As a free online tool is being developed which allows companies to find the expertise of faculty at Michigan's top research universities information from Western Michigan University will be included.
Michigan Corporate Relations Network is developing and maintaining the Expertise and Resource Portal in cooperation with
Elsevier. Six research universities will be included: Michigan State University, the University of Michigan campuses in Ann Arbor and Dearborn, Wayne State University, Michigan Technological University in Houghton and Western Michigan University.
When completed, the database will encompass 99 percent of all research and patent activity at Michigan universities. Searches can be based on a concept, a researcher's name, or a published abstract.
The Michigan Corporate Relations Network is collaboration among six public universities and Michigan's University Research Corridor, working to connect small businesses with university resources that help to drive innovation and commercialization. Its work is funded by the
Michigan Economic Development Corp.
Business engagement officers at all six universities are working together to develop a strategy for connecting companies with appropriate and available university resources.
Portal users will be able to search a database of 6,632 researchers and 103 core research facilities that have produced more than 290,000 publications and received nearly 30,000 research grants.
"University research can help drive economic growth. Knowledge-sharing between universities and industry can also result in valuable innovations for society," says Nick Fowler, Managing Director Academic and Government Institutions at Elsevier. "Elsevier is proud to be supporting the Michigan Corporate Relations Network with its mission to drive economic growth and innovation."
Writer: Kathy Jennings, Second Wave Media
Source: Iris Kisjes, Elsevier
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