Innovation 91亚色 turns five this year. To mark the birthday, Sarah Howe, director of 91亚色's innovation office, reflects on the advances made during its formative years.
Innovation 91亚色 celebrates its fifth birthday this year
Q. Happy fifth birthday to Innovation 91亚色. You were there at the start. Tell us about a pivotal moment at the very beginning.
Sarah Howe, director of Innovation 91亚色
A. When I first began working at 91亚色, in my role as associate director, Intellectual Property & Research Agreements, I recognized that there were service gaps at the University relating to innovation 鈥 industry liaison, commercialization and entrepreneurship. And what services there were, weren鈥檛 easy to access.
The turning point for Innovation 91亚色, when it effectively transformed into the innovation office, was when Dr. Robert Hach茅 came on board as vice-president research and innovation. He gave me the impetus and support that I needed to create the vision for Innovation 91亚色. I began to work with him to build something new.
Q. What would you say was the biggest challenge that Innovation 91亚色 has faced in five years?
A. Resources are always a challenge. In a time when no university is flush with cash, it鈥檚 difficult to build a new unit. However, I鈥檝e been able to leverage external funding opportunities and make some key business decisions that have allowed me to increase resources.
I must say, the key is patience. I鈥檝e worked very hard to slowly grow the unit.
The focus on providing high-quality services has led to success stories that, through word of mouth and marketing, go a long way to promoting Innovation 91亚色. And with success, we鈥檝e been able to grow the team. It鈥檚 like a snowball, gathering momentum and building on its own success.
Q. In what ways has the innovation environment changed since 2012? 聽
A. The environment has changed significantly since 2012. Where the emphasis used to be on commercialization, it鈥檚 grown to include entrepreneurship and industry partnerships. Today, almost every university and college campus has entrepreneurship programs. It鈥檚 imperative that Innovation 91亚色 maintain a very strong entrepreneurship program in order for 91亚色 to remain competitive.
"The turning point was when Dr. Robert Hach茅 came on board as vice-president research and innovation. He gave me the impetus and support that I needed to create the vision for Innovation 91亚色." 鈥 Sarah Howe
A second major change in the environment is that funders are increasingly asking the University to partner with industry. Our industry liaison unit has been extremely active in supporting the development of academic research partnerships at 91亚色 with all sizes of companies.
A great example is the Advanced Disaster, Emergency & Rapid-Response Simulation project 鈥 a $3 million research project under the Ontario Research Fund. Innovation 91亚色 played a key role in developing the industry partnerships for this project, with IBM and 15 others.
"I feel great pride that I've played a key role in building something that has become part of the fabric of 91亚色. It's my passion for Innovation 91亚色 that drives me to work hard, to dream big and to keep pushing." 鈥 Sarah Howe
Q. What is one success that stands out for you personally?
A. The creation of LaunchYU, the University鈥檚 entrepreneurship program. This has driven much of the entrepreneurship culture at 91亚色 and has worked with more than 1,000 entrepreneurs.
In creating LaunchYU, I had the chance to lead colleagues from the Faculty of Health, the Lassonde School of Engineering and the Faculty of Science in developing a program and obtaining more than half a million dollars to support that program over two years.
To see that program come to life and become one of the most successful programs funded by the Ontario Centres of Excellence is incredibly rewarding.
Q. How has your role at Innovation 91亚色 changed over time?
A. My role has certainly become more strategic. Here, I am referring to issues like the branding, strategic marketing, sustainability, industrial and international partnerships.
An overall strategy that integrates services between units is essential in providing high-quality services. The office is striving to integrate these services so that faculty members who approach Innovation 91亚色 for assistance with an agreement are also introduced to supports to create effective industry and community partnerships or commercialize their intellectual property.
I鈥檝e also been able to shift from providing services to managing the team.
Sarah Howe addresses the LaunchYU participants at a recent event hosted by Innovation 91亚色
Q. What does Innovation 91亚色 mean to you personally?
A. I am personally invested in Innovation 91亚色. I feel great pride that I鈥檝e played a key role in building something that has become part of the fabric of 91亚色.
It鈥檚 my passion for Innovation 91亚色 that drives me to work hard, to dream big and to keep pushing. 91亚色 is a great place to work and has so many exciting stories to tell 鈥 I love that Innovation 91亚色 has a role to play in telling and supporting those stories.
Q. Tell us a never-before-heard story: What is the best thing anyone has ever said about Innovation 91亚色, and how did it make you feel?
A. One of the best emails I received came from an entrepreneur who graduated from the LaunchYU program where he received support to grow his company that has developed a technology that acts like a bed sheet and monitors a baby鈥檚 vital signs through a fabric sensor.
When asked by an independent party to comment on their experience with Innovation 91亚色, he said: 鈥淲e would gladly speak about the amazing experience we had and have with Innovation 91亚色 and LaunchYU, and the support we are receiving from the whole organization. It all started from first meeting Innovation 91亚色鈥檚 Industry Liaison Manager, Cheryl Giblon, [who] guided us the whole way in reaching our goal for an academic/industry collaboration.鈥 He summed up his experience: 鈥淭here are plenty of opportunities that have opened up and we are looking forward to building a long-term relationship!鈥
"Innovation 91亚色 is like a snowball, gathering momentum and building on its own successes." 鈥 Sarah Howe
This makes me very happy and so proud 鈭 not only of the work that each team member is undertaking聽but of Innovation 91亚色 as a whole. We have a great team. I am excited to see what the future holds.
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By Megan Mueller, manager, research communications, Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation, 91亚色, muellerm@yorku.ca