University at Albany Presents its NYSUNY 2020 Plan to Governor, Legislative Leaders

ALBANY, N.Y. (September 20, 2012) -- University at Albany President George M. Philip, together with international business and regional economic development leaders, today advanced a comprehensive proposal with Governor Andrew Cuomo and leaders of the State Legislature to build a state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) facility for emerging technologies and entrepreneurial leadership. This hub of innovation will provide the technology transfer and commercialization resources necessary to drive economic growth, create jobs, and enhance New York’s competitiveness in key industries.

Philip was joined at the presentation by Susan Phillips, UAlbany Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs: Michael Tucker, President of the Center for Economic Growth and a representative of the Capital Region’s REDC; Richard B. Pyle, UAlbany alumus and a senior officer with Vaisala, Inc., one of UAlbany's corporate partner; and Tamra Minor, UAlbany's Chief Diversity Officer.

The proposal, is the University’s application in response to Governor Cuomo’s NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grant, an initiative designed to make the State University of New York a leading catalyst for job growth in New York State, while strengthening the academic and research programs at SUNY’s four University Centers: Stony Brook, Buffalo, Albany, and Binghamton. The initial phase of the program focuses on a $35 million capital construction challenge grant that will be awarded to each Center upon approval of a detailed, long-term economic development and academic enrichment plan.

The UAlbany plan is expected to generate more than $1.8 billion in economic impact throughout the Capital Region, which is 50 times the investment of the NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grant.

At the center of UAlbany’s plan is the construction of a $165 million Emerging Technology and Entrepreneurship Complex (E-TEC). The R&D complex will serve as an Innovation Eco center designed to harness Albany's capacity in emerging technologies by accelerating cooperative R&D, technology transfer, business development and workforce training.

"E-TEC will bolster UAlbany’s ability to translate academic research into commercialization," said Philip. "This plan provides a tremendous opportunity for the Empire State to become a national leader in converting its research capacity into a sustainable economic impact."

E-TEC will be constructed on the east side of the uptown campus and house a critical mass of entrepreneurial resources including:

• The Office of Entrepreneurial and Commercialization Services—a hub of business development and entrepreneurship;
• UAlbany’s Small Business Development Center – which will provide on-site expertise on forming new companies; and
• The University’s Technology Transfer Office designed to accelerate new patents, licenses, and start-ups.

In addition, UAlbany's School of Business will also provide innovative entrepreneurial training to students in support of E-TEC and is occupants.

"E-TEC will provide a 'front door' for industry to global-leading R&D clusters - a virtual cross-sector ‘sandbox’ fostering collaboration among innovators, investors, and customers," said Philip.

E-TEC will also fuel research at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering by strengthening collaborations particularly in the areas of biotechnology, instrumentation, environmental sensors, and solar energy research.

In addition, the UAlbany plan will add more than 700 permanent positions, nearly 200 new faculty, approximately 1,600 construction jobs, and 1,350 new students.

The University's enrollment growth plan also ensures affordability through $5.2 million in enacted TAP eligibility aid, as well as $2.5 million in increased student aid.

"NYSUNY 2020 goes far to create greater access for students as well as provide UAlbany students with stronger support and richer pathways to achieving lifelong success,” said Philip. "We stand ready and eager to implement our NYSUNY 2020 plan so that we can hire more faculty, increase our research funding, graduate more students, drive our regional economy, and fulfill our mission as one of the four flagship University Centers in the SUNY System."

See Also:
NYSUNY 2020 Final Narrative (PDF)
NYSUNY 2020 PowerPoint Presentation (PDF)
Emerging Technology and Entrepreneurship Complex (E-TEC) Rendering
NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grant Plan (PDF)

NYSUNY 2020 Presentation to Governor Cuomo

 
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