University of Louisville (U of L)

The University of Louisville is the state’s premier metropolitan university. It has over 22,000 students in 11 colleges and schools. Faculty and staff number over 6,000 and many are amongst the top in their field. The main Belknap Campus is only three miles from downtown, and the University is increasing its profile in the Central Business District. The main downtown presence of the University is the Health Sciences Center in the medical district, including the University of Louisville Hospital. Additional programs include the Cressman Center for Art as well as the University’s coming helath sciences research park, Nucleus.

 

Nucleus

http://www.nucleusky.com

 

Nucleus is the physical outgrowth of U of L’s aggressive program to make Louisville an epicenter of health sciences research. An innovative model, Nucleus provides business management and consulting services to support entrepreneurs engaged in life sciences. A life science research park is currently under development downtown at the site of the former Haymarket. This research park will house multiple facilities in close proximity to build on collaboration and expertise is a vibrant urban campus environment. . All facilities will feature wet/dry laboratories for research, the latest in clean room technology, as well as professional office space. Nucleus’ efforts are complemented by two other initiatives, MetaCyte and the Office of Technology Transfer. Both focus on a seamless commercialization process with the intent to develop over $1B in new companies and technology by 2020. Metacyte Business Lab creates, launches, and manages portfolio companies, acquiring an equity position in each, but avoids a fee for service model and allows for more efficient capital investment. The Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) handles licensing and partnership issues to develop cutting-edge, flexible business practices to both benefit the University and maximize the success of its collaborative partners.

U of L’s master planning and strategic development all point to renewed commitment to downtown and to a course to engage the city’s core in a positive way, expanding both programmatic presence in the downtown and enhancing existing and developing an expanded physical presence in the city.

Jefferson Community and Technical College (JCTC)

JCTC is at the forefront of preparing their students for the workforce required by growing industry sectors. Enrollment at JCTC has grown to 7,500 students downtown, and JCTC offers over 70 programs with over 300 degree, diploma and certificate options. JCTC remains flexible enough to offer what is needed in the workforce, adding programs as needed. In particular, JCTC is adept at preparing students for a variety of positions in the healthcare industry.

In addition to preparing students JCTC also offers workforce solutions for existing employees. JCTC has conducted training for over 800 local businesses in a range of fields. This includes everything from basic educational development to customized training in industry, professional development and even Six Sigma.

Spalding University

Bellarmine University

Sullivan University

IdeaFestival

http://www.ideafestival.com/index.phpEach year downtown Louisville hosts the IdeaFestival, a multi-disciplinary festival focused on ideas. The IdeaFestival provides a space where innovations from a variety of fields can come together to share innovations. In their words:

“The IdeaFestival is all about the bottom line.

Creative people, organizations and companies understand that breakthroughs and transformational innovation require a mix of ideas and perspectives as well as the ability to successfully integrate and translate diverse knowledge.

The IdeaFestival occupies a unique space by providing a stage on which to explore innovation and cutting-edge ideas across a range of fields ... as well as the strategic tools needed to "see", synthesize and apply this knowledge in dynamic new ways.”

Just A Few Big Ideas To Come From Downtown

·         First large scale installation of Edison’s light bulb

·         Nation’s first hand transplant

·         First completely artificial heart transplant

·         Development of the cervical cancer vaccine

·         First specialized trauma/emergency department in the world