3: Investment
Invest Strategically in Research to Spur Economic Growth Other Information:
Position Old Dominion University as an economic development leader for the region. Further develop our nationally recognized
Research Institutes and Centers of Excellence, such as the Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Virginia Modeling
Analysis and Simulation Center (VMASC), the Center for Accelerator Science (in collaboration with the Jefferson National Laboratory),
and the Laser and Plasma Engineering Institute, and focus in areas such as Supply Chain Management, Alternative Energy, Biomedical
Sciences, and others to solidify the university’s role as an economic development leader for the region. Employ Old Dominion’s
entrepreneurial ethos to create economic development impact by extending research discoveries and technology into business
attraction and business creation opportunities. Leverage existing investments in computational and technology resources and
in infrastructure such as Innovation Research Park (IRP), and develop planned facilities such as the Systems Engineering Building,
to create new opportunities for translational research, technology transfer, cross-disciplinary and other collaborative research
projects, that create real-world solutions for our communities and the world. Expand opportunities for collaboration with
the City of Virginia Beach with an expected emphasis on graduate-level Health Sciences research in the Princess Anne Commons
corridor. Seek out new strategic partnerships and build on existing collaborations, such as with the nearby Naval Postgraduate
School, regional maritime industries, local teaching hospitals, and national laboratories. Hire and retain research-active
and highly creative faculty and increase faculty productivity in research, scholarship, and creative work by reassessing teaching
loads and broadly enhancing the University’s research infrastructure. Rationale: Having committed itself to become a nationally
recognized, highly-ranked research university, ODU must continue its pursuit of excellence in attracting and retaining top-flight
research faculty and foster the conditions under which nationally recognized research, scholarship, and creative activity
can take place. Not to do so is to risk putting in jeopardy the gains that have been made in recent decades. We have several
high profile research efforts that have, or are positioned to have, significant national impact in both fundamental and applied
research. ODU is also committed to working with local, regional, and state economic development agencies to foster business
attraction opportunities in the Hampton Roads region. ODU has faculty clusters of excellence, such as in modeling and simulation
at VMASC, and has developed attractive, modern facilities, such as IRP, that are poised to have considerable local and regional
impact on workforce development and that can attract new businesses and economic opportunities to the region. We need to leverage
our investments and assets to promote additional economic development and success in the region and further develop IRP as
a focal point for business attraction and creation through translational research, technology transfer, and business development
opportunities. By advancing the University’s research infrastructure and encouraging a culture that supports patent applications
and grant proposal submission, we will increase the success of external grants and contracts to faculty, draw continued positive
attention, and attract top quality students and faculty to ODU. (Also linked to Goal 2)
Objective(s):
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