Tag: collaboration

A&T to Drive AI Innovation, Economic Development in Collaboration with NVIDIA

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EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. – Sept. 6, 2024 – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University today announced it has entered a collaboration with NVIDIA aimed at accelerating North Carolina’s economic growth, enhancing workforce capabilities and fostering innovation across key sectors, helping further position the university as a leader in research and technology.

This collaboration aligns with N.C. A&T’s goal to achieve Carnegie Classification R1 research status, the highest classification of research institutions in the United States. By leveraging NVIDIA’s AI technology and resources, A&T will boost its research capacity in fields critical to economic and human advancement.

“Through this impactful relationship, North Carolina A&T and NVIDIA will enhance a foundation for collaboration and innovation, economic development and workforce preparedness, and groundbreaking research,” said Timothy Minor, interim vice chancellor for the Division of Strategic Partnerships and Economic Development. “By integrating AI into every facet of learning, A&T is equipped to prepare students and faculty to find solutions to problems and meet the industry demands for talent in North Carolina and the nation.”

“Workforce enablement is foundational to economic development, and equipping students and faculty with AI training and tools is key to setting them up to foster generative AI innovation,” said Louis Stewart, head of Strategic Initiatives for Developer Ecosystem at NVIDIA. “This collaboration has the potential to greatly elevate NC A&T’s research capabilities and make a lasting impact on North Carolina’s economy and technology ecosystem.”

Key objectives of the collaboration are:

  • Research Enhancement. The collaboration will strengthen A&T’s research initiatives in areas such as AI, cybersecurity, biotechnology and sustainable agriculture. These fields are pivotal to the university’s strategic mission of achieving R1 status, reflecting A&T’s commitment to groundbreaking research and innovation.
  • Educational Excellence. Working with NVIDIA, A&T will develop and refine educational programs, equipping students with the critical AI skills needed to thrive in the global tech industry. This initiative aims to place A&T graduates at the forefront of technological innovation, preparing them for careers in technology.
  • Economic Development. The collaboration seeks to harness AI to drive economic growth in North Carolina’s key industries, including energy, biotechnology, and information technology. This AI-driven transformation will create new opportunities for businesses and communities, helping solidify North Carolina’s position as a tech hub.
  • Inclusivity and Community Engagement. As part of the initiative, A&T will work with NVIDIA to foster a diverse and inclusive technology ecosystem by engaging with community stakeholders, helping ensure that the benefits of AI innovation reach underserved populations.

“A&T is preparing the next generation of socially conscious leaders, pioneering researchers, visionary entrepreneurs, and global change-makers to transform lives and improve the human condition,” said Tonya Smith-Jackson, Ph.D., provost and executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. “Advanced technology, including generative AI, is integral to that mission.

“Our collaboration with NVIDIA supports synergies that our students and faculty can both contribute to and benefit from, such as advanced research applications, innovations in teaching and learning, and new ways to drive economic empowerment, particularly for those who are underserved. We appreciate the forward-thinking vision of NVIDIA and its recognition that a collaboration with A&T will undoubtedly serve the state, nation and globe.”

Media Contact Information: avallen@ncat.edu

Paul Meyer Appointed as Executive Director of Gateway Research Park

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GREENSBORO, NC (January 23, 2024) – The Gateway Research Park (“Gateway”) Board of Directors have announced that Mr. Paul Meyer will assume the position of Executive Director of the organization effective Monday, January 29, 2024.  Meyer, who retired as Executive Director of the NC League of Municipalities in December 2021, has more than 25 years of non-profit leadership experience with a focus on growing organizations, developing talent, optimizing operations, and achieving positive financial performance.

In making the announcement and after a national search, Gateway Board Chair Kevin Baker said, “Paul’s experience in leading large and complex non-profit organizations, his deep understanding of both state and local government operations and funding, and his past ties to and relationships within the Piedmont Triad Region, all make Paul the right person to fill this critical role for Gateway.” Meyer will take over from Jim Westmoreland, who has served as Interim Director since March 2020 and announced his intention to resign in July 2023 to pursue other professional opportunities.

