IU Research has established two new areas to target industry-related goals and objectives of the second pillar of the IU 2030 Strategic Plan surrounding transformative research and creative activity.

New areas of focus include:

• A new Corporate and Foundation Relations division within IU Research will support faculty and researchers seeking private funding for research and creative activity. Led by Jen Lawrence, senior executive director of corporate and foundation relations, the new division will pursue significant awards from local and national corporate and foundation entities interested in partnering with IU. Clarissa Tester has joined the team as associate director of corporate relations.
• Located within IU’s Innovation and Commercialization Office, a new Research and Development Business Partnerships team will play a key role in identifying, establishing and maintaining strategic collaborations with industry partners for technology development and commercialization. The team will also develop an alliance management strategy to foster effective communication with partner companies, as well as related marketing strategies to increase research and development business partnerships with IU, among other responsibilities. This team will report to new Associate Vice President for Innovation and Commercialization Nick Hammond, who starts Nov. 13. The first hire for this team was Elizabeth Lerch who will serve as director of Research and Development Business Partnerships.

The teams responsible for Licensing and Trademarks and Corporate Sponsorships will move, for an interim period, under University Communications and Marketing while the university considers the best home for this work. These teams are responsible for promoting and protecting IU’s name, marks, colors and identifiable properties and developing meaningful and strategic sponsorship opportunities with corporate partners. Valerie Gill will continue to lead those teams.

These changes were effective Oct. 16.