To celebrate the launch of our new Business @ the U of M blog, the Office of Business Relations invites you to share ideas for future blog content.
Over the next few months, we’ll post questions asking for your input. All respondents have the chance to win tickets to U of M football, hockey or basketball games at the Twin Cities, Duluth, Morris and Crookston campuses (including some season passes).
Answer our first question and you could win tickets to an upcoming Gopher football game at TCF Bank Stadium:
What kind of stories and information would better connect your business to the University of Minnesota?
Leave a comment below in response to the question, and you’ll be entered into a random drawing for tickets (two winners). One winner will receive two tickets to the Minnesota vs. Iowa game on Oct. 29; the other will receive two tickets to the Minnesota vs. Wisconsin game on Nov. 12. See the schedule. We’ll notify the winners via email.
September 22, 2011 at 11:48 am
I’d like to see resources within the University that small and mid-size businesses can leverage for their success. This is everything from seminars and publications to the various services that Extension has on family transition within a business. The University has incredible resources, it is just hard to find them unless you know what you are looking for.
September 22, 2011 at 11:58 am
Success stories about how the U of MN works with businesses would be a great way to engage readers. Currently most outstate employers and smaller metro companies don’t look to the U of MN as a primary resource yet yet is a resource not available from our other institutions.
September 22, 2011 at 12:36 pm
I think it would be nice to connect the U to local businesses by featuring alumni who work in the community.
September 22, 2011 at 12:53 pm
I’d like to see a list of the current students in the fellows program and the projects that they are working on. I would also like to see an article on the Technology Commercialization group that lays out the advancements that have been made in the last four years and the level of success they have had in licensing the U’s technology.
September 22, 2011 at 3:34 pm
I would suggest that the U of M post areas by categories where they are seeking support or partnerships with businesses. Also indicate the their intentions and whether for large or small business. Specifics on the requirements and a contact should be provided.
Also a specific list of facilities and/or services that the U of M is willing to provide to businesses by category, cost, and contact.
September 22, 2011 at 3:42 pm
How about a section identifying specific research project “proposals” by faculty inviting private sector partnering to obtain grant funding or perhaps articles where this public/academic partnering has worked.
September 22, 2011 at 4:27 pm
From an industry perspective, the unique value of the university is in the extensive research and development resources throughout the many schools. A big benefit for companies would be to have a way to find, assess, and reach those research programs/resources in order to pursue collaborative efforts. Each company is motivated to seek the unique resources it needs, so a searchable list/database of research proejcts and resources may be the best way to help make these connections.
This should go hand-in-hand with clear policies and expectations about technology licensing (the Office of Tech Commercialization) so that collaborative research efforts can be pursued without having to invest time and money in developing unique legal terms for each joint effort.
September 22, 2011 at 4:35 pm
Two prong approach to better sharing of information.First, link businesses to the department that best matches the business–Doctors-Medical School, Attorneys-Law School- and have the link take the business to a page of what research/articles/studies are available.Second, general email to those interested in learning about cutting edge research/studies/ articles in the various colleges that may be useful to all.
September 22, 2011 at 4:57 pm
How about a primer on how to hire students and graduates from the U.
September 22, 2011 at 10:32 pm
I’d like to see a story or stories about the start-up companies coming from research at the U and/or from U professors!
September 23, 2011 at 11:19 am
Thanks, everyone, for the great ideas. These are extremely helpful as we plan our editorial content. Keep the feedback coming!
September 26, 2011 at 9:17 am
I do like to read brief case studies about how businesses have worked with the university and faculty. I also like to know who to call about what. An overview of new areas of applied science or big research grants could spark ideas for me. Help me choose were to connect with the University, which events to attend. How do I find a speaker from the U for a business event? Who are they players at the U? How do I know if a department or faculty member is consulting or doing reserach for my competition?
September 27, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Opportunities for businesses to provide input in defining areas of opportunity for research–technology gaps that prevent commercialization of a solution or unmet needs for which there may be a technology solution.
September 29, 2011 at 8:48 pm
I’d like to see some focusing on small independent businesses and values.
October 4, 2011 at 1:20 pm
Personally, it would be interesting to find out the ways in which the University would allow for businesses to better share resources and opportunities for students to interact and engage with them.
In focusing on how local businesses of any size and ambition can further incorporate themselves within the student body, it might serve as a catalyst in keeping future graduates within the metro area after graduation.
As a student it is difficult to gauge what the “Twin Cities Advantage” as to offer outside of classroom. I would like to see how the University would be willing to address how metro-area companies would be better able to leverage themselves with the student population.
October 11, 2011 at 11:04 am
Congratulations to the winners from our random drawing: Ross Meisner (2 tickets to the Oct. 29 game) and Diana Schleisman (2 tickets to the Nov. 12 game). We’ll send you an email shortly with the details. Thanks to everyone for the excellent comments and stay tuned for more ticket giveaways!