By Marcela Berrios, Hannah Storm Journalism Intern
When Innovation Park is completed in 2009, Notre Dame will have access to a technological incubator where entrepreneurs and researchers can develop and commercialize their projects.
South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke said the city has committed $1 million to Innovation Park, which is set for construction along Eddy Street. Mayor Luecke is “excited about the entrepreneurial creativity that will emerge from this place as researchers from different disciplines interact and dream.”
Construction of Innovation Park is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2008 with David Brenner ’73 as the project’s director.
“With nearly 30 years of experience in leading successful start-up companies, acquisitions, partnerships and divestitures, Dave brings precisely the kind of background and energy necessary to take this new initiative and turn it into reality,” University Provost Thomas Burish said.
Brenner is the founder and managing partner of IdeaWorks, an incubator and accelerator firm in Grand Rapids, Mich., that helps early-stage entrepreneurs transform innovative ideas – especially those related to technology, medical or consumer products – into lucrative businesses. Before IdeaWorks, he held key positions at Amway, Kellogg, Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble.
But his busy schedule never kept Brenner from giving his time and expertise to Notre Dame’s Gigot Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, where he’s an adjunct professor and a mentor for young entrepreneurs. The Center’s associated faculty and staff will also take an active role in Innovation Park, guiding the development of proposals. Their services, in conjunction with quick access to the University’s laboratories, libraries and other resources, will help Innovation Park become “a successful effort,” according to Burish.
“Similar parks associated with other universities in the state and around the country have proven to be wonderful means for encouraging research, taking innovative ideas to the marketplace, creating industry-university relationships, and for spurring economic growth,” Burish said.
The regional economic development organization Project Future has also partnered with South Bend and the University to build Innovation Park. It organized and advanced support for the project in the city, and it provided funds for the development of the business and architectural plans,” said Patrick McMahon, executive director of Project Future.
“When this park is completed, it will have significant long-term benefits that will continue to percolate and send ripples through the community’s economy,” McMahon said. “Project Future has agreed to help underwrite the staffing expenses associated with Innovation Park’s early operations.”
The Medical Education Foundation of South Bend and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (through its Certified Technology Park program) have also signed on to the project as benefactors.
Innovation Park is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2009.
