From Intellectual Capital to Successful Business Enterprises

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0125516 Urban This award is to the University of Southern Mississippi to support the activity described below for 24 months. The proposal was submitted in response to the Partnerships for Innovation Program Solicitation (NSF 0179).PartnersThe partners involved include the University of Southern Mississippi (Lead Institution), Petal High School, Jones Junior College, Pearl River Community College, Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development, Mississippi Technology Alliance, Mississippi Technology Incorporated, Mississippi Center for Community and Economic Development, Area Development Partnership, Mississippi Polymer Institute, Office of Naval Research Laboratories, Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service, National Institute of Science and Technology, John C. Stennis NASA Space Center, Bayer, Inc., Rohm and Haas, J.M. Huber, Eastman Chemical Company.Proposed ActivitiesThe proposed activities include: (1) develop, promote, and sustain an accessible infrastructure for innovation, (2) develop mechanisms for innovation for three model companies (an existing startup, a developing company, a new company), (3) design and implement educational program leading to the increase of the workforce. The vision is to develop a mechanism capable of translating polymer science and engineering discoveries to commercialization through development of new and retention and enhancement of existing companies.Proposed InnovationProposed innovations include: creation of new jobs in the region, establishment of an infrastructure for beta testing and marketing to drive business plans and strategies for success, provide an educated workforce (engineers, scientists, management, sales), attraction of capital investors, provide continuing technical support for new and young companies, return of capital to the research base to ensure continued innovation.Potential Economic ImpactThe potential economic impacts include creation of three new companies with up to 300 new jobs in Mississippi over the next five years, establishment of an infrastructure for technical support for new companies to ensure success, establishment of an education partnership to provide a workforce from skilled laborers to Ph.D. scientists and engineers to support the polymers industry in Mississippi, attraction of investment capital to the region.Potential Societal ImpactThe major societal impact will be the increased standard of living for the state resulting from higher paying jobs and wealth/taxes from new companies in the state.