PORTAL

Atom Power, the standout energy company co-created by UNC Charlotte alumnus Ryan Kennedy ’04, was recently recognized as part of Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards.

Manufacturing jobs today are highly skilled within workplaces that are among the nation’s most innovative environments. To inspire more students to consider careers in manufacturing, UNC Charlotte and Dassault Systemes recently hosted nearly 175 high school students and teachers for an event in advance of National Manufacturing Day

Devin Collins recently spent a week in Jamaica, where he worked with entrepreneurs as part of a U.S. State Department-sponsored visit, leading multiple workshops, customer discovery competitions and roundtable discussions at the U.S. embassy.

In his talks, he provided insight into best practices related to startup ventures and the role of universities in driving and developing job creation through innovation among other topics related to entrepreneurism.

UNC Charlotte has a robust history of regional engagement that supports economic development, community engagement, innovation and entrepreneurship. In recognition of this strong commitment, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) has designated UNC Charlotte an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University.

Fortune 500 company Sealed Air Corporation recently opened its research and design lab inside UNC Charlotte’s PORTAL Building to provide a look at the future of packaging.

Sealed Air is awaiting completion of its new headquarters in south Charlotte; until then, the company set up a temporary Innovation Lab on the first floor of PORTAL. The company’s R&D employees are focused on applications engineering and new developments for Instapak and Korrvu, two new Sealed Air packaging products.

Yokohama Tire Corporation has announced plans to locate a research and development center in Concord’s International Business Park. Until that facility is ready, the company will house up to 22 workers on UNC Charlotte’s campus in the PORTAL Building.

 In recognition of national Small Business Week, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) toured UNC Charlotte’s Partnership, Outreach and Research to Accelerate Learning (PORTAL) facility on Wednesday, May 4. During her visit, she met with Robert Wilhelm, vice chancellor for research and economic development; Paul Wetenhall, president of Ventureprise; and Henry Rock, executive director of City Startup Labs.

An agreement with Sealed Air Corp. to lease temporary research and development space at the PORTAL Building advances UNC Charlotte’s standing as North Carolina’s urban research institution, University officials stated.

It also is a tangible illustration of the University’s commitment to foster partnerships with private industry.

Vice Chancellor of Research and Economic Development Bob Wilhelm talks about the University’s partnership with Sealed Air and the role the University will play in helping to seamlessly welcome the company to the region.

City Startup Labs (CSL) is establishing a Center of Excellence for Entrepreneurial Competency, Innovation and Leadership (CoE) at UNC Charlotte, in association with Ventureprise, a campus-based venture development organization.

The center will operate from Ventureprise offices in PORTAL. Ventureprise Inc. is a nonprofit corporation affiliated with UNC Charlotte that serves as a venture development organization for the University and the Charlotte region.