When OrthoWorx recently announced the formation of a University | Industry Advisory Board to better connect the orthopedic medical device industry cluster with Indiana’s higher education institutions, a natural reaction might have been “why would they need to spend time on that?”
Given the technical nature of the industry and Indiana’s great engineering schools, for example, one might assume there would be long-lasting and deep relationships. Or that the industry and the Indiana School of Medicine would be joined at the hip, so to speak.
As it turns out, although there have been collaborations over the years and while the industry certainly employs many graduates of Indiana schools, the connections are not as deep and broad-based as one might imagine.
“The orthopedic industry’s research and development relationships were formed where surgeon scientists were located when orthopedic medicine was first evolving to what it’s become today,” said Sheryl Conley, President and CEO of OrthoWorx. “For the most part, that meant East Coast cities, Chicago, and Europe.”
OrthoWorx believes connections within Indiana can be much stronger if each party better understands each other’s needs and capabilities. On March 19, the first members of the new University | Industry Advisory Board were announced. “The Indiana colleges and universities that have joined us as members are now part of a formal effort to generate relevant experiences for students, jobs for graduates, research opportunities for faculty members and the possibility of developing and commercializing intellectual property, said Conley.”
Colleges and universities that are currently committed to joining OrthoWorx as part of the University | Industry Advisory Board include the following: Indiana University; University of Notre Dame; Ivy Tech Community College; Manchester University; and Trine University. Discussions regarding membership are still underway with Ball State University, IPFW and Purdue University. Grace College, a founding member and frequent collaborator of OrthoWorx, also will be a member of this new Advisory Board.
Conley said OrthoWorx is in the process of engaging with additional universities in Indiana regarding participation in the Advisory Board and that the ultimate roster of institutions is expected grow, enabling an even broader range of collaborations.
Read the news release here.
