CLIENT ENGAGEMENTS
Plan & Launch
The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA)
Working with the Office of Technology Commercialization, BCD identified appropriate models to assist faculty inventors and entrepreneurs with product development and business startup, and to enhance technology commercialization in the biosciences. The resulting plan, developed by BCD, for an accelerator, maker space and wet lab incubator, described the services to be provided, facility use, staffing, and operating budget. BCD conducted more than 50 stakeholder interviews with university faculty and administration, the business community and economic development officials to understand the opportunities and role of a UTHSCSA-focused commercialization program in the San Antonio ecosystem.
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Pre-Planning & Consensus Building
Okanagan Research and Innovation Center
BCD worked with the board and staff of the Okanagan Research and Innovation Center (ORIC) on establishing clear strategic directions for this two-facility, ICT incubation program in the Okanagan region of British Columbia, Canada. One location was housed within the National Research Council – Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory, and the other was more centrally located in Kelowna. The primary focus of the work was a daylong training and strategy session with board and staff, where BCD first taught incubation best practices, and then facilitated the building of consensus on key strategic issues that would determine the future of its operations and financial sustainability.
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Strategy & Management
Tech Fort Worth
BCD conducted a strategic review aimed at aligning this operating incubator in Fort Worth, Texas with industry best practices. BCD interviewed board members, staff, key funding sources and clients, and made recommendations on management, governance, finance and services. Specifically, BCD advised Tech Fort Worth to focus on core competencies, align program decision-making around those core competencies, diversify revenue streams, improve client graduation rates, and modify the board structure. The board adopted the recommendations and staff has since implemented them.
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After operating for 10 years, the WTAMU Enterprise Center in Amarillo, Texas sought to expand its incubation program and facility. BCD’s sustainability plan identified expansion opportunities that could be completed in a financially sustainable manner and generate new revenues. The opportunities, which have been realized, included the addition of two new cluster foci, clean technology and food; coworking space; and a facility to retain graduating companies in the community. In addition, the plan emphasized a new role for the Center: the entrepreneurial hub in the greater Panhandle region.
BioStartBCD performed a best practices assessment for this 10-year old bioscience incubation program in Cincinnati, and then developed a sustainability plan designed to help achieve its vision for the future. Following an evaluation of the program against key best practice indicators, BCD recommended several approaches to better align the program, enhance commercialization and startup opportunities with BioStart’s university and hospital partners, and create strategic relationships with life science companies in the region. BioStart later sought and obtained Ohio Third Frontier funding to implement the recommendations.
Assessment & Strategy
University of Illinois Research Park
BCD identified three technology clusters (data analytics and management, biomedical and bioengineering, and energy) that could be utilized for economic development, based upon its review of the University of Illinois’ research, commercialization and spinout activities at its flagship campus in Urbana-Champaign, EnterpriseWorks incubator and Research Park. With its strong record of spinouts from intellectual property developed by faculty and graduate students, Illinois sought to leverage this advantage to benefit the local communities. BCD worked with an Economic Development Advisory Group convened and chaired by the Chancellor, and with the Director of the Research Park.
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BCD was engaged by Rutgers to develop a strategic plan for establishing a clean and renewable energy cluster in the State of New Jersey. Through an extensive, statewide interviewing process and review of legislation and regulations, BCD assessed the current state of the cluster, and the opportunities for and barriers to growth. BCD’s recommendations intentionally ranged from those that could be quickly and easily adopted, to those that would require greater commitment of resources and longer development timeframes. Rutgers has deployed several of the recommendations.