About Us
Why We're Here
The Center for Advanced Engineering and Research is a Region 2000 initiative to develop an industry-focused regional research and development center that drives the development of innovative products and processes by providing local access to university and federal research and inventions. It targets the growth industries specific to the region and puts university innovations into action through practical implementation in industry. The goal is to increase the competitiveness for core, high wage industries and improve the long-term prospects of existing industrial employers by creating a knowledge-based research hub for the region.
Click here to see a summary of the CAER Strategic Plan.
Vision
The CAER is dedicated to the creation of an industry-based research hub in Region 2000 that will bring together private and public money, talent and resources to foster knowledge creation, facilitate technology transfer and improve the scientific and engineering workforce to benefit local industry. The result will be a shift from traditional economic development activities to Technology Based Economic Development (TBED) activities in the region.
Mission
The CAER will target growth industries and high tech industries in Region 2000 and work to establish effective and beneficial relationships between these industries and major R&D resources, resulting in innovation and the practical implementaion of innovation in the region.
Outcomes
- establishment of an industry driven alliance in Region 2000 directing research in support of area companies
- increase in the amount of knowledge creation in the region
- increase in the amount of technology transfer and commercialization in the region
- improve the level of the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) workforce in the region
- improve the long term prospects of both existing and prospective technology based employers in the region
Key Strategies
- Establish ties with major research universities and federal laboratories.
- Focus on growth of regional industry clusters.
- Attract Federal research funds in support of industry /university technology initiatives.
- Provide Internship and co-op opportunities with business partners.
- Develop a facility to house research and development functions.
Overview of CAER
Benefits
- Direct economic impact of R&D dollars spent
- Opportunities for businesses to hire technically competent interns and employees
- Makes region attractive to new technology companies
- Research and Development that maintains and creates jobs and investment by keeping existing companies on leading edge
- Increases local higher education opportunities in technical fields
Organization
The CAER was recently organized as a 501-c3 non-profit research and educational corporation called the Region 2000 Research Institute. It was originally started as a project under the Center for Advanced Engineering non profit educational organization.