WKU News

Dear Colleagues,

Expanding access to hands-on learning and research opportunities and continuing to grow our sponsored research and extramural funding remain core tenets of WKU’s mission. To aid in these endeavors, we spent the last five years transforming our Center for Research and Development into a true headquarters for our Innovation Campus - furthering educational and future employment opportunities for our students while also growing the economic strength and diversity of the communities we serve.

As an important link between WKU and regional businesses, the Innovation Campus continues its work to develop a talent pipeline for the region’s growing technology, manufacturing, automotive and logistics industries while reinforcing Bowling Green’s position as the connective tissue between Louisville and Nashville. Businesses and organizations, such as Holley Performance Products, the Metals Innovation Initiative (MI2), Logan Aluminum, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Kentucky to the World, AccelerateKY and the University of Southern California, all established a presence at our Innovation Campus during the past two years. These partnerships with state, national and international industry leaders provide collaborative research and learning opportunities that enable our students, faculty and staff to participate in real-world inquiry and problem-solving initiatives.

Last fall, we opened our 30,000-square-foot Collaborative SmartSpace at the Innovation Campus as a venue to connect entrepreneurs and professionals with one another so they can best share their skill sets, insights and resources. The open concept of this space facilitates network development across various fields and enhances intellectual exchange and talent expansion. I have often described the Innovation Campus as a lighthouse that attracts innovative thinkers and entrepreneurs assembled in a single location to create the next generation of companies that advance our region. The Collaborative SmartSpace helps us achieve that goal.

During my Investiture in 2018, I discussed our unique role as an applied research university. This designation allows us to put ideas into action; apply theory to practice; add value to our community; and enrich the undergraduate and graduate experience. Our Innovation Campus remains a critical component of our research and teaching portfolio and serves to connect our resources to the needs of our community. I encourage each of you to consider how you might integrate the assets available at the Innovation Campus into your teaching and research activities. For more information and to discuss those ideas, please contact Innovation Campus CEO Buddy Steen at buddy.steen@wku.edu.

Thank you for all that you do in support of our growing WKU Innovation Campus.

Go Tops!

Best,

Timothy C. Caboni