OrthoWorx Announces Formation of University | Industry Advisory Board
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OrthoWorx announced today that it has formed a University | Industry Advisory Board to connect the technology and talent needs of Indiana’s orthopedic device industry with the assets and capabilities of the state’s higher education institutions. “We believe this is the right time and the right group of partners to address critical economic and educational challenges facing the state of Indiana,” said Sheryl Conley, OrthoWorx president and CEO, in the announcement. “Indiana is known for its great universities and, in fact, it produces more graduates than the state is currently able to employ. The orthopedic device industry has many needs that can be met by resources within our state, but a great number of its relationships with academia have evolved over time with out-of-state institutions — we intend to address that missed connection for the benefit of students, employers and the State’s economy overall.” Colleges and universities that are currently committed to joining OrthoWorx as part of the advisory board include Indiana University, University of Notre Dame, Ivy Tech Community College, Manchester University and Trine University. Discussions on membership are still underway with Ball State University, IPFW and Purdue University. Grace College, a founding member and frequent collaborator with OrthoWorx, also will be a member of the advisory board. The Indiana medical device industry is the largest component of the overall life sciences economy in Indiana, the announcement states. OrthoWorx was formed in 2009 to improve the environment for success for an industry cluster based in Warsaw that accounts for approximately 13,000 direct and indirect jobs, and that contributes more than $3 billion in value annually to the state economy. “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. “Our industry members have committed to devoting significant internal resources to collaborating with academia in a number of areas judged to be of highest potential for the greatest outcomes. Our university partners will be able to establish or strengthen relationships with enterprises that are leading the world in the design, development, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of devices and therapies that improve the lives of millions of patients.” The release cites a 2013 study commissioned by the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and conducted by the Battelle Technology Partnership Practice that found Indiana does not produce enough high-skilled job opportunities for the number of students who graduate from four-year colleges. The study concluded that the lack of job opportunities for these graduates “leads to their migration, and ultimately to the state’s low adult educational attainment ranking relative to the nation, despite a strong higher education pipeline.” According to Conley, stronger connections between the orthopedic medical device industry and Indiana’s higher education institutions can help address that gap. “Many companies would like a stronger recruiting presence at Indiana schools and many Indiana schools desire to create more experiential learning experiences for students, as well as to place more graduates in our industry,” she said. “What has been lacking is an appreciation on both sides of the strengths and capabilities of each other. We think that should change and we are grateful to those universities who have committed their time and resources to joining us in this important collaboration.” She continued in the announcement, “OrthoWorx was created in 2009 to pursue initiatives in several areas, including areas of opportunity such as the relationship between the orthopedic industry and the state’s higher education institutions. By acting as a convener in areas of mutual, non-competitive interest among orthopedic industry members. OrthoWorx is in a position to accelerate progress and facilitate collaborations that may not have happened or would have been less comprehensive and slower paced.” Conley said OrthoWorx plans to engage with additional universities in Indiana regarding participation in the advisory board and that the ultimate roster of institutions may grow, enabling an even broader range of collaborations.
