West EDA University Center

West Virginia EDA University Center

University and Concord Leveraging Marshall University University’s West Virginia EDA The Center leverages extensively the University Center provides resources formal relationship of Marshall Center Director and services to implement regional University Research Corporation, Tom Minnich strategies that support job creation, Concord University Research & Center Location the development of -­‐ high skilled Development Corporation, and the Outreach Unit regional talent , pools and business Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Center since 2011 expansion in the region's innovation Flexible Manufacturing. Through this clusters. trio of service options the Center is able to provide a wide range of Activities Center Activities complementary services to their The Center provides direct technical  Business counseling clients. In addition, ll Marsha University  Feasibility studies and business assistance to small  Market analysis businesses and entrepreneurs  New product throughout the state in areas , of need Regional development workforce including feasibility studies, market 20% Advance technical analysis, business planning, assistance and Regional entrepreneurship commercialization support, prototype Clients commercializa�on 50% 30%  Small businesses design/development, and  Entrepreneurs manufacturing/quality control program development. For example, university researchers are given Contact Information and Concord University have rich pools advice on marketing and inventors are [email protected] of academic scholars and with students given prototyping advice. The Center the capacity to support R&D projects in also provides business skills training numerous disciplines relevant to key and assistance to help new and economic industries, such as existing businesses maximize their biomedical sciences, engineering, and revenue potential and incorporate recreation/tourism . The management, quality control, and Robert C. Byrd Institute has centers in lean manufacturing practices.

FY 2012

Huntington, Charleston, Bridgeport, and Rocket Center that currently Success

serve technical government and Innovate West Virginia: ing Leverag services. Specifically, the is program commercial manufacturers through existing resources for a -­‐ quick start designed to help small up manufacturers/inventors utilize the advanced equipment and staff In partnership with the Robert C. first-­‐class facilities at RCBI to turn expertise. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible their good idea into a working model. Although still in the first Manufacturing (RCBI) at Marshall, the Center hosts an -­‐ application round of awards, five companies based grant program to provide have made use of the Center and its

technical assistance in the form of partner’s services and have services at specific funding levels. attributed the creation of six jobs to The grants are awarded work expanding their product lines. competitively for defined projects. The Center leveraged existing The services offered include resources to enable quick service computer-­‐aided design, rapid to their service area. The Center prototyping, reverse engineering and fabrication, and other was able to market Innovate West computer-­‐controlled machining Virginia to many companies that may not have heard about it.

Marshall University | Concord University | West Virginia EDA University Center