UC Riverside was formally welcomed as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, or APLU, last week.

The campus was one of five institutions to receive the designation at the association’s annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, on Nov. 12.

The APLU announced the designation earlier this year in recognition of UCR’s commitment to economic engagement. The national designation acknowledges public research universities that support economic development through innovation and entrepreneurship, technology transfer, talent and workforce development, and community development.

Over 80 institutions have received the designation, including fellow UC campuses UCLA, UC San Diego, and UC Davis.

“UCR is already recognized by our regional stakeholders as an engine for innovation and economic prosperity in Inland Southern California, and it is great to be recognized by our peer universities in APLU too,” said Rodolfo Torres, UCR’s vice chancellor for Research and Economic Development, or RED.

The process to receive the designation began two years ago with the formation of an advisory committee, chaired by Torres, that completed a self-study identifying areas of strength and the development of a growth and improvement plan.

A key element of the application is SoCal OASISTM, RED’s plan for promoting innovation and economic development through a technology hub and other programs.

The APLU is a research, policy, and advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening and advancing the work of public universities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The organization has as members more than 250 public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems, and affiliated organizations. 

The designation is for five years, after which IEP universities can be recertified for another five years. At 10 years, institutions complete another application, along with presenting a new growth and improvement plan. 

 

Header image: Multisciplinary Research Building at night by Stan Lim