Presidential panel explores the university role in economic, community development

President Pinto and fellow panelists President Patrick Gallagher of University of Pittsburgh and retiring President Judy Genshaft of the University of South Florida will discuss the ways in which their institutions have been strengthening and maximizing the impact of university research and community engagement on economic and community development.

Among the steps that have been taken at UC under President Pinto is the establishment of the university’s first Chief Innovation Officer, appointed in July 2017.

UC’s strategic direction, Next Lives Here, has focused two of its three platforms these areas, called Urban Impact and the Innovation Agenda. UC also has focused on investments to strengthen the infrastructure for innovation and start-ups as well as streamlining processes.  

Among the new assets in these efforts is UC’s 1819 Innovation Hub, which held its grand opening in October 2018 and has already attracted four major employers and four not-for-profit organizations to work in the hub’s collaborative spaces with UC students, faculty and staff. The hub has accelerated the university’s timeline to launch startups: Four have launched in less than a year compared to the previous seven startups over four years.