CCR Action Network to Advocate Research Collaboration

Meeting Minutes - For Members Only
Reseach Collaboration Manual - For Members Only
 

Leaders:
Ted Krause, Argonne National Laboratory
Wayne Ranbom, Arkema Inc.

The ability of research to produce important advances depends on all partners in the enterprise – universities, government laboratories, and companies. Collaborative relationships do not evolve readily in the normal course of events, for business reasons and the tendency to focus on our interests to the exclusion of those outside our immediate sphere. As in any community, cultural distinctions among sectors and disciplines challenge collaboration in the world of research. CCR’s core purpose at its founding was to build trust and increase collaboration among researchers from the public and private sectors in the chemistry and chemical engineering disciplines by bringing their leaders together. Today, CCR continues this tradition while reaching out to related disciplines at the frontiers of molecular research.

Collaboration is not just an altruistic "for the good of the order" notion – it brings direct benefits to its participants. For universities, it means increased partnerships leading to more relevant program selection and more successful transfer of results. For industry, it leads to more innovative development stemming from improved linkage to frontier, high risk/high reward research. For government, collaboration generates greater value for the nation and its people.

To implement this goal, CCR volunteers lead projects that generate mutual interaction, understanding, and assistance across sector, discipline and organizational boundaries.

The Action Network communicates through an email listserver. It is used to send announcements of the Action Network monthly conference calls, minutes, and occasional other messages. The volume of email isn't excessive. Membership is moderated to avoid misuse. Any members of the CCR who might be interested in receiving this material can subscribe to the list server. If you would like to subscribe to the list server, please visit ion.chem.utk.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccr-rcan. Instructions for using the list server and a password needed to change your subscription options will be sent to you.

Recent and On-going Activities:

CCR Exchange – CCR is establishing a web-based information exchange containing a directory of government and industry speakers available to universities.
Project Leader: Phil Westmoreland, University of Massachusetts
See http://www.ccrhq.org/overview.

Collaboration Success – CCR solicits "collaboration success stories" on projects that have led to successful results. Exemplary successes are recognized at CCR’s annual meeting with the Collaboration Success Award and posted on CCR’s website as models of excellence.
Project Leader: Richard Cavanagh, National Institute of Standards and Technology
See http://www.ccrhq.org/articles/success_stories.

Malcolm Pruitt Award – Named after CCR’s founder, Dr. Malcolm E. Pruitt, VP for Research for the Dow Chemical Company, CCR annually presents the Pruitt Award to recognize outstanding contributions to the progress of chemistry and chemical engineering by promotion of mutually beneficial interactions among universities, the chemical industry, and government.
Project Leader: Jennifer Holmgren, UOP LLC
See http://www.ccrhq.org/articles/pruitt.

Diversity Award - The Diversity Award is presented to recognize an individual who has directly impacted
organizational ability to advance and promote diversity within and among the three CCR sectors.
Project Leader: Willie E. May, NIST
See http://www.ccrhq.org/articles/diversity.

NIChE Conferences - New Industrial Chemistry and Engineering Conferences are designed to bring industrial members up to date with frontiers research in areas of potential industrial importance, while fostering interactions that can lead to collaboration. These small meetings are intensely focused and limited in enrollment.
See http://www.ccrhq.org/articles/13th-niche-conference-carbon-capture-and-sequestration.