1. Sustaining The Mature Cooperative Larry Hornak
School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Georgia

2. Perspective
Founding Director of the Center for Identification Technology Research (CITeR) (1998 – 2010)
NSF I/UCRC focusing on biometrics
Leadership role for 12 years
Planning Lead , Director , Co-Director
Currently Member, CITeR Senior Advisory Council
Program Director, NSF I/UCRC Program ( )
During period, 70+ Multiuniversity centers nationally, Over 190 Sites
From wide diversity of centers, Common threads strongly emerge

3. Building a New, Premier Engineering Program
at Georgia’s Flagship Institution
Awards Growth
Associate Dean for Research, College of Engineering, University of Georgia (2014 – present)
New College Established in 2012
Growing Long-Term Trusted Industry Partnerships a major focus
NNMI, ERC, I-Corps, IUCRC participation
2.5X
1 Presidential Early Career Awardee (PECASE)
6 NSF CAREER Awardees
Enrollment Growth
CREATING A DIVERSE PIPELINE OF TALENT
ENGAGING INDUSTRY
AND SUPPORTING
COMMUNITIES
DISCOVERING NEW
KNOWLEDGE
TRANSFORMING
DISCOVERIES
TO INNOVATION

4. Interdisciplinary Institutes
Underpinned by Industry Engagement
Informatics & Analytics
Sustainable Materials & Processes
Engineering Education Transformation
Resilient Infrastructure Systems
CB2 IUCRC Planning Grant Recommended

5. What do I mean by a “Mature” Center
Center’s can be mature beyond their years as well as become immature at an advanced age. Here, maturity means
Securely in Phase II or III (now with prior Phase “Dividend”)
Effective center leadership
Not a cult of personality
Shared responsibility, cooperation across sites
Succession path or plan
Dynamic, Strong IAB Membership and Culture
Engaged, influential core members
University administration that gets it re IUCRC value
Diverse portfolio of “leveraged” activity sourced from a vibrant IUCRC shared portfolio
ENGINEERING
EXCELLENCE
LAND GRANT
BREADTH AND DEPTH
Ag & Environmental Sciences
Veterinary Medicine
Archway Partnership
Public Health & Pharmacy
Terry College of Business
Secure, resilient & sustainable systems
Advanced materials, devices & cyber tools
Human wellness, cognition & learning

6. The Mature Phase Transition
Mature centers enter discussions with their IAB well in advance of Phase III submission.
How strong is your value to members, how has it shifted and what message is it telling you? What are your Options?
Early Graduation
Independence to sustain your center’s mode of operation
Industry Affiliate Model Operation?
Impact of NSF award vehicle loss for supplements, agency transfers
IUCRC “Metamorphosis”
Phase III and Transitional Operation – not business as usual
If you are in Phase II or III but barely hanging on, the member discussions necessary for Phase III or life after NSF are likely not possible.
ENGINEERING
EXCELLENCE
LAND GRANT
BREADTH AND DEPTH
Ag & Environmental Sciences
Veterinary Medicine
Archway Partnership
Public Health & Pharmacy
Terry College of Business
Secure, resilient & sustainable systems
Advanced materials, devices & cyber tools
Human wellness, cognition & learning

7. Center Metamorphosis ?*
Transformation of the existing center from current phase (Phase II or III) to a “new” center (Phase I planning, center proposal submission).
Not the result of the natural evolution of the technical area, community and industry sector over time which a healthy mature center should track/lead.
Through Planning Process, new Center demonstrates clear change of direction
New Center Name
Significant new members, some continuing existing members
Demonstrable shift in portfolio projects
New leadership, added university sites, added faculty
Extensive NSF Program Director dialogue, guidance
* Reflect prior cases and may not constitute current program policy.
ENGINEERING
EXCELLENCE
LAND GRANT
BREADTH AND DEPTH
Ag & Environmental Sciences
Veterinary Medicine
Archway Partnership
Public Health & Pharmacy
Terry College of Business
Secure, resilient & sustainable systems
Advanced materials, devices & cyber tools
Human wellness, cognition & learning

8. Operational Transition to Graduation
Work with IAB, Universities, as part of the final Phase of NSF operation to establish a viable operational funding model post-award.
IAB and University trust in the value they receive from the center is a fundamental requirement.
Stake in Center’s continuation
Investment in its continuation
True center “Maturity” is a prerequisite
ENGINEERING
EXCELLENCE
LAND GRANT
BREADTH AND DEPTH
Ag & Environmental Sciences
Veterinary Medicine
Archway Partnership
Public Health & Pharmacy
Terry College of Business
Secure, resilient & sustainable systems
Advanced materials, devices & cyber tools
Human wellness, cognition & learning

9. Operational Transition to Graduation
Some Successful Approaches ....
Commitment of institution, IAB to (lean) operation cost recovery
Continuation of 10% IDCs, Reinvestment in center
If no IDC’s currently charged, IAB agrees percentage of membership goes to operation
20 10% of a 50K membership yields 100K Annually
Shared personnel support with institutions
Center managing director, staff share valuable expertise
Adaptation of operational mode may be required
Establishing the IUCRC as a cost center
Workshops fees, Equipment access, Process scale up services …
ENGINEERING
EXCELLENCE
LAND GRANT
BREADTH AND DEPTH
Ag & Environmental Sciences
Veterinary Medicine
Archway Partnership
Public Health & Pharmacy
Terry College of Business
Secure, resilient & sustainable systems
Advanced materials, devices & cyber tools
Human wellness, cognition & learning

10. Enduring Issues, Opportunities
Loss of NSF Participation, Award
NSF serves as a trusted third party when challenging issues arise
Loss of Interagency transfers without an NSF Award vehicle
Loss of access to NSF supplements
Continuous center awards imply entitlement
Consider an IUCRC Graduate “Network”
Nominal NSF Award vehicle
Meet accountability and compliance requirements
Centers could meet specific “graduation” requirements
One award per institution serves multiple graduated centers at that institution
Centers could provide specific value/resource to their institutions, other centers in program
Value to NSF in tracking graduated centers and their impact
ENGINEERING
EXCELLENCE
LAND GRANT
BREADTH AND DEPTH
Ag & Environmental Sciences
Veterinary Medicine
Archway Partnership
Public Health & Pharmacy
Terry College of Business
Secure, resilient & sustainable systems
Advanced materials, devices & cyber tools
Human wellness, cognition & learning

11. Thank you
Larry Hornak
Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies
University of Georgia