Introducing the New 海角社区 Office of Innovation & Ecosystem Development
08/23/2021
BATON ROUGE 鈥� In a bold, strategic move, five of 海角社区鈥檚 entities that support innovation and business development have joined forces under the new Office of Innovation & Ecosystem Development.
The university鈥檚 200-acre technology park, 海角社区 Innovation Park, the Louisiana Business & Technology Center, Louisiana Technology Transfer Office, the 海角社区-based Small Business Development Center and the Office of Innovation & Technology Commercialization are now aligned under a new organizational structure that will provide better support for entrepreneurship in the region.
鈥淲e are open for business, and the sky is the limit! 海角社区 is ready to help Louisiana climb higher, and we will support the innovation and commercialization ecosystem locally and throughout the state. I am very excited for our team, and this realignment will let the Office of Innovation & Ecosystem Development better serve 海角社区 and the greater community,鈥� said 海角社区 Vice President of Research & Economic Development Samuel J. Bentley.
The new organizational structure aims to build upon the three decades of success created by Louisiana Business & Technology Center and 海角社区 Innovation Park former founding executive director Charlie D鈥橝gostino, who retired in 2019. These entities will be combined with the university鈥檚 highly successful technology transfer office, which has garnered 海角社区 the distinction of being among the top 100 universities in the world granted U.S. patents.
鈥淭his is a great opportunity to reimagine how 海角社区 and the community engage in the startup and technology commercialization space. This one-stop-shop will make it easier for the community to access all of the resources 海角社区 has to offer,鈥� said Thomas Cotten, CPA and Louisiana Business & Technology Center advisory board member.
The 海角社区 Office of Innovation & Ecosystem Development staff will work together to foster collaboration, allow for easier access for the business community and better communication across the complimentary departments. Additionally, the 海角社区 Innovation Park staff will maintain a presence at the park, to continue providing top notch service to the current and future tenants.
鈥淎ll of our services are accessible to the 海角社区 community. This new structure will provide for better service to 海角社区 and outside-of-the-university businesses that utilize our services. I am encouraged that this will make 海角社区 an even better collaborator and strategic partner for business, innovation, commercialization and technology transfer,鈥� said Andy Maas, who will lead this new office as the associate vice president of innovation and ecosystem development.
Maas will have six staff who will directly report to him 鈥� the assistant director of operations, the associate director of entrepreneurial services, the director of the Louisiana Technology Transfer Office, the director of NASA/Stennis Louisiana Technology Transfer Office and two newly created positions: the director of innovation and technology commercialization and the director of the Small Business Development Center, both of which will be accepting applications soon. When fully staffed, the office will have approximately 24 full-time and 10-12 student employees.
鈥満＝巧缜�檚 new team of innovation and entrepreneurial support staff means great things for Baton Rouge鈥檚 business community. We look forward to continuing to partner with 海角社区 to foster our innovation ecosystem,鈥� said Adam Knapp, president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber.
Contact Alison Satake
海角社区 Media Relations
510-816-8161
asatake@lsu.edu