New UW Office of Industry and Strategic Partnerships Fosters Innovation and Economic Impact

The University of Wyoming has formed the Office of Industry and Strategic Partnerships, a collaborative venture between UW’s Research and Economic Development Division and the UW Foundation to establish dynamic alliances between academia and industry that will foster innovation and economic impact throughout the state and beyond.

“With the formation of the Office of Industry and Strategic Partnerships, UW is poised to enhance its relationships with our local, national and international business partners, which will drive greater success for our students, faculty, staff and the greater UW community,” UW President Ed Seidel says.

The Office of Industry and Strategic Partnerships connects companies to UW to create meaningful partnerships. These partnerships will highlight opportunities for UW faculty and subject-matter experts; foster cutting-edge research; direct curricula and experiential learning; enhance graduate hiring; and generate investment to support the university.

As a part of the launch of the Office of Industry and Strategic Partnerships, UW has partnered with UNITE, a leading consulting, technology and training company specializing in holistic university-industry collaboration. 

“UW has potential to increase its sponsored funding and experiential learning opportunities from industry and nongovernmental organizations,” says Parag Chitnis, vice president for research and economic development. “The Office of Industry and Strategic Partnerships and its contract with UNITE will allow us to realize this potential. I’m grateful for the synergistic collaboration between the Research and Economic Development Division and the UW Foundation.”

Curtis Biggs is serving as interim executive director as the office is established, in close collaboration with Angela Ver Ploeg, senior director of corporate engagement at the UW Foundation.

“Partnerships with industry are an important part of supporting the University of Wyoming, which is our mission,” says John Stark, president and CEO of the UW Foundation. “Combining the strengths of the UW Foundation and the UW Research and Economic Development Division through UW’s new Office of Industry and Strategic Partnerships is a major step forward in our partnerships with industry, and I can’t wait to see what the future brings.”

The UW Research and Economic Development Division and the UW Foundation are committed to supporting this initiative through strategic funding and resources.

Over the coming months, UNITE will work alongside internal stakeholders to identify top corporate partnerships; create a standard definition of engagement areas; and build a collaborative approach to managing these relationships to their full potential. The strategic alliance with UNITE is a significant step toward advancing student success, fostering impactful research collaborations and facilitating increased philanthropic support.

“The partnership with UNITE will support our newly formed office and help us build holistic, long-term, sustainable industry relationships,” Seidel says.

For inquiries or more information about the Office of Industry and Strategic Partnerships, email Biggs at cbiggs@uwyo.edu or Ver Ploeg at angela.verploeg@uwyo.edu.

About the University of Wyoming

UW is a public land-grant research university in Laramie, with eight colleges: Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources; Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Physical Sciences; Health Sciences; Honors; and Law. The university offers over 200 undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs and is classified as an R2-Doctoral Universities with High Research Activity.

About the UW Research and Economic Development Division

UW’s Research and Economic Development Division is dedicated to advancing research excellence, promoting innovation and driving economic development. By facilitating collaboration among academia, industry and government, the office contributes to the university’s role as a regional and national research powerhouse.

About the UW Foundation

The UW Foundation is a nonprofit organization that secures, invests and manages private gifts to enhance UW’s mission. Through strategic philanthropy, the foundation plays a crucial role in supporting the university’s growth, excellence and impact.