Loyola Marymount University has joined the supporting academic partners of the Alliance for Southern California Innovation, a nonprofit organization that has successfully brought together leading research institutions, local business leaders, and world-class advisors.
LMU’s partnership with the Alliance will provide new research relationships, opportunities, best practices, and knowledge sharing. Alliance programming and collaboration with LMU’s research leaders, faculty, and students, will spotlight and promote innovative solutions to some of the most urgent social, economic, and spiritual issues of our time.
“LMU is a leader in equity-informed research that yields innovative and timely solutions to the problems facing residents of Southern California and beyond,” said Executive Vice President and Provost Thomas Poon, Ph.D. “This partnership will give us an opportunity to expand our reach, increase our pipeline of LMU graduates in Silicon Beach, and make an economic impact in the incredible city of Los Angeles.”
Alliance programs – SoCal Venture Pipeline, Corporate Connectivity, Research Commercialization, and Ecosystem Engagement – focus on developing and connecting innovation communities while attracting new capital to Southern California by identifying, nurturing, and matching high potential startups to leading venture investors. Alliance efforts have the potential to generate 200,000 direct jobs and more than 1 million indirect jobs in Southern California.
Andy Wilson, executive director of the Alliance for SoCal Innovation, said, “We are delighted to welcome Loyola Marymount University into our community of academic partners. LMU’s dedication to interdisciplinary research and its commitment to addressing real-world challenges aligns perfectly with the goals of the Alliance.”
Demian Willette, associate professor of biology in LMU’s Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering, notes how the partnership will help faculty, External Relations, and Research and Sponsored Projects bring new resources to LMU. “The Alliance has been very welcoming as we’ve looked to transition our research from the bench to an applied, real-world solution in addressing illegal fishing,” said Willette. “Events like the annual First Look SoCal Innovation Showcase have helped catalyze connections with entrepreneurs and tools to move our work forward.”
The Alliance partners focus on key areas, including diversity and inclusion, wet labs, events, investors, and research institutions.
Kat Weaver, Ph.D., vice provost for research, professional development, and online learning, said, “The partnership with SoCal Innovation provides regular contact with other universities who are developing cutting edge research programs to support faculty. I have already enjoyed learning from my colleagues.”
Jody Skenderian, executive director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives at LMU, said, “We are excited to become a supporting academic partner of the Alliance for SoCal Innovation. This collaboration represents LMU’s commitment to addressing complex, real-world problems through our interdisciplinary research centers and programs.”
