Tohoku University and the 91Ě˝»¨, two leading academic research institutions of the Pacific Rim, announced “Q-DREAM,” a significant expansion of their decades-long collaboration.

The agreement, signed by university leaders in Tokyo on Friday, provides a broader, future-oriented framework that represents areas of the highest potential synergy. The two universities will engage in joint research, education and innovation in quantum information science & engineering, disaster resilience, engineering and advanced manufacturing, and medicine — summarized with the acronym Q-DREAM.

The Q-DREAM agreement will accelerate joint research and global impact, increase student and faculty exchange programs, enhance international visibility and funding opportunities, and foster innovation ecosystems connecting academia, industry and government. The first part of this new initiative will focus on quantum materials and is set to begin immediately. The remaining focus areas are expected to roll out over the next few years.

The UW-Tohoku collaboration has grown and deepened since it began in 1996. Rooted in aerospace research, the relationship has broadened to include clean energy technology related to transportation, materials for industrial applications and seismic engineering. Since 2017, Academic Open Space (AOS), has provided a strong foundation facilitating research matching across diverse fields and fostering vibrant faculty and student exchanges. And Q-DREAM allows for even more trans-Pacific interaction.

Q-DREAM’s work will include the following focus areas:

• Quantum: Builds on both institutions’ internationally recognized leadership in quantum materials, information science and technologies to accelerate the translation of discoveries into real-world applications with impact across science, industry and national security.
• Disaster resilience: Addresses natural hazards and climate-driven risks, including earthquakes, tsunamis and extreme weather events, with the goal of strengthening community preparedness and infrastructure resilience.
• Engineering & advanced manufacturing: Advances AI-driven engineering, sustainable and resilient manufacturing, and next-generation robotics.
• Medicine: Collaborates at the intersection of engineering and medicine to drive translational research and health innovation, with the goal of accelerating the path from discovery to clinical and societal impact.

“Addressing today’s complex challenges requires bold, collaborative solutions,” said 91Ě˝»¨President Robert J. Jones. “When leading research universities align around a shared vision, we amplify our ability to advance discovery, drive innovation and serve the public good. We look forward to deepening this partnership with Tohoku University and advancing our shared work in the years ahead.”

Tohoku University President Teiji Tominaga echoed those sentiments.

“Our shared strengths in engineering, science and medicine position us to deliver even greater global impact,” said Tominaga. “Through this collaboration, we are committed to building resilience, advancing scientific discovery and improving lives.”

The Q-DREAM agreement was signed by the leaders of both institutions on the eve of 91Ě˝»¨Converge Tokyo, the UW’s annual gathering for its global community of alumni and friends.

Baneyx is also director of CoMotion, UW’s collaborative innovation hub dedicated to expanding the economic and societal impact of the 91Ě˝»¨community. In addition, he is the Charles W.H. Matthaei Professor of Chemical Engineering and an adjunct professor of Bioengineering, and the director of the Center for the Science of Synthesis Across Scales, a multi-institution Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the Department of Energy.

As Vice Provost for Innovation, Baneyx drives the long-term strategy and vision for UW’s innovation imperative. He helps promote the economic and societal impact of the university’s innovation activities, as well as explore and leverage emerging opportunities and global strategic partnerships that benefit UW’s innovation ecosystem.

“François will lead the critical work of expanding the economic and social impact of our University’s innovators, and I am deeply grateful to him for bringing his creativity, expertise and commitment to this endeavor,” Richards said.

The position reports directly to the Provost and is part of the President’s Cabinet.

On Monday, January 27, the 91Ě˝»¨ launched its inaugural Innovation Roundtable. Co-chaired by Baneyx and Bryan White, founder of Sahsen Ventures, the 91Ě˝»¨Innovation Roundtable represents a cross-section of the regional investment and economic development community, including leading venture capitalists, angel investors and innovation leaders. Its aim is to optimize technology transfer effectiveness, create a vibrant life science innovation ecosystem, and identify opportunities for private/public partnerships to advance UW’s economic and societal impact.

“I am very pleased to partner with such a fantastic group of people to help us continue to grow the innovation ecosystem at the 91Ě˝»¨and beyond,” Baneyx said. “I look forward to learning from them and am excited to see the positive results this group will yield.”

