Abstract: EGI Associate Program: an Engine for Successful Academic and Industry Collaboration

Schamel, Steven - Energy & Geoscience Institute at the University of Utah

For more than 15 years, the Corporate Associate Program operated by the Energy and Geoscience Institute (EGI) at the University of Utah has been the engine for a successful, multifaceted academic and industry collaboration. This program, which differs from most other university-based, industry-funded associations, is not centered on a single mission-based research project. Rather, the program is the catalyst for a broad range of applied research, development and technology transfer activities. Companies participating in the EGI Associate Program fund a substantial portion of the research carried out by EGI scientists. Long before the projects are initiated, the research objectives are set through communication fostered by regular communication between EGI staff and Associates. Start-up funds to develop complex, multi-institutional projects come from the program. All member companies are offered the opportunity to participate in the projects and benefit from unique collaborations and databases developed on their behalf. In addition, EGI Associates enjoy full and assisted use of the EGI research collection, mainly databases developed from past research, and unrestricted access to the EGI research scientists for consultation and technology transfer. Funds raised through the annual subscriptions are used to continually enhance the technical quality of the EGI staff and facilities. The EGI Associates benefit in having priority access to the staff and facilities for research, technical services and information that addresses their immediate exploration and production problems. The annually renewed subscription assures participating companies that their interests and needs remain paramount in the ordering of Institute priorities. The EGI Associate Program provides both a means for "fast-track" transfer to industry of technology resulting from university-based innovation and an opportunity for industry to mold the specific objectives of the university-based research.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90933©1998 ABGP/AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil