New Hampshire Unveils Innovation Plan

Carmen Lorentz, director of the NH Department of Economic Development, discusses the NH University Research & Industry Plan. Courtesy Photo.

New Hampshire has significant untapped potential to improve its economy by developing better synergies between its research institutions and industry. This is one of the primary findings in the just-released NH University Research and Industry Plan, which provides insights based on data of the state’s innovation strengths and suggests strategies to capitalize on opportunities.

The development of the NH University Research and Industry Plan was supported by Gov. Maggie Hassan, commissioned by NH EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) and guided by a statewide committee, comprised of leaders from NH business and industry, legislative and executive branches of state government, philanthropy, the public sector, and higher education.

Challenges and Solutions

Research for the plan revealed that NH lags behind the national average in growth in research and development for both industry and universities; has untapped opportunities for industry-university collaborations; shortfalls in the level of entrepreneurial activity needed to drive future growth; and challenges keeping up with the demand for attracting and retaining skilled workers. However, it offers specific recommendations to address these challenges.

The plan provides a roadmap that can inform strategic decisions about how the state can best use its assets and strengths to grow high-wage jobs in industry clusters that set New Hampshire apart. It focuses on three broad industry clusters in which the state has the most potential for growth:  Information Systems, Advanced Manufacturing, and Biosciences, and outlines broad strategic priorities.

“To achieve greater activity and presence between industry and university collaborators, we must promote a spirit of open innovation," says Jamie Coughlin, director of entrepreneurship at Dartmouth College. "One way to accomplish this is through investment in place-based innovation and entrepreneurship, specifically incubators and innovation centers. These centers of gravity can serve as a way to curate talent and ideas and to ultimately accelerate serendipity between programs to discover solutions through unobvious connections. Dartmouth is a great example of this, where in the past three years we have made intentional investments in entrepreneurship, specifically in the form of people, programs and places, to support the transformation of ideas into impact.” 

A common thread across the strategic actions in the plan is the need for public-private partnerships. Government, industry, colleges and universities and nonprofits have a part to play in this strategy, but success will be dependent upon the active participation of these sectors’ top-level leadership in setting the tone and keeping stakeholders focused on implementing these actions.

“The tech sector is a vibrant and growing component of our economy, but we face some headwinds to maintain and accelerate the growth as outlined in this plan,” says Matt Cookson, executive director of New Hampshire High Tech Council. “Having an understanding of how to address our workforce and research challenges through a thoughtful plan and integrated ecosystem will enable us to turn those headwinds into tailwinds.”

The NH University Research and Industry Plan is not a broad economic development plan, but is focused on helping the state accelerate innovation-led development by aligning its research strengths with its substantial base of existing and emerging advanced industries.

NH University Research and Industry Plan Recommendations:

The New Hampshire University and Research Plan identifies three broad strategic priorities:

• Promote industry-university collaborations with a focus on industry-facing research and growth opportunities.

• Strengthen New Hampshire’s innovation ecosystem to spur increased commercialization, entrepreneurial development and place-making (i.e. physical places, such as technology parks, incubators, and accelerators to promote innovation).

• Advance talent generation, retention and attraction through promoting industry-university collaborations and strengthening the state’s innovation ecosystem.

Specific examples of these recommendations include:

Promote Industry-University Collaborations

• Partner larger industry consortium efforts with academia
• Promote more university presence at networking activities
• Advance more student research and design projects with industry
• Better market and leverage university shared-use facilities for collaboration with industry

Strengthen New Hampshire’s Innovation Ecosystem

• Raise incentives and investments for entrepreneurial development by inventors:
  - Target “Pre-Seed” Commercialization Funding
  - Establish an Angel Investor Tax Credit
  - Uncap NH’s Research and Development Tax Credit

• Promote statewide mentoring and peer-to-peer networks that connect rural entrepreneurs
• Focus on place-making around innovation hubs to retain and attract talent
• Promote awareness and connections with Boston/Cambridge community

Advance Talent Generation, Retention and Attraction

• Advance STEM post-secondary internships
• Help employers create apprenticeships for a technical skilled workforce
• Meet industry needs for new academic degree programs in emerging and multi-disciplinary fields

For an executive summary and to view the full report, visit NHResearchAndIndustry.org.