Innovation Roundtable members serve as 91Ě˝»¨innovation ambassadors in the broader community, providing connections and ideas that may further the university’s innovation strategies. Members include:

• Adriane Brown, venture partner, Flying Fish
• Neal Dempsey, managing general partner, Bay Partners
• Chris DeVore, managing partner, Founders Co-Op
• Emer Dooley, executive director, Alliance of Angels Seed Fund; Faculty Fellow, Foster School of Business
• Greg Gottesman, co-founder and managing director, Pioneer Square Labs
• Mike Halperin, co-chair, 91Ě˝»¨General Campaign
• Ron Howell, CEO, Washington Research Foundation
• Charlotte Hubbert, partner, Gates Foundation Venture Capital
• Matt McIlwain, managing director, Madrona Venture Group
• Bill McAleer, founder and managing director, Voyager Capital
• Amit Mital, CEO and founder, Kernel Labs
• Susan Preston, managing member, SeaChange Fund, Seattle Angel Fund, and Element 8 Fund
• Sheila Remes, vice president of strategy, Boeing Commercial Airplanes
• Linden Rhoads, former vice provost of the 91Ě˝»¨Center for Commercialization
• Julie Sunderland, managing director, BioMatics Capital
• Tachi Yamada, venture partner, Frazier Healthcare Partners

Ex-Officio Members:

• Ana Mari Cauce, 91Ě˝»¨president
• Mark Richards, 91Ě˝»¨provost

For the 91Ě˝»¨and CoMotion, the University’s collaborative innovation hub, the new ranking represents a considerable rise from the original rankings in 2006, when 91Ě˝»¨was 24th. The report’s authors attribute the UW’s rise, in part, to the restructuring of the commercialization arm to CoMotion in 2015. With its broadened mission, CoMotion has helped the University better integrate within Seattle’s robust innovation ecosystem. In addition to three CoMotion Labs and the MakerSpace, innovation grants and mentorship all aim to foster innovation transfer in a wide range of fields.

The report further highlights the UW’s position as a leading recipient of federal research grants, at more than $1 billion per year. The 91Ě˝»¨School of Medicine attracted half of the research dollars in 2016, and 27 percent of the start-ups in the CoMotion Labs were in the biotech and health-care field. Information technology and software firms made up 26 percent. Adding to the innovation ecosystem was that 91Ě˝»¨partners with major local firms on CoMotion initiatives, including Microsoft on the Global Innovation Exchange (GIX), and Amazon on the Amazon Catalyst program, which award grants of up to $100,000 to 91Ě˝»¨innovators who address large, real-world problems.

“With this ranking, we see the importance of supporting and strengthening the 91Ě˝»¨innovation ecosystem to empower our students, our faculty and our region,” said Vikram Jandhyala, the Executive Director of CoMotion and Vice President for Innovation Strategy at UW. “While we focus on the goals of social impact and economic development, our strategy of adapting to macro effects caused by technology disruption, globalization, and climate change will inform how we provide the best value for our community and society.”

To generate the rankings, the authors compiled data from an Association of University Technology Managers survey to evaluate more than 200 U.S. research institutions according to four key indicators: patents issued, licenses issued, licensing income, and start-ups formed.

The full report is available on the .

About CoMotion at the 91Ě˝»¨

CoMotion at the 91Ě˝»¨ (UW) is the collaborative innovation hub dedicated to expanding the economic and societal impact of the 91Ě˝»¨community. By developing and connecting to local and global innovation ecosystems, CoMotion helps innovators achieve the greatest impact from their discoveries. We deliver the tools and connections 91Ě˝»¨researchers and students need to accelerate the impact of their innovations.

***

About the Milken Institute

The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank determined to increase global prosperity by advancing collaborative solutions that widen access to capital, create jobs, and improve health. We do this through independent, data-driven research, action-oriented meetings, and meaningful policy initiatives.

About the Center for Jobs and Human Capital

The Center for Jobs and Human Capital promotes prosperity and sustainable economic growth around the world by increasing the understanding of the dynamics that drive job creation and promote industry expansion. Our research develops innovative, implementable economic and policy solutions that provide stakeholders with the tools to create jobs and improve access to capital.

Contact:

Donna O’Neill
Marketing & Communications
CoMotion at 91Ě˝»¨
p: 206.685.9972
f: 206.543.0586
e: donnao3@uw.edu

###