Aug 5 2007
Missouri State University’s Roy Blunt Jordan Valley Innovation Center (JVIC) is preparing to add two companies – California-based Unidym and Massachusetts-based Foster-Miller, Inc. – to its prestigious team of senior corporate affiliates.
After several presentations and meetings with both Unidym and Foster-Miller, the partnerships have been approved by JVIC’s Senior Corporate Affiliate Board, said Dr. Ryan Giedd, JVIC’s executive director. Formal agreements between the university and the companies are still being finalized. However, both companies plan to lease space at JVIC, which is located in downtown Springfield.
“These companies are at the forefront of the new advanced carbon electronics technology,” Giedd said. “Missouri State University is proud of the support we’ve received from the community to bring companies of this stature to JVIC.”
Unidym, a majority owned subsidiary of Arrowhead Research Corporation, is a nanotechnology company that utilizes carbon nanotubes to develop a wide range of high-performance, cost-effective electronic products such as transparent conductive films for flat panel displays and touch screens, thin film transistors for flexible electronic devices and fuel cells for portable devices.
Foster-Miller, Inc., a QinetiQ North America company, is a technology and product development company with an international reputation for delivering and supporting innovative products and systems that perform under the most demanding conditions. The company produces TALON® robots and LAST® Armor used by the United States military.
Giedd said the additions of Unidym and Foster-Miller will give the students, faculty and staff at Missouri State more opportunities to work side-by-side with corporate partners on some large-scale and groundbreaking scientific projects.
“The business model for the Roy Blunt Jordan Valley Innovation Center is built around innovative companies with complementary technologies, working together to form new products and market opportunities,” said Dr. Jim Baker, the university’s vice president for research and economic development. “The success of this business model is greatly enhanced by the addition of Unidym and Foster-Miller as senior corporate affiliates.”