Nine West Virginia University graduate students will spend the evening of Sept. 28 presenting their research to representatives of the private sector at an event that signals a new approach to converting research and innovation into products and services that create economic value.

The evening will begin with a poster display and an opportunity for guests to listen to the students present their work. The attendees include the nine graduate students from the WVU College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, their faculty advisors and individuals from private industries who were specially selected and matched to the research efforts of each student.

The event is hosted by a new initiative at WVU funded by the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation called Linking Innovation Industry and Commercialization, or LIINC, which is designed to improve WVU’s research commercialization and economic impact by nurturing ties to industries.

“The purpose of the dinner is to promote productive interaction between our graduate students, faculty and private sector experts,” Curt M. Peterson, Vice President of Research and Economic Development at WVU, said. “The University, through initiatives like this and President Clements’ recent symposium on innovation, is demonstrating its recognition of the importance of developing intellectual property to improve the economy.”

Peterson said one of the goals of the LIINC approach is to continue conversations and foster relationships between the faculty, students and the industry representatives that can lead to future commercialization successes.

He said similar LIINC sessions will be held for graduate students and faculty from the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and Economics and the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design. All sessions are primarily geared to graduate student research but future plans call for development of events connecting undergraduate students and entrepreneurial alumni.

-WVU-

gg/9/21/11

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CONTACT: Gerrill Griffith, Research Corp
(304) 293-3743