GENERAL INFORMATION

Enterprise Innovation Institute

Enterprise Innovation Institute

Georgia Tech's Enterprise Innovation Institute helps companies, entrepreneurs, economic developers and communities improve their competitiveness through the application of science, technology and innovation. The Enterprise Innovation Institute is the nation's largest and most comprehensive university-based program of business and industry assistance, technology commercialization and economic development.

The organization:

• Helps entrepreneurs launch and build successful companies;
• Improves the competitiveness of established companies through assistance with lean enterprise solutions, strategic planning, quality and international standards, and energy and environmental management;
• Commercializes technology developed in Georgia Tech research laboratories;
• Helps local and state governments adopt innovative practices;
• Assists economic developers with innovative approaches, and
• Serves as a bridge to connect companies with Georgia Tech people and resources.

During 2008, the Enterprise Innovation Institute assisted more than 4,000 Georgia companies, helping them win new contracts worth $922 million, increase sales by more than $122 million and reduce operating costs by more than $17 million. EII assistance helped create or retain more than 20,000 jobs.

The Enterprise Innovation Institute seeks to redefine the service role for universities and how they support the local, state, regional and national economies. This effort is part of Georgia Tech’s overall goal of defining the technological research university of the 21st century.

In the future, the ability to develop and apply innovation will drive the success of all types of enterprises. The Enterprise Innovation Institute will be a source of that innovation, drawing on the experience and expertise of Georgia Tech and its partner organizations. For more information, please visit (innovate.gatech.edu).

There are five customer-focused units within the Enterprise Innovation Institute:

Industry Services, which focuses on industrial customers around the state. This unit includes (1) the Georgia Tech Regional Office Network, (2) Atlanta-based product centers that focus on such strategic issues as new product development, strategic planning and overall competitiveness, as well as productivity improvements such as quality and international standards, lean enterprise, energy and environmental management; and (3) federally supported programs such as the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the Southeastern Trade Adjustment Assistance Center and the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center.

Commercialization Services, which focuses on moving technology out of the laboratory and into the marketplace. Commercialization Services identifies Georgia Tech innovations with potential commercial value, works with faculty to determine the best path for commercializing the technology, and - where appropriate - brings in experienced entrepreneurs to help form new companies. Commercialization Services includes VentureLab, which helps form new companies from Georgia Tech research, and the SBIR Assistance Program for the State of Georgia, which helps companies win federal R&D funds.

Entrepreneur Services, which focuses on meeting the needs of emerging companies around the state. The unit includes the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) incubator, the Georgia Statewide Minority Business Enterprise Center, and the Centers of Innovation program.

Community Policy and Research Services, which helps bring innovation to local and state government entities while conducting technology-based research and policy projects that help communities provide a supportive environment for business and industry, The group is known for (1) WebFIT, which helps communities anticipate the results of land-use decisions, (2) LOCI, which assesses the impact of development, (3) TechSmart, which helps communities with information technology issues, and (4) the Science, Technology and Innovation Program operated in partnership with the Georgia Tech School of Public Policy.

The Strategic Partners Office serves as a bridge connecting companies to people and resources at Georgia Tech. It provides strategic and comprehensive assistance to companies that are forward-thinking and interested in innovation.

Web site: innovate.gatech.edu