M. Foster-Bruns
Valparaiso University,
United States
Keywords: regional innovation infrastructure, emerging research institutions (ERIs), university-industry partnerships, economic development, workforce development, applied research, talent pipeline, innovation ecosystem, higher education engagement, experiential learning, industry collaboration
Summary:
As regional economies navigate workforce disruptions, technological advancements, and demographic shifts, the role of Emerging Research Institutions (ERIs) in strengthening innovation and economic growth is largely underrecognized. This presentation will explore how smaller, primarily undergraduate institutions can be catalysts for regional innovation by forming structured university-industry partnerships. Using Valparaiso University’s Research Collaboratory as a case study, this session will highlight how ERIs can strategically contribute to regional economic resilience and talent development and what these small institutions can do to prepare for these partnerships operationally. Many regions face challenges like population decline, skill gaps, and stagnant job growth, limiting their ability to attract and retain high-wage industries. Traditional innovation ecosystems often center around large research universities, leaving ERIs underutilized in regional economic development efforts. Despite their smaller scale, these institutions hold unique advantages: they are deeply embedded in their communities, prioritize workforce-aligned research, and possess nimble structures that allow for industry collaboration without bureaucratic hurdles. ERIs have the potential to serve as anchor institutions, bridging academia, industry, and regional stakeholders to drive meaningful economic change. Funded by a National Science Foundation GRANTED planning grant, The Valparaiso University Research Collaboratory was designed to be a scalable model for thousands of ERIs around the U.S. to structure industry partnerships and partner with large research universities in unique ways. This model connects faculty and undergraduate students with real-world industry challenges, providing hands-on research experiences while addressing workforce development needs for emerging industry clusters. A key takeaway from this presentation is that ERIs must be intentionally integrated into regional innovation strategies. This will build stronger ecosystems, more opportunities for undergraduate research, and aligned workforce development strategies for emerging industries. This presentation will outline strategies for formalizing research engagement, securing sustainable funding streams, and aligning ERI research capacity with state and federal economic development priorities. Attendees will leave with a blueprint for leveraging ERIs to strengthen regional innovation infrastructure and steps ERIs can take to develop their own Collaboratory model. They will gain insights into how institutions can position themselves as essential players in economic development, create industry-aligned experiential learning opportunities, and establish research collaborations that directly support regional workforce needs. This presentation will challenge conventional thinking by demonstrating that ERIs are not secondary players in innovation ecosystems but essential partners in driving economic and technological progress. Through structured collaboration, these institutions can deepen regional innovation engines, better support R&D and talent needs, and help regions retain talent, attract industry investment, and position themselves as drivers of economic transformation.