UB to Receive $1.5 Million to Help Regional Businesses Remain Competitive In Global Marketplace Program Expected to Serve As Model For Small-Business Product Development

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo will receive a $1.5 million appropriation from the federal government to lead a demonstration project to help area businesses develop new products in cooperation with regional research universities.

The two-year project -- UB Greater Regional Industrial Technology Program, or UB GRIT -- is expected to serve as a model for small-business product development, and job creation and preservation.

The money was included in the House-Senate conference agreement on the commerce, justice, state and judiciary appropriation bills at the request of Rep. John J. LaFalce.

UB GRIT, to be directed by George Lee, dean of the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, will help small businesses make incremental technical improvements in their commercial-industrial products, particularly products with existing or prospective export markets.

UB will be the lead institution in a consortium of universities from the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse region that will help these small manufacturers -- with the assistance of the Western New York Economic Development Corporation (WNYEDC) -- incorporate the latest technology into their products.

To survive in intense international competition, small businesses must continuously develop and improve their products or risk losing not only export opportunities, but domestic markets, and, ultimately, American jobs.

But for most small firms, the cost of maintaining research-and-development operations in-house is prohibitive.

UB GRIT will help those firms improve their current products, as well as develop new ones, thus allowing them to stay competitive in the domestic and global marketplaces.

"We are absolutely delighted that UB can catalyze and coordinate this partnership program between small businesses and universities," said UB President William R. Greiner. "We are eager to help create a better fit between university resources and the needs of

technology-intensive small businesses. The development of those businesses is critical to our state's overall economic health," Greiner said. "Whatever support and assistance we can offer through UB GRIT represents a long-term public investment in economic development.

"We are deeply grateful to Congressman LaFalce for his vision and effort in getting UB GRIT the resources that will make it happen."

LaFalce praised Greiner and his colleagues for putting together the proposal.

"I was pleased to pick up the ball and seek funding for this major initiative in Washington," he said. "I am convinced that this project has the potential of playing a major role in improving the economic conditions of Western New York and enhancing cooperative efforts throughout the region, both within New York State and beyond."

UB GRIT will complement and enhance Gov. Mario Cuomo's regional economic development initiatives, noted Judith Kossy, president of WNYEDC.

"We are extremely pleased with the initiative of UB and Congressman LaFalce in securing funding for this program," Kossy said. "It will strengthen the concept of regional partnerships for economic growth, and can result in the development of new and more competitive products that are made in our region and sold around the world. These products can mean significant job creation and the development of companies that will drive the regional economy in the future."

The consortium, with the assistance of WNYEDC, will solicit proposals from small businesses for product-development projects based on the match of university expertise to product technologies; market and competition considerations; company willingness to participate and share costs, and overall economic benefit and importance to the region.

WNYEDC also will assist participating companies in implementing the program by coordinating economic-development agencies and providing access to state and local programs for financing, training and market development.

During the course of the project, between 7 and 15 product-improvement projects will be conducted by the consortium. The individual projects would involve, but not be limited to, product-focused, multidisciplinary teams of faculty-led graduate students and advanced undergraduates.

Lee stressed the strong educational component of the project.

"Faculty, staff and students of the engineering schools participating in the consortium will collectively interact with technology-based small industries in the region," he said. "The schools' faculty and students will gain invaluable experience by working on real-world industrial projects that involve a multidisciplinary team approach to product improvement and development."

In addition, employees of the industries involved will benefit from continuing education and certificate programs organized with them by the consortium, he added.