The development and nurturing of partnerships is required to fully realize our potential. Partnerships often bridge the gaps in knowledge and expertise and allow us to leverage strengths and resources that result in better solutions and more efficient translation to real-world application and impact.
Note: Items marked with an asterisk (*) indicate new updates and accomplishments added in Spring 2026.
2.1 Establish and communicate FSU's bold vision
- Hired a communications manager for IGNITE FSU (NSF grant funded).
- Rebranded the North Florida Innovation Lab to become IGNITE Tallahassee.
- Launched social accounts for IGNITE-FSU on LinkedIn and Twitter.
- Redesigned and modernized the FSU Health website to enhance user experience and accessibility.
- Began highlighting translational research success stories on IGNITE-FSU website
- Three FSU technologies were accepted in AUTM's Better World Project
- Discovery Days hosted more than 34 events with more than 2,500 people attending.
- Launched FSU Impact campaign -- 1.7M impressions, 34,282 direct engagements and 1,989 post link clicks
2.2 Develop simple commercialization and partnership engagement processes
- Developed and implemented Fast Start, a process to increase the ease and speed of faculty startups.
- Repositioned an AVP position in the Office of Research to recruit Valerie McDevitt, JD, as the first Associate Vice President for Strategic Partnerships and Innovation.
- Created industry multi-center visit procedures and successfully beta tested with College of Engineering.
- Developed targeted leave behinds describing industry partnership support.
- Updated confidentiality agreement template and process.
- Updated exclusive license and option templates.
- Significantly streamlined and, in many cases, eliminated the use of the Unfavorable Terms memo.
- Reimagined the Commercialization office and increased capacity for Commercialization through targeted hires (repurposed positions).
- Developed a university clinical partnership process to integrate researchers into medical settings.
- Launched an Industry Affiliate Program in Engineering.
- Revised the university obligations related to inventions and works to comply with federal, state and industry reglulations and contract obligations.
- Spunout four new FSU startup companies based on FSU technology.
2.3 Increase opportunities to work together to develop impactful solutions
- Secured a $6M award from NSF to advance translational research at FSU.
- Delivered a seminar on SBIR grants through the IGNITE FSU program.
- Developed Industry Research Days procedures, with the first scheduled in the College of Engineering for November 2024.
- Hired Alissa Costabile as the IGNITE FSU Program Director to support startup development and emerging technology companies (NSF grant funded).
- Engaged a faculty committee to assess/reimagine Collaborative Collision activities.
- Joined the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) Customer Experience Hub, called the ARPANET-H: a nationwide health innovation network that will target large prevention, treatment, and diagnosis initiatives on a national scale.
- Partnered with the Florida Office of Economic Vitality to bring the national magnetic conference to Tallahassee
- Invited to submit full proposal for NSF ENGINES ($196M)
- Established membership in America Makes to increase opportunities for public and private partnerships across the university.
- Co-Founded Statewide IRB Director Workgroup to identify best practices.
- Provided a workshop on best practices for engaging with clinical partners.
- Collaborated to support the Astro-InSPIRE-ASTM In-Situ Awareness Challenge for advanced manufacturing startups at Panama City Campus with InSPIRE partners. Winners were connected with VCs and private equity.
- Held inaugural Clinical Catalyst event to connect faculty with local clinicians
- Hosted webinar "Engaging in Corporate Sponsored Research" to increase awareness
- Provided six presentations on SBIR grant funding that engaged with over 40 faculty
- Cosponsored the return of the Motor Drive and Magnets National Conference
- Collaborated with the Graduate Student Resource Center (GSRC) to educate grad students in Human Subjects Research Protections through workshops
- Partnered with Danfoss Turbocor®, to host "TechTracks with IGNITE Tallahassee and Danfoss Turbocor®," a walking tour of two technology spaces in Innovation Park.
2.4 Encourage cross-disciplinary engagement for students and faculty
- Created an interdisciplinary neuromodulation working group (ASPIRE Impact Area 5.1)
- Provided a Collaborative Collision on Digital Health which had representation from 6 colleges, 2 institutes/centers, athletics, IT services, and the libraries.
- Created and promoted Research Interest Groups (RIGS) to increase collaboration.
- Created two new research interest groups (cardiometabolic health & purpose and social connection).
- Facilitated cross-disciplinary event for health research faculty in COSSPP and Business.
- Held Collaborative Collision- Sustainable Solutions event in Spring, 2025 (ASPIRE impact area 5.3)
- Held a Collaborative Collision focused on Children and Youth with LaunchPad seed funding provided for two new collaborative projects
- Increased the number of Research Interest Groups to support faculty collaboration
- Pursued and achieved IDIQ opportunities and received award to provide collaborative opportunities for academic departments/research centers
- Secured FSU membership in the Florida Alliance for Quantum Technology
- Secured FSU membership in the Florida Space Research Consortium
