Drexel Creates Opportunities for Business Partnerships
Drexel University is a nationally recognized technology institution with a strong
history of developing innovative research and educational programs. Through these
programs, Drexel is committed to playing a pivotal role in economic development
in Southeastern Pennsylvania and has established close ties with the business community
in joint efforts that include solution-oriented R&D and technology commercialization.
The University is a national leader in the development of highly successful business
incubator/accelerator programs and workforce development. The following links describe
these areas in greater detail.
R&D
Drexel has participated as both prime contractor and subcontractor with industry
partners on government contracts. Drexel works with a variety of companies, from
large prime contractors that develop and integrate technologies to small businesses
looking for their first contracts. Drexel also works closely with the U.S. Departments
of Defense, Transportation, Health and Human Services, Commerce, Homeland Security
and industry partners on contracts that include many different types of technologies
with various uses. For example, our
Applied Communications and Information Networking (ACIN)
program provides rapid R&D and prototyping in the area of advanced communications
and information networking. Drexel’s Congressionally-designated National Bioterrorism
Civilian Medical Response
Center (CIMERC) is responsible for developing technologies in
command and control (C2) using intelligent robotics including unmanned aerial vehicles
that can be used by military and civilian first responders in a bio-attack, and
in the prevention, detection and remediation of such an attack. Our
Nanotechnology Institute is developing
new commercial technologies in this emerging area related to materials and biological
products. These programs provide innovative research and development and prototype
development for proof of concept and demonstration purposes in state-of-the-art
laboratories.
In addition to working with government agencies, Drexel collaborates with industry
to provide innovative R&D partnerships that provide solution-oriented product
development. Drexel has an outstanding reputation in, among other areas, the development
of biomedical devices and biotechnology, and has a strong clinical trials unit to
test the efficacy of new pharmaceuticals undergoing testing leading to approval.
Drexel also partners with small companies in Small Business Innovation Research
(SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants that are offered by
all government agencies.
Technology Commercialization
Drexel’s research programs have resulted in the development of new intellectual
property that is protected by U.S. and international patents by our
Technology Commercialization Office.
These IPs are made available to companies for licensing. Licensees include established
companies with extensive product lines and start-up companies. Drexel’s technology
pipeline is extensive as the result of our large portfolio of NIH and NSF grants.
Unlike most other academic institutions, Drexel has integrated its research and
technology commercialization programs. As a result, promising technologies are identified
at an early stage and funding sources are provided to perform the R&D and prototype
development that add value to the technology by demonstrating its capabilities and
effectiveness.
Drexel works closely with partners in Southeastern Pennsylvania to foster technology
commercialization including
Ben Franklin Partnership of Southeastern Pennsylvania, the
University City Science Center
and the
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
Business Incubation/Acceleration
Drexel is a national leader in developing and implementing an effective model for
business incubation involving government, academia and industry. Presently, the
University operates a business incubator with 46 companies in an economically-depressed
area focused on companies with communications and information networking products.
Drexel provides reasonably priced space and services related to business development
and opportunities for the incubator companies to generate revenue by establishing
contractual relationships with government agencies, prime contractors and technology
and service integrators. Drexel uses the incubator companies as subcontractors.
Start-up companies that have licensed Drexel technology are located in the incubator
facility, along with companies that have relocated from other states because of
the revenue generating opportunities the incubator provides.
Drexel works closely with other academic institutions, Ben Franklin Partnership
of Southeastern Pennsylvania and the
Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation in the development
of Keystone Innovation Zones that will facilitate business development, location
and retention in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Workforce Development
Drexel’s co-op program, founded
in 1919, is one of the most comprehensive. It’s the second largest in the nation
and the third largest in the world. The University’s team of co-op advisors works
with 6,000 students annually to choose and apply for co-op positions with more than
1,500 employer organizations in 42 states and 20 international locations.
Contact Information
Ken Blank, Ph.D.
Senior Associate Vice Provost for Research
Email: kb36@drexel.edu
Phone: 215.895.6091
Fax: 215.895.1056