The University of West Florida Haas Center has been awarded a $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to establish the Office of Industrial Innovation—a centralized hub designed to connect cutting-edge university research with real-world business challenges.
Details: For too long, businesses seeking research partnerships have faced a common frustration: navigating the complexities of academic institutions. The new Office of Industrial Innovation changes that by serving as a “front door” to UWF’s expertise. Whether a company needs help with product development, technical problem-solving, or innovation support, this office will quickly identify the right faculty experts and facilitate partnerships that move at the speed of business.
- “With this seed funding, we aim to establish mechanisms that enable our researchers to pursue public- and private-sector opportunities at the speed of business, unbound by the constraints of the academic calendar,” explained Nicole Gislason, executive director of the Haas Center.
ARISE
The initiative creates valuable opportunities for students. Through funded research projects, students will gain hands-on experience tackling real-world challenges—building skills that make them workforce-ready upon graduation.
- The grant supports UWF’s participation in ARISE (Advancing Regional Innovation through Sustainable Engagement), a collaborative project involving five universities nationwide committed to strengthening their regions through applied research partnerships.
Dr. Matthew Schwartz, professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, emphasized the caliber of UWF’s research capabilities: “The technical knowledge and skills of UWF faculty researchers is world-class, reflecting their extensive academic and professional preparation.”
The Office of Industrial Innovation will focus on priority areas including artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, biotechnology, cybersecurity, energy efficiency, and materials science—fields critical to both national competitiveness and regional economic development.
As Dr. Mohamed Khabou, dean of the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering, noted: “UWF is full of talent that some in the community are not aware of. This grant will help unveil these talents to the regional industries and kickstart new opportunities.”
Ready to Partner?
Regional businesses interested in collaborating with UWF can visit haas.uwf.edu to learn more about partnership opportunities.