Sealed Air and UNC Charlotte’s PORTAL recently announced a partnership. We break down why this is a big deal.
Sealed Air?
Think bubble wrap. Except it’s much more at this international company, ranking in at no. 366 on the Fortune 500 listing. Think medical and food packaging, plus cleaning and sanitization solutions. This summer, the company selected Charlotte for its new headquarters, bringing nearly 1,300 jobs along.
PORTAL?
Undoubtedly a gateway to the University, PORTAL actually stands for Partnership, Outreach, and Research to Accelerate Learning. It’s part of the University’s Charlotte Research Institute, frequently referred to as CRI.
It’s a catalyst.
At 96,000 square feet, the PORTAL building stimulates business innovation and development, while granting access to University resources, facilities and academic talent. It’s no coincidence PORTAL also houses UNC Charlotte’s Ventureprise, the entrepreneurial incubator and accelerator. (Find FAQs here) Bob Wilhelm, executive director of CRI, explains (and shows) this better:
Why it's significant:
Sealed Air becomes the latest University - industry partnership, joining companies like Electrolux, Siemens and MetLife.
These partnerships are essential to fueling the region. They power business growth and job creation. They foster research and innovation. They fortify our business and entrepreneurial ecosystems by connecting University talent to regional need. And they help this urban research University deliver its mission to strengthen the local community.
Again, we’ll let Bob explain.