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InnovaBIO & STUDENTFracturED
Salt Lake Community College
Key Outcomes
- Provided students with campus-based opportunities to work with real clients on real-world projects
- Allowed students to gain experience while earning course credits
- Increased demand for program's work-ready graduates
- Supported regional economy by providing low-cost, low-risk, quality controlled bio manufacturing environment staffed by supervised student-technicians
- Increased industry equipment and software donations
- Targeted business recipients of NSF SBIT Phase II grants looking for community college partner
Summary
InnovaBio®, a contract research organization, and STUDENTfacturED®, a contract manufacturing organization, were developed by the Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) biotechnology program as a means by which students could receive real-world technical and business experience while completing their studies.
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InnovaBio®, a student program that focuses on conducting research for outside entities, was established in 2005 to primarily serve biotech companies in the Salt Lake and Utah Valleys by providing industry with access to skilled research as performed by supervised students in SLCC's biotech program while students benefit from working on real-world research projects. InnovaBio® typically arranges formal partnerships with 5-6 companies per year under formal agreements made explicit through the use of SLCC-approved contracts; it also accepts clients who are non-profits, such as the Living Planet Aquarium. Additionally, InnovaBio® actively seeks out companies who have received NSF-funded SBIR Phase II grants; these awardees are eligible for supplemental funding up to $40,000, of which 75% must go to community colleges for contract work thus making them natural InnovaBio partners. |
"The main three benefits for industry with InnovaBio are that we provide high quality R&D that is low cost, low risk, and the IP is all theirs. The low cost is the most attractive but the other two ease their minds, because that’s something they think of right away: Am I going to have to share IP with the college?" --Mary Nelson, PI |
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While students clearly benefit from the experience of working on "real" projects, industry partners in the InnovaBio® program also benefit in several ways. As they are only invoiced for consumables, the costs are low. They also experience less risk; contract terms minimize liability and confidentiality exposure. Lastly, the industry partners retain complete ownership of their intellectual property as SLCC explicitly releases any claims to IP rights of any kind.
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The STUDENTfacturED® enterprise, a contract manufacturing organization, focuses less on research and design and more on building business skills. Developed in response to employers seeking employees who understood how to work in the biomanufacturing environment, the STUDENTfacturED® lab was developed to provide students with hands-on experience in many aspects of a manufacturing workplace including following protocols, working in an FDA-regulated environment, quality control, quality assurance, marketing, design controls for new products, and lean manufacturing.
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STUDENTfacturED® products are targeted for use at educational institutions, inspiring the tagline, “made by students, for students”. Currently three products are offered: a simple DNA extraction kit, a series of plasmids for use in the introductory courses, and agar plates/slants for use in SLCC Microbiology classes. New product development and continuous improvement projects are part of the typical curriculum for students. As a part of the concurrent curriculum, STUDENTfacturED uses a dual enrollment model that requires participating faculty to do a project at the end of their introductory course using their products. This helps the enterprise predict needs for future partnerships and product solutions.
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"The main three benefits for industry with InnovaBio are that we provide high quality R&D that is low cost, low risk, and the IP is all theirs. The low cost is the most attractive but the other two ease their minds, because that’s something they think of right away: Am I going to have to share IP with the college?" --Mary Nelson, PI
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In most cases, companies and educational institutions approach the programs to initiate partnerships. Potential partners hear about the program largely by word-of-mouth, either from existing partners in similar industries or through faculty connections at the college and, regardless of how the relationship is formed, the goal for SLCC is always to partner with companies that will enhance the students’ learning experience. Additionally, the two programs have been able to use partner donations and various funding streams to improve student access to cutting-edge materials and equipment, providing the opportunity for students to conduct their projects in an environment that closely resembles that found in industry and making them more appealing as new employees upon graduation and sustaining their job placement at higher levels. |
Impacts
- Provides access for industry and community
The Facility provides access to advanced tools and equipment to industry partners who often use the spaces for training, and to the entire innovator community. - Expanded student learning opportunities
Employers have an increased interest in obtaining interns from the academic program after using the space. In addition, students benefit from working alongside innovators in the labs.
- Increased equipment use and maintenance
Early notice of technological developments and workplace change is provided by industry, allowing programs to more accurately anticipate future workforce needs and preemptively revise curricula.
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"We get students who want to help an innovator do something. Those students are now learning about ethics, and proprietary information, and intellectual properties, everything really." Mel Cossette, PI |
- Increased academic and non-profit collaboration
The availability of The Facility's equipment, space and staff have increased the number of partnerships with higher educational institutions outside the region as well as regional service organizations.
Challenges
- Overcoming faculty concerns regarding open access
Faculty did not readily take to the idea of opening academic labs and classrooms for industry or public use. This resistance declined as the benefits to the program and students – such as new equipment – became evident. .
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- Developing procedures and processes for safety and accessibility
Ensuring that users were vetted in safety protocols and procedures prior to granting access was a clear priority. Staff reviewed safety modules in related academic courses and the safety clearance procedures of other open use facilities and developed training materials and testing procedures to verify safe and proper use of the space and equipment. - Securing resources for staffing
Staffing was required in order to provide consistent user support, scheduling procedures, and overall concerning facility management. Securing resources for staffing required innovative planning and collaborations both internal and external. - Determining appropriate fee structures
Several revisions of rental fees have been necessary as data is collected and analyzed regarding costs and usage patterns.
Implementation Strategies
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"Everybody is keen on 3D printing but sometimes 3D is not the answer for their project. And so we say, "How about we check out the CNC or let's check out the laser cutter -- this is the good, the bad, the ugly of all three of them. Are you familiar with any of these?" And they might say, "No, I've only heard about 3D. Tell me more." Mel Cossette, PI |
- Befriend the marketing department
Keep your college's marketing department informed about industry usage, prototypes that are successfully developed in the space, and about visits by industry leads or politicians. This helps build awareness on and off campus and increases advocacy and visibility. - Gain a solid understanding of state and institutional requirements, policy
Each state has different regulations concerning the use of state resources, including the use of facilities and equipment at state-funded colleges; the colleges themselves also may have operating rules to be followed. Gaining a solid understanding of these regulations is fundamental to launching, running and expanding community use of an educational facility.
- Collaborate regionally and nationally
Working with industry partners and regional innovation networks provides access to potential users while partnering with non-profits can create projects to serve underrepresented populations, and all collaborations can build goodwill and awareness of the college and space. Providing testing and services to other educational institutions has also provided funding for staff and opportunities for students.
Additional Resources
Subject Information
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