University TechHelp Boise State University TechHelp, the EDA University Center Activities University of Idaho hosted at Boise State University (BSU) The Center provides Idaho Idaho State University in Idaho, assists Idaho manufacturers manufactures with an assessment of Center Director to be more innovative to grow potential energy, envir onmental, and Steve Hatten revenue, improve productivity, and efficiency (e.g., ean) l savings, which is Center Location add jobs. From offices in Boise, Post College of Engineering followed by training. Then the Center Falls, and Pocatello, TechHelp provides implementation support to Center since 1996 specialists and its network of public realize those savings and improve and private third party partners economic performance. Center Activities provide technical and professional Food and dairy safety are a concern to Assessments related to assistance to Idaho turers, manufac economy, e nergy, and many state firms and the Center food and dairy processors, and environment programs inventors with the goal of Develop high-‐ Regional Training and workshops skilled regional commercializa�on
Assistance related to strengthening their global workforce efforts 5% 10% Advance standards competitiveness through continuous high-‐growth entrepreneurship Export assistance innovation on new and improved Business expansion in a 15% products, markets, and processes. The region's innova�on Center focuses on increasing clusters Cul�vate Clients 30% innova�on Existing businesses productivity and competitiveness 40% Entrepreneurs through process improvements and on increasing export sales by Idaho provides training to food and dairy Assessment firms. In addition, the Center strives processors to enhance their food Techniques to drive product and service safety systems in order to meet Client satisfaction innovation throughout the state. The surveys requirements established by their Center is supported by the grant, the Case studies customers and by the Food and Drug state government, the NIST NIST MEP surveys Administration. The Center holds Manufacturing Extension Partnership public workshops and private -‐ in plant (MEP) program, the University, and Contact Information food safety technical training and www.techhelp.org program fees. assistance for company leadership, [email protected]
FY 2012
managers, and employees. design, rapid prototyping, and testing leverages the Center’s relationship services through the New Product with the Idaho District Export Council The Center also helps firms grow Development Lab at Boise State and its members, as well as with revenue through commercialization University. international business students who assistance such as public and private help with the project. In addition, innovation workshops, innovation Leveraging engineering students are highly process and structure support, and The Center leverages their network of engaged in the Center’s implementation support. It also experienced staff and proven commercialization/new product provides assistance with product partners from private industry, development assistance jects. pro The Idaho’s u niversities, and the National Center leverages university resources “Tech Help is critical to the development MEP network to develop trusted and of the Dairy Industry in Idaho. It including data sources, analytical lasting relationships with Idaho provide excellent training initiatives and expertise, specialized equipment for companies and communities. In contacts with the University of Idaho commercialization assistance, and the addition, the export program faculty.” -‐-‐Center Client technology transfer office.
Success Leveraging extensive partnerships Strategic Export Action Plan it to operate offices in four different and outside resources to reach designed to strengthen its EU regions around the state to better companies statewide distribution network and increase EU serve its clients in distressed and TechHelp provides the state’s sales by 25% in 2012. In addition, rural regions. In addition to serving important manufacturing sector Rekluse moved to a new modern as an EDA University Center, with a complete suite of services plant in Boise in early 2012, and TechHelp is also an affiliate of NIST’s and brings expertise and best former student engineer of TechHelp Manufacturing Extension practices to the state’s distressed and Boise State went on to become Partnership, allowing it access to a communities. For example, in 2011 their R&D Manager. wide range of advanced Rekluse Motor Sports was selected manufacturing best practices and for Idaho’s 2011 Export Excellence A key element in this success has expert consultants. Program to receive help in assessing been TechHelp’s active leveraging of and entering global markets. A Boise partnerships and outside resources TechHelp uses a heavily State international b usiness student to implement its programs. elp TechH collaborative approach to and a Council member worked with is a partnership of three universities providing technical assistance the company to develop an export – Boise State University, University throughout the state by drawing action plan for the company’s of Idaho, and Idaho State University. upon the resources and expertise automatic clutch for dirt bikes The Center can draw upon numerous of three universities and by (which had been developed with colleges and departments within the leveraging multiple federal help from TechHelp in 2002). From three universities to meet client funding sources. this plan, Rekluse developed a needs. This arrangement also allows
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