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Best Practice: Ideas to Impact with Bill Dean
Best practice happens every day; someone doing things better than yesterday. I enjoy learning new ideas and reading about best practice experiences from others to implement programs of work that will improve the innovation framework within new changing environments and ecosystems. I especially like the team approach to creating a pathway for successful technology development and implementation.
Learn more about Auburn's pathway to success and about the innovation framework that allows for a "centralized, streamlined, proactive" approach to commercialization.
| Above: Yellow Card CEO and Auburn alum, Chris Maurice | |
Auburn Startup Announces $40M in Series B Financing
Yellow Card, a Pan-African cryptocurrency exchange that began in what is now the New Venture Accelerator has announced $40M in Series B financing. To date Yellow Card has raised more than $57M, making it one of the most well-funded startups in Africa.
Learn more about their plans for growth in this recent piece from Forbes
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OMNIS Wins 4th Annual Halloween Pitch Competition for Students
Founded by Auburn senior, Zakariya Veasy, OMNIS is a crowdsourced social platform where individuals borrow money through community and peer-to-peer short-term microloans. Veasy founded OMNIS help individuals with limited credit history who have difficulty accessing traditional lenders.
“Far too often, the underbanked and unbanked are forced to turn to high-interest payday loans to stay afloat at 400% interest as the average,” said Veasy. “The value proposition for OMNIS users is that it builds credit for demographics who are underserved and overlooked. With OMNIS, users are building up the community’s financial literacy and closing the generational wealth and credit gaps across the country.”
Read more
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ARTF Staff Spotlight: Melanie Wright
A proud Auburn grad, Wright joined ARTF as Director of Accounting and Financial Operations in August of 2022. Dynamic and forward thinking, she has quickly demonstrated that she's more than just a numbers person.
Tell us about your role as Director, Accounting and Financial Operations. What does a typical day look like for you?
My role as the Director of Accounting and Financial Operations at ARTF has been nonstop since I started in August. Because of our September 30th year end each day has been unique in learning about the operations of the Foundation and working on understanding and streamlining financial reports, audit preparation, while also educating myself on our 2023 budget. I pride myself on being highly organized and being prepared for the audit has been priority number one. I’ve also really enjoyed my training opportunities as well as getting to meet new people in other University offices. It is important to me to cultivate personal connections and relationships and not just be a numbers person.
Learn More
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Master of Health Science in Anesthesia Program Launching Summer of 2023
In response to national anesthesia provider shortages and particularly to those anticipated in the Southeastern US, the Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) located in The Park is launching a Master of Health Science in Anesthesia Program in the summer of 2023.
Read More VCOM's efforts to train tomorrow's critically needed providers and their partnership with Auburn University's College of Sciences and Mathematics.
| Above: ARTF Board Member Bill Ham and his wife, Carol | |
Auburn's Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center unveils Bill and Carol Ham Amphitheatre at special ceremony
“Carol and I are honored to have our names on this wonderful amphitheatre,” said Bill Ham, Auburn’s mayor for two decades. “The Gogue Center is at the forefront of providing performing arts to Auburn and the surrounding area, and as a community, we are treated to dozens of wonderful events, including ones that teach the arts to Auburn youth, surrounding communities’ students and students at Auburn University. It’s a place where the city and the university interface in the same way the community supports university sporting events."
“One of my goals as mayor was to continue to improve our town and gown relationship,” Bill Ham said. “Jay Gogue and I shared a goal to do a better and more efficient job for the city and the university through mutual support. I am thrilled that Chris [Roberts] and Ron [Anders] will continue this great relationship.”
Bill Ham has worked tirelessly throughout his career to strengthen the partnership between the city and the university as well. He was instrumental in the creation of the Auburn Research Park, expansion of the Auburn University Regional Airport and consolidation of the city and university police forces. He also was a driving force behind the city’s original gift made in support of the Gogue Center’s construction and its naming of the City of Auburn Lawn and Porch.
Read More
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This holiday season, The Park is participating in the City of Auburn's annual toy drive. The toy drive assists families in the Auburn community by providing gifts to disadvantaged children ages two through eight.
You can help. Simply place an unwrapped gift in the collection bin in the lobby of the Research and Innovation Center (540 Devall Drive) or at any of the following locations between now and December 3rd:
- Auburn Police Department, 141 N. Ross St.
- Auburn Fire Department Stations
- Auburn Public Library, 749 E Thach Ave
Volunteers will sort the gifts into age-appropriate categories, and delivery is scheduled for the week before Christmas.
During this holiday season, please remember those who may be less fortunate and as always, no monetary donations may be accepted; however, any purchased gift is deeply appreciated.
Questions regarding the Auburn Toy Drive can be directed to Debra Hoyett at the Auburn Police Department at 334-501-3117.
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New Venture Accelerator Spotlight
Entrepreneur in Residence:
Jennifer Nay
“The longer I’ve been here, the more I’ve realized that I have exactly what these young entrepreneurs need,” she said, “The experiences I’ve gained from the many years when I was figuring it out by myself, putting myself through college, starting my career, starting our businesses are invaluable. I have first-hand insights and learning that I can now share with people who are interested in starting a business of their own. I can advise them every step of the way.”
To be sure, there is never a dull moment at the NVA or in the Nay home. They’re either giving back to student and faculty entrepreneurs or continuing to explore new ventures of their own.
Read More about Nay, her career and her role in the New Venture Accelerator.
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Auburn's Technology Transfer Office has a new name.
