1. Establishing an Entrepreneurial Climate at the University of Arkansas ASEE Annual Conference, 26 June 2001 Albuquerque, New Mexico Ken Vickersvickers@uark.edu Greg Salamosalamo@uark.edu Otto Loewerojl@engr.uark.edu John Ahlenjohn.ahlen@mail.state.ar.us

2. 26 June 2001Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference2 Acknowledgements National Science Foundation Partnership for Innovation (PFI) Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training (IGERT) Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Department of Education Fund for Improvement of Post Secondary Education (FIPSE) Arkansas Science and Technology Authority University of Arkansas

3. 26 June 2001Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference3 Agenda 1.Elements of Entrepreneurial Climate 2.Entrepreneurial path 3.Innovation Incubator Attributes 4.Innovation Incubator Client Selection 5.Competing for major companies Educational opportunities Quality of Life discussions Business climate in NW Arkansas State base financial incentives Climate for startup support industry Infrastructure and labor force

4. 26 June 2001Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference4 Improvement of Entrepreneurial Culture Five elements contributing to improvement 1.Establishment of Technology Business Incubator (Genesis at Engineering Research Center) 2.Establishment of centers of coordinated research activities (HiDEC, MRSEC C-SPIN, CSTAR, etc) 3.Establishment of entrepreneurial elements in degree program (MGMT 5383 Entrepreneurship of Technology – microEP Graduate Program) 4.Establishment of research linkages with businesses (Innovation Incubator, Space Photonics, etc) 5.Demonstration of the will to compete for major high technology players

5. 26 June 2001Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference5 Research Commercialization Process at U of A Arkansas Small Business Research and Individual Inventors Company Formation Genesis Technology Incubator NSF PFI Innovation Incubator Successful Technology Startup Company microEP Grad Program Research on Campus Genesis Technology Incubator NSF PFI Innovation Incubator Technology Park Client (entrepreneurial technical degrees)

6. 26 June 2001Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference6 Attributes of the U of A Innovation Incubator (I^2) 1.Dedicated full time director from industry (funded by NSF PFI and Dept of Ed FIPSE) 2.Funding for 12 month graduate students reporting to the I^2 Director (NSF PFI) 3.$10k voucher for I^2 proof of concept research client expenditures on campus (NSF PFI) 4.Administrative support through entrepreneurial programs (microEP and NSF IGERT) 5.I^2 client selection process run by stakeholder board

7. 26 June 2001Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference7 Innovation Incubator Client Selection Process Four Ideas Per Year Receive Vouchers Project Selection Idea 1 Idea 2 Idea n I 2 Board of Directors Sets Selection Criteria I 2 Selection Panel Reviews Ideas ASTA Business Network I 2 Innovation Table Open Discussion HiDEC Processing MBE Lab Research Thesis Analytical Tests Faculty Research Commercialization Support Genesis ACTT I 2 Faculty Business Admin SBIR ASTA Idea Passes Proof of Concept

8. 26 June 2001Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference8 Competing for Major Technology Industry Sites Partnership between 1.University of Arkansas (education) 2.City of Fayetteville (Quality of Life) 3.NWA Region (business climate) 4.State of Arkansas (financial incentives) 5.All (support industry entrepreneurism) 6.All (infrastructure and labor force)

9. 26 June 2001Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference9 Promoting the University of Arkansas as Resource Its liberal arts and land-grant mission: teaching, research, and service Research and scholarship - based teaching and learning Public service and service based learning Diversity – Faculty, students, and staff Seeking excellence Partnering with leading companies for mutual benefit A nationally competitive, student- centered research university serving Arkansas and the World

10. 26 June 2001Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference10 Promoting Fayetteville Quality of Life Walton Arts Center Concerts theater productions art exhibits Dickson Street Food Shopping Nightlife The Square Farmers Market Springfest Autumnfest Lights of the Ozarks A Historic City with a Wealth of Opportunity and Character

11. 26 June 2001Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference11 Promoting NWA Region - Regional Key Facilities Wal-Mart Headquarters J.B. Hunt Headquarters NWA Regional Airport-XNA Tyson Foods Headquarters 1. Research & Tech Park University of Arkansas 4. Marinoni site 2. Greenwood site 3. Jordan site 5. Cummings site Drake Field

12. 26 June 2001Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference12 Promoting NWA Industry - Government Partnerships Northwest Arkansas is home to an entrepreneurial spirit epitomized by the emergence of: Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer Tyson, the leading producer of poultry and food products in the world J.B. Hunt Trucking, a leading trucking and logistics innovator in the United States Corporate growth has been managed in partnership with community governments to retain high quality of life The Northwest Arkansas Council leads regional strategic planning to assure both future economic growth and continued quality of life in the region The regional business community would welcome another international business segment to NWA

13. 26 June 2001Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference13 Promoting Financial Incentives Package Arkansas Economic Development Act Arkansas Corporate Income Tax Credits up to 100% of the total amount of the project investment, negotiated each year in accordance with wage schedule. 100% refund if average hourly rate exceeds $21.11. Subject to terms of financial agreement executed prior to construction. Sales and Use Tax Refunds on building materials and on all taxable purchases of machinery and equipment during the period specified by financial agreement (5.125% rate). Using company supplied estimates of expenditures, refunds of (proprietary information removed from this location). Incentive Package: Option 1

14. 26 June 2001Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference14 Promoting an Established Path for Tech Startups Campus research in HiDEC and Physics Innovation Incubator Tech Transfer Office Genesis Technology Business Incubator Technology Business Park clients for ERC Major Industry as research partners Capitalization through local and state initiatives University/City/State partnerships for success Research as the State’s Economic Engine

15. 26 June 2001Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference15 Promoting Labor Force Stability in Fayetteville Recruitment Through Alumni Interest Trained in industry Interested in home Current graduates All regional schools Retention Through History and Tradition Senior Walk Ozark lifestyle Museums and societies Progress into Future Town Center Large town shopping Patio on the Square Proactive Education FHS AP success NSF centers at UA Regional partnerships

16. 26 June 2001Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference16 In Conclusion Developing new entrepreneurial cultures Dedicated and passionate leaders Education of the residents in the culture Opportunities to put ideas into action Support of governmental bodies Extra support of early role models Good linkages between all partners Belief that success is the expected outcome, not the unusual event

17. 26 June 2001Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference17 Backup Slides – Ariel View of Research and Tech Park Site

18. 26 June 2001Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference18 Backup Slide – Topo View of Research & Tech Park Site

19. 26 June 2001Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference19 Backup Slide – Ground View of Research & Tech Park Site

20. 26 June 2001Ken Vickers - University of Arkansas - ASEE Annual Conference20 Backup Slide – Soils View of Research & Tech Park Site