
Therese McGuire - Professor, Institute of Government and Public Affairs, UIC