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The University of New Haven’s Center for Innovation and Applied Technology announced it has created a master research agreement with , a leading worldwide provider of the pharmaceutical industry. As part of the first project, the company, whose U.S. production plan is located in Branford, Conn., worked with University experts on developing strategies to help mitigate the impact of tariffs on its business.

“Our Center for Innovation and Applied Technology is committed to being a resource for companies across the state and the region to help address issues that are impacting their production, business operations, or bottom line,” said Paul Lavoie, the University’s vice president of innovation and applied technology who has been named one of the Top 5 Chief Manufacturing Officers in the world. “We were pleased to connect Bausch+Stroebel leaders with our faculty experts to help them address an emergent concern for their business and to showcase the caliber of our faculty as well as our students, who could be future employees.”

As part of the research agreement, the University facilitated three day-long working sessions this fall. They were led by Brian Marks, executive director of the University’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program, an attorney who previously served as an economic adviser for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Marks led a systems-thinking causal-loop exercise and a design-thinking experience that developed a thorough understanding of the company’s needs and encouraged the generation of innovative and adaptive solutions to mitigate the impact of tariffs. They also worked to facilitate the rapid development and evaluation of actionable strategies, while promoting cross-functional collaboration within the company and with external organizations.

“I found the workshop to be very refreshing and informative,” said Michael Turgeon, supply chain director for Bausch+Stroebel. I think the collaboration with Dr. Marks along with his background and insights combined with our knowledge of the company made for a very productive workshop. It was interesting to hear all the different perspectives regarding the topic of tariffs and how this impacts all the different ends of the business. On a personal level, being back in a classroom-type environment, I felt my passion for education and collaborative learning come back. I hope to continue these types of workshops in the future if given the opportunity. On a team level, it was also great to connect with everyone and build upon our strong relationships with each other. These workshops really allow for the team to connect and feel invested in the company.”

“These collaborations enable us to apply our faculty’s expertise to support local businesses that drive our region’s economy,” added Lavoie. “This is also a significant part of our mandate to develop market-driven programs and immersive experiences that prepare our graduates to be better than ready for their careers when they graduate. I expect this will be the first of many such research agreements that support businesses and invest in our students’ futures.”