Introducing The IP Exchange
Beginning in August of 2022, the Office of Innovation Advancement and Commercialization (IAC) adopted a new name: The Intellectual Property Exchange (also known as “The IP Exchange” and “IPX”)
The new name and mark are reflective of internal reorganization and an ongoing commitment to translating innovative Auburn ideas into meaningful impacts.
Under the leadership of Bill Dean, executive director of the Office of External Engagement and Support (EES) as well as the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation (ARTF), the IP Exchange (IPX) is comprised of existing IAC staff in an updated structure with processes that are being streamlined.
“The process of revisualizing our technology transfer office brought together a team of commercialization and licensing experts and paired them with talented marketing and branding professionals both on our own staff and with the Media Production Group. Together, they produced an evolved identity that reflects the changing organization. I particularly liked the intentional visual linkage with other elements of The Park’s ecosystem. It’s a great opportunity to reintroduce ourselves to outside partners in both the private and public sectors," said Cary Chandler, Senior Director for ARTF.
"The new name, look, and feel provide important context for Auburn faculty and staff--clearly signaling where technology transfer activity sits along the larger continuum of university innovation and discovery. Feedback so far has been nothing but positive. We hope the buzz, curiosity, and clarity around The IP Exchange (IPX) will raise awareness for the array of expertise available and for the role university commercialization plays in driving the region’s knowledge-based economy. From ideas to impact, IPX is here to serve," Chandler added.
To reflect and strengthen this new name and identity, IPX is in the process of developing a new website: ipx.auburn.edu. In the interest of continuity and to ensure a smooth transition, the previous web address (iac.auburn.edu) will remain active for the next twelve months. Individual staff email addresses and phone numbers will also remain the same as will the unit’s physical mailing address.
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On November 15, 2022, in an ongoing effort to advance research ideas that benefit society and the economy, Auburn University awarded three faculty research projects more than $100,000 in LAUNCH funding support.
Established in 2015 by the Auburn University Research and Economic Development Advisory Board, the LAUNCH Fund for Research and Innovation involves a multi-stage competition and related programming designed to bridge the gap between innovative research and the marketplace.
Dr. Xinyu Zhang, a professor in Auburn’s Department of Chemical Engineering was awarded $40,152 in support of his efforts to manufacture low-cost, long-lasting catalyst membranes for use in green hydrogen production. Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier for a range of clean and sustainable energy technologies, but production cost is high because of the expensive platinum catalysts commonly used in hydrogen generation. Zhang has developed a cost-effective alternative catalyst that is both less expensive than platinum catalysts and last three to five times longer. Zhang’s catalysts make the generation of hydrogen through water electrolysis less cost prohibitive with the capacity to create a real boost in the expansion of today’s hydrogen market.
Dr. Zhihua Jiang, an associate professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and director of the Alabama Center for Paper and Bioresource Engineering, received $43,175 in funding for his novel process to turn wood into wood pulp more effectively. Kraft pulping is the predominant process for converting wood into wood pulp as fibrous raw material for papermaking or other specialty applications. One major drawback of the kraft pulping process is the relatively high residual lignin content of the resulting pulps. High residual lignin results in lower pulp brightness and some undesirable physical properties, and high residual lignin cannot be removed without causing significant impacts to pulp yield and quality. To reduce high residual lignin content of kraft pulps and to improve yield, various additives to the process have been evaluated, however there are often health and safety, environmental, and regulatory issues associated with current available additives. Dr. Jiang’s alternative process addresses the market need to develop other additives that improve yields in kraft pulping with little to no negative consequences to personnel and the environment.
Dr. Burak Aksoy, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering was awarded $34,963 for his work with plant-based sustainable barrier coatings and films that are suitable for the food packaging industry. These novel coatings improve the strength of paper and paperboard, increase shelf life and reduce food spoilage. Dr. Aksoy will now work with collaborators the the USDA to verify results and to move from bench scale to pilot scale operations.
As with any Auburn innovators whose projects are significantly advanced and demonstrated, LAUNCH award recipients will be connected to experts in Auburn's New Venture Accelerator, and to the professional staff of IP Exchange for help in devising pathways to commercialization.
More information about how Auburn supports experts through LAUNCH is available on the LAUNCH website.
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Above: two of the 2022 LAUNCH winners:
Zhihua Jiang and Xinyu Zhang
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CONVERGE: News and Notes
from around The Park is a publication of Auburn Research Park. CONVERGE aims to connect with members of The Park community and in turn, help them connect with one other and with university expertise.
Our goal is to highlight innovative activity in The Park and on campus, and link you to resources that may be useful to your organization, for example, if you 're interested in technology that is available for licensing through the Auburn, visit the IPX Available Technologies page. If you have a start up and you'd like to learn more about resources available to help you start and grow your business, visit the New Venture Accelerator site and be sure to check out their Opportunities and Events pages.
2022 is winding down, but plans are already in place for an exciting 2023. Our community is growing. Among the new tenants, look for the College of Architecture Design and Construction who will be building out 8,000 square feet on the fourth floor of the Research and Innovation Center (RIC) as well as refitting the 4,000 square foot storage facility adjacent to the RIC to create a new Research Commons. Additionally, we're pleased to announce that the cafe will open under new management in early 2023 with a menu that's sure to please. In the meantime, we'll keep food trucks rolling to The Park.
Thank you for checking out this issue of CONVERGE. You can stay up to date between issues by following us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and by keeping an eye out for us in your inbox.
Thank you, again, for your role in making the Park the place where innovation begins,
Leslie Chapman
leslie@auburn.edu
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