The Landscape of Research and Workforce Development for Middle Tennessee

Audience:  Business leaders, investors, university research and administrative leaders

Moderator: Alexander Assaoud, Assistant Professor of International Business and Strategy, Massey College of Business, Belmont University

Panel: Alan Bentley, Vanderbilt University; Lesia Crumpton Young, Tennessee State University; David Butler, MTSU, and Bharat Soni, Tennessee Tech

Goal:  to provide a comprehensive overview of the cluster economic trends of the region, and within that context, to present consolidated, overview information on the research capacities and the workforce programs of the region. 

Rationale:  to encourage increased joint research and workforce development activity and investment from the business sector in the research and workforce programs of the region’s leading universities.

Launch Announcement:  to announce and share the region’s first consolidated “database” of research facilities from all the major universities located in Middle Tennessee.

The showcase began with an overview of current industry cluster data for Middle Tennessee as a frame of reference for the areas in which research and workforce education should aim. Following the cluster survey, the leaders of tech transfer and commercialization from four regional universities provided an overview of key labs, equipment, and research capability in their institutions.

Global Action Platform announced the creation of a comprehensive regional database of research capabilities and labs that would provide regional businesses with an easy, single point of entry to research services available in the region.