Meyer said, “I am honored to be provided the opportunity to serve as the Executive Director of Gateway. Having spent some time in the Piedmont Triad Region in the past and having become familiar with Gateway’s impressive portfolio of tenants and culture of on-going success, I look forward to working with the Gateway Board, NC A&T State University, UNCG, and the community to continue to advance the unlimited potential of Gateway and its future.”

The mission of Gateway Research Park, which is a partnership of NC A&T State University and UNCG, is to be a catalyst for university research, innovation, and economic development. Formed in 2003 as a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit, Gateway maintains a 70-year land lease with the State of North Carolina, operates two 75-acre research and development campuses in Greensboro, and has a diverse mix of private, non-profit, and academic tenants on its campuses. In addition, Gateway also provides management support services for Union Square Campus Inc.

Gateway Research Park provides a collaborative environment, which combines groundbreaking business organizations with world-class laboratories, highly advanced equipment and the intellectual capital of faculty and students from partner universities. The tenants and organizations connected to Gateway provide rich shared resources for technological growth, discovery, and progress. Any company that can benefit from collaboration is welcome at Gateway South, located at 2901 East Gate City Boulevard in east Greensboro, and Gateway North located at 5900 Summit Avenue, near the Bryan Park complex just off the Greensboro Urban Loop.

For more information, visit www.GatewayResearchPark.com.

For more information contact:

Mr.Kevin Baker
Chair, Gateway Board of Directors and Executive Director, Piedmont Triad International Airport.
bakerk@gsoair.org
336-665-5600

Merck, A&T to Establish Biotechnology Learning Center at Gateway Research Park

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GREENSBORO, N.C. (June 7, 2023) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and Merck (NYSE:MRK) announced a collaboration agreement today for Merck to build a biotechnology learning center at Gateway Research Park’s South Campus in East Greensboro.

Merck will outfit the facility with the equipment and classroom spaces necessary to provide and enhance academic programming and training for biotechnology careers for North Carolina A&T students. A process laboratory will allow opportunities for students to put knowledge into practice in an advanced discovery setting.

The 4,025-square-foot facility, expected to be completed in 2024, will include manufacturing and research components with vaccine manufacturing process training for new and existing Merck employees.

“Merck Durham is committed to the community and the development of talent,” said Amanda Taylor, plant manager for the Merck Manufacturing Division site in Durham, North Carolina. “In this future facility, students will learn science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills through hands-on applications in manufacturing and research.”

“This forward-thinking partnership housed on the Gateway Research campus emphasizes both N.C. A&T and Merck’s commitment to optimize and develop innovative ideas in collaborative facilities that will not only benefit health outcomes, but will strengthen our impact in the research ecosystem for this region and state going forward,” said North Carolina A&T Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr.

The collaboration will add significantly to biotechnology research and education already underway in colleges and departments across A&T. In addition to biotechnology and bioengineering degree and certificate programs in the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, the colleges of Engineering, Science and Technology, and Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, the university is developing a Department of Defense-funded Center of Excellence in Biotechnology.

The collaboration aims to not only provide training, but also build a pipeline of talent for Merck and the biotechnology industry overall.

“The Merck partnership fits well within our 2030 Strategic Plan, which demonstrates our commitment to transformative engagement,” said Tonya Smith-Jackson, Ph.D., A&T provost and executive vice chancellor of Academic Affairs. “We partnered with Merck because of their commitment to advance the human condition and strong values around diversity and inclusion. A&T is central to producing highly qualified students. Our nationally-recognized excellence in community engagement will also expand access to biotech teaching, training and research.”

 

Source:  NCAT.edu
By Jamie Crockett / 06/07/2023 Research and Economic Development