2018
PARTNERSHIP NEWS & EVENTS
December 6, 2018
The ORP Annual Partnership Appreciation Reception and Guest Speaker Program, co-hosted with University City Partners, drew 200+ university and community guests to PORTAL. Following a lively networking reception, Stantec’s Urban Places Planning and Design Leader, David Dixon, presented “University City 2.0: Building a City in the City”. David joined City of Charlotte Assistant Manager for Economic Development, Tracy Dodson, Charlotte Director of Planning, Design & Development, Taiwo Jaiyeoba, and moderator and WFAE CEO Joe O’Connor for a Q&A panel discussion.
November 15, 2018
The North Carolina Defense Business Association (NCDBA) Business Alignment Forum was held in PORTAL at which Physics Chair Glenn Boreman and Engineering Professor Matt Davies delivered presentations about optoelectronics, optical communications, and freeform optics research capabilities at UNC Charlotte.
October 25-27, 2018
PORTAL was the location for the UNC Charlotte Center for Optoelectronics and Optical Communications-hosted three-day SPIE – the international society for optics and photonics – Board of Directors meeting.
October 2-3, 2018
A two-day Commscope strategy retreat for company IT executives from around the country was held in PORTAL. The retreat included tours of campus facilities and presentations by Interim Vice Chancellor Rick Tankersley and Dean Fatma Mili about UNC Charlotte partnership and research capabilities.
September 26, 2018 
PORTAL served as the host location for approximately 150 local high school students and teachers for a Dassault Systemes-sponsored Manufacturing Day event.
August 27, 2018
The Charlotte Chamber’s Board of Advisors meeting and reception was hosted by the University and held in PORTAL. Approximately 175 regional business leaders attended this meeting.
July 18, 2018
UNC Charlotte hosted the UNC System Economic Transformation Council (ETC) in PORTAL. Chief research and economic development officers from all UNC System institutions participated in this teleconference meeting.
June 21, 2018
ORP, working in collaboration with the UNC Charlotte Graduate School, hosted the NC Defense Business Association (NCDBA) Western Outreach meeting and networking lunch at the University’s Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC). UNC Charlotte Chancellor Emeritus Dr. Jim Woodward offered a special welcome to attendees, and Interim Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development Dr. Rick Tankersley provided greetings and a program overview. William States Lee College of Engineering professors Dr. Robert Cox and Dr. Fareena Saqib delivered presentations highlighting the emerging technologies and threats associated with the U.S. power grid. Tours of the EPIC High Bay and Duke Smart Grid Lab were provided to attendees as part of the networking lunch. Plans for the September ORP-hosted NCDBA meeting, to be held in the UNC Charlotte Center City Building in uptown Charlotte, are underway.
April 11, 2018
UNC Charlotte Vice Chancellor Bob Wilhelm, the Office of Research Partnerships, and industry partner GOM Americas hosted the German American Chambers of Commerce for a “German American Business Dialogue” information exchange and reception held in the PORTAL innovation center. The GACC event included a tour of various university research facilities such as the Center for Precision Metrology, Motorsports Research Center, and Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC). GOM Americas has been a valued UNC Charlotte industry partner residing in PORTAL since 2016.
March 25, 2018
Research and Economic Development, the William States Lee College of Engineering, and ORP hosted the Opening Reception of the NSF CMMI CAREER Proposal Writing Workshop being held in Charlotte. Approximately 200 faculty from 48 states and 121 universities attended this NSF workshop.
March 22, 2018
ORP and University City Partners joined with Building Community CLT in presenting guest speaker Mitchell J. Silver, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation in the PORTAL building. This signature speaker program began with a Networking Reception in the PORTAL Atrium. Mr. Silver provided a dynamic overview of his work in the Raleigh, NC area followed by a Q&A session moderated by WFAE President and General Manager Joe O’Connor.
February 15, 2018
The UNC Charlotte Physics Department and ORP hosted Dr. Ralph James, Savannah River National Laboratory Associate Director for Science and Technology, for an all-day campus visit. During Dr. James’ visit he met with various research faculty and campus leaders, and delivered a seminar entitled “Compound Semiconductor Detectors for Digital X- and Gamma-Ray Imaging”.
Also on February 15, ORP hosted the Western Outreach meeting of the North Carolina Defense Business Association (NCDBA) and a networking luncheon in PORTAL. Following the meeting and luncheon, NCDBA leadership spent the afternoon touring the UNC Charlotte campus and various research facilities. We welcome our continued partnership with this important veteran and military support and advocacy organization.
January 31, 2018
ORP hosted a campus visit with Dr. Cliff Wang, US Army Research Office (ARO) Computing Sciences Division Director. Dr. Wang’s visit included meetings with Research and Economic Development Vice Chancellor Bob Wilhelm, College of Engineering Dean Bob Johnson, College of Computing and Informatics Dean Fatma Mili, and their representatives. While at UNC Charlotte, Dr. Wang delivered a seminar entitled “US Army Research Office Funding Strategies and Opportunities” which was attended by faculty members from across campus.