A Connecticut university says it has obtained “an initial $10 million” toward its goal of raising $25 million to renovate a commercial property into a Center for Innovation and Applied Technology.
The University of New Haven said part of the amount raised comes from “a transformative $7.2 million” donation, from a donor who will remain anonymous.
The university intends to remake a 130,000-square-foot building that is across Campbell Avenue from its West Haven campus. The school bought the property last year.
Paul Lavoie, who was once Connecticut’s chief manufacturing officer, is now the University of New Haven’s first vice president of innovation, and will oversee development of the new center.
Part of the goal is producing ready-made graduates prepared to go into the state’s workforce.
“Donor support will fund the development of collaborative spaces in the Center for Innovation and Applied Technology that incorporate technology, data, and human capital to develop solutions to evolving market demands, while simultaneously enhancing students’ career readiness by creating opportunities to work alongside industry professionals,” UNH said in a statement.
“The interest in and excitement for our Center for Innovation and Applied Technology began with the extraordinary generosity of an anonymous donor whose humility in remaining unnamed has inspired others to step forward,” said Jens Frederiksen, president of the University of New Haven, in a statement. “This momentum is creating a unique opportunity for other trailblazing donors to match or surpass the support we have already received. We look forward to reaching our goal and being able to completely transform the space and the opportunities it provides for industry and our students.”
Renderings for the Research and Development Park, which will be 130,000-square-foot and part of the University of New Haven campus.
UNH officials said the full $25 million would “support the complete renovation of the site” and plans call for “a state-of-the-art infrastructural platform positions move-in-ready industry partners to collaborate with faculty experts and provide real-world, hands-on learning opportunities for students.”
“Our vision for creating a first-of-its-kind, best-in-the-nation center that maximizes Connecticut’s comparative advantages in advanced manufacturing and applied technology is resonating with our supporters and with companies focused on educating the elite global workforce of the future,” Frederiksen said, in the statement.
The sign for the University of New Haven in West Haven, Conn. (Staff photo)
“The momentum created by this initial philanthropic support and the hiring of Paul Lavoie is positioning the university to build on its rich history of innovation and creating transformative experiences at the intersection of industry and academia. This center puts us squarely at the forefront of delivering an unparalleled return on investment for our students and the companies that will partner with us on this most impactful work.”
UNH officials noted the university is “pursuing master research agreements and corporate partnerships with local, regional, and national entities, building on its reputation of being a sought-after partner for companies across a range of industries.”
“Connecticut is a manufacturing powerhouse in the U.S., and we punch well above our weight class as it relates to innovation, patent creation, and the manufacturing of some of the most advanced products known to humans,” Lavoie said. “Through our Center for Innovation and Applied Technology, we are building pathways from the university directly into industry so that companies can come into the center, work on projects with our students, and train them, and then they’ll be able to hire them right out of our university with a couple of projects under their belt and with real-world experience working with that company.”
Lavoie served as the state’s chief manufacturing officer from February 2022, and he said Connecticut has experienced $3 billion in manufacturing growth over the last three years from 10% of the state’s GDP to now almost 13% of the stage’s GDP.
“It’s led Connecticut to be one of the fastest growing economies in the region. And one of the top 20 in the country,” Lavoie has said.
Lavoie has said much of the manufacturing success is being driven by defense contracting and defense spending. He has said Connecticut is No. 4 in the country in defense spending on a raw dollar basis. Other growing industries in the state include foods and beverages.
“We are taking a new approach to developing the workforce of the future,” Lavoie said, in the statement. “By engaging with industry, we are working to understand exactly what it is that they need and making sure that we’re producing graduates who are going to meet the needs of the industry today, and, more importantly, meet the needs of tomorrow.”
The building is in developmental stages and is expected to be running in full capacity in 18 to 24 months.
