RIT's Future Business Research Lab

Name of Concept: RIT's Future Business Research Lab

Overview

Research has long been an important activity within the Saunders College of Business (SCB). Today, this research is largely conducted by individual faculty working with a small number of collaborators, supported by a one-year MBA Graduate Assistant. In this context, Saunders produces the fewest sponsored research projects among RIT's Colleges.

We propose the creation of the RIT Future Business Research Lab (FBRL), a novel space and system for supporting a more dynamic environment that facilitates research across boundaries. The lab represents a new research infrastructure that provides significant benefits to a diverse group of stakeholders:

1. The research lab will serve as a locus and hub for business-related research activities at RIT. Collaborative projects within the FBRL will engage Faculty and Principle Investigators from RIT as well as other Universities. Industry partners will aslo serve as collaborators or sponsors for these projects

2. Both Undergraduate and Graduate Students will apply to work within the lab. Supported through grants or scholarships, they will enjoy substantive research experiences in the context of one or more projects. Graduate students will assist faculty in leading these project research teams.

The FBRL could generate truly collaborative research, valuable student experiences and create new relationships with industry-leading companies.

How this idea leverages current areas of RIT expertise

The proposal builds upon many elements that are already in place at RIT. The Saunders faculty already conduct research on emerging issues in business. A Digital Business group has been in place for two years, engaging the majority of tenure-track faculty in new technology-related research topics. Existing sponsored research projects at Saunders include interdisciplinary collaborations and actively involve industry partners. Similarly, students do engage in research projects with SCB Faculty. The proposal seeks to take all of these ad-hoc activities and generalize them into a coherent research structure to promote and maintain them.

Main RIT on-campus champion(s) for this idea

Victor Perotti, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Champion for Digital Business

Additional on-campus champions willing to collaborate with this individual and take a lead role in driving the idea

Neil Hair

Raj Murthy

Is there potential off-campus advocacy and support for the idea?

Yes, Digital Rochester- Juli Klie

Are you aware of another university that is working on a similar idea?

MIT's Media Lab, and MIT's Center for Digital Business

How you envision this idea advancing RIT's national or global stature in an important or emerging field

RIT's Future Business Research Lab could serve as an international model for how business research enhances interdisciplinary projects of all kinds. More and more, funding agencies such as the National Science Foundation are seeking not only technological innovations but also the economic and commercialization knowledge to make them into reality.  To meet these new demands, the proposed research lab is designed to foster exactly this kind of interdisciplinary collaboration, with new forms of student research support serving as crucial infrastructure.  Industry sponsors and collaborators may engage with the lab in different ways, bringing complex business challenges that span disciplines for research inquiry.

Like MIT's Media Lab, the FBRL could serve as an area of excellence, a reputation enhancer, and a unique way for diverse stakeholders to support and contribute to the education and research at a world-class institution.

Why you believe RIT has a unique opportunity or an ability to differentiate itself through this idea

RIT is uniquely poised to create, promote and advance the FBRL concept.  As a Technological University, RIT provides the raw materials of: outstanding technology infrastructure and facilities, talented students from a wide array of tech-related disciplines and a large pool of innovative research ideas originating all over the campus.  RIT's reputation as an applied research school creates an attractive opportunity for academic and industry partners from around the world. The commitment to experiential learning at RIT will play a fundamental role in the success of all projects because students will contribute to significant projects through meaningful research effort.

Within this well-regarded Institution is the accredited Saunders College of Business, consistently ranked among the top 5% of all Business schools in the nation. As a group, the SCB faculty have very recent research training with over 50% hired over the last 7 years. This faculty has the research expertise and currency of expertise to advance the boundaries of academic knowledge, given the proposed novel infrastructure and additional collaborative research possibilities represented in this proposal.