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The CMDC^{[[#_ftn1|[1]]]}program at WSUV is home to the Digital Technology and Culture degree, one of the five Signature Programs offered.  The program emphasizes the power of innovation and integrates technology with education to create a diverse, rich-media experience for students.  It also offers multiple courses and extra-curricular opportunities for students to experience the future of their innovations in an entrepreneurial setting.  Under the direction of Dr. Dene Grigar ^{[[#_ftn2|[2]]]} the program features the production of everything from mobile apps to interactive art exhibits.  It directs students to innovate through creativity, critical thinking and real world problem solving.  The students also have the invaluable experience of the Senior Capstone Course ^{[[#_ftn3|[3]that]]} that provides a real world experience for students to jumpstart their professional thinking and careers. 

The CMDC Program is also home to the Nouspace Gallery^{[[#_ftn4|[4]]]}.  Nouspace is a showcase for exemplary work of innovative students in the program.  Gallery shows consist of student created pieces using digital media to solve problems or create cultural comments referencing the growing intersection of art, technology, and the humanities.  Nouspace also offers the opportunity for students to develop entrepreneurial skills in curating as they manage and organize exhibits. 

=== Electrical Engineering Laboratories ^{[[#_ftn5|[5]]]} ===

*'''Cleanroom Laboratory (VECS 040)''' – “The laboratory consists of a class 100 cleanroom with 1700 square feet of lab space. The lab includes three bays for thermal/diffusion/anneal, photolithography, and metal deposition. The lab is used for research projects and supports teaching activities for courses related to IC fabrication and testing.”^{[[#_ftn6|[6]]]}

“Two computer science teaching laboratories containing multiple student workstations are equipped with the latest iMac computers which run Apple OS X, Linux (CentOS) and Microsoft Windows.  Each operating system environment includes all of the tools and applications needed by computer science students in their coursework along with common desktop productivity tools.  When classes are not being taught in these laboratories, they are open to general use by Computer Science and Electrical Engineering students. Facilities also include two open computer laboratories with additional computers having the same capabilities as the teaching laboratory machines.  These laboratories are open for student use any time the Engineering and Computer Science building (VECS) is open.”^{[[#_ftn7|[7]]]}

=== Mechanical Engineering Laboratories ^{[[#_ftn8|[8]]]} ===

*'''Automation laboratory''' ^{[[#_ftn9|[9]]]} – “This laboratory contains various automation hardware, PLCs, servo training systems, lab instruments and high-end PCs. The lab supports research activities and mechatronics courses.”

*'''Device diagnostics and microelectronics laboratory (VSCI 155)'''^{[[#_ftn10|[10]]]} – “The Microelectronics Learning Laboratory consists of approximately 1200 square feet of lab space. Physical layout of the lab includes a class 100 capable clean room for IC fabrication and packaging, two rooms for device analysis, and a specimen preparation room, clustered into a suite around a central foyer.” The design of the lab accommodates three major functions:

The Professional Sales Certificate Program^{[[#_ftn13|[13]]]}, under the direction of Dr. Ron Pimental, prepares performance ready sales professionals for successful careers. The program is open to all majors throughout the campus and enhances professional sales expertize and collaborates closely with local businesses for experienced based learning.  Professional Sales students also have the opportunity to participate in a variety of collegiate sales competitions ^{[[#_ftn14|[14]]]} to further develop their selling skills.

= Faculty innovation Innovation and entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship =

WSUV markets itself as a premier research university, encouraging faculty to conduct research of regional, national and international impact. By offering state of the art lab space, the ability to collaborate with one another, graduate students and under graduate students, the faculty promotes innovation strongly on the campus.  The focus of faculty research has a tendency to lean towards the more innovative side, the entrepreneurial mindset is growing among the faculty and being passed along to their students. The faculty also provides quarterly newsletter[[#_ftn15|^{^[15]}]] describing the research of their faculty.

Washington State University Vancouver holds an annual research showcase[[#_ftn16|^{^[16]}]] where students and faculty are encouraged to display and discuss their work.  The show highlights research ranging from digital technology, to biology and engineering and even business administration work.  The showcase also brings many keynote speakers and offers faculty and students the chance to win awards and learn more about the research of their peers.

==  Notable Research among Faculty ==

Christine Portfors, associate professor of biology and neuroscience and head of the Hearing and Communication Laboratory at Washington State University Vancouver, has received two federal grants totaling more than $1.1 million over three years. The grants will be used to study how neurons in the brains of mice detect, discriminate and categorize the different types of sounds mice use to communicate.[[#_ftn17|^{^[17]}]]

The most current projects of the Advanced Materials Lab[[#_ftn18|^{^[18]}]] include the development of advanced tool for drilling composite/titanium stacks, structural integrity evaluation for marine/wind energy system structures, and the interference-fit process development of the composite joints. These projects are funded by a wide range of agencies and industries, including Boeing, NSF I/UCRC ACTT, US Army Research Lab, SME Education Foundation, Fatigue Technologies, Phygen Coatings, Christensen Shipyards and WSU Vancouver. The Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Lab has been actively participated in collaborative research with global companies (Boeing Co., Freightliner, etc.), local industries (Stresswave, Fatigue Technologies, Christensen Shipyards, etc.), and other universities (UW, MSU, FSU, etc.). They are always looking for dedicated students and volunteers for their research and collaborative projects.

CMDC students are encouraged to work with their faculty on research and creative projects.  According to the official CMDC site Current current faculty research includes: Dene Grigar's "The Electronic Literature Showcase" for the Library of Congress, April 3-5, 2013, funded by a $5000 Meyer Award; John Barber's "Brautigan.net" , the internationally recognized online bibliography and archive for Washington-born author Richard Brautigan; Grigar and Brett Oppegaard's "A Villager's Tale" for funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities ($50,000), and "The Grand Emporium of the West" for EDSITEment!, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities ($19,418); Will Luers' "Plotting the Database, a multimedia essay produced for the Scalar platform; Michael Rabby and Oppegaard's "The Old Apple Tree App," a comparative analysis focusing on user experience; Brenda Grell's 3D abstract animations and full dome design and development aimed for OMSI's Kendall Planetarium; Nicholas Schiller's article on Search Engine Optimization, knowledge, and information literacy; and Clare Wilkinson-Weber's book, ''Fashioning Bollywood: The Making and Meaning of Hindi Film Costume Berg, 2013''.”[[#_ftn19|^{^[19]}]]

The faculty at WSUV have multiple resources for their entrepreneurial endeavors.  WSUV offers a Research Mini-grantGrant[[#_ftn20|^{^[20]}]] to stimulate research productivity and provide “seed” funds for projects. WSU wide also offers a program called WSU Scholars[[#_ftn21|^{^[21]}]] a program that works closely with private industry and national labs to support the translation of basic research to innovative applications that benefit society.

= University technology transfer function Technology Transfer Function =

Currently the Vancouver campus of Washington State University doesn’t have their own technology transfer function.  The main WSU campus in Pullman, Washington has experienced tremendous success with their program through the Office of Commercialization[[#_ftn22|^{^[22]}]].  The long term plan through the Campaign for Washington State[[#_ftn23|^{^[23]}]] includes the construction of an Innovation Research Park[[#_ftn24|^{^[24]}]].  The Innovation Research Park is a high-priority project to help support southwest Washington’s growing technology center and bring long-term benefits to the region.  The projected date for the Campaign for Washington State is 2015.

= University-Industry collaboration Collaboration =

A relatively new service at WSUV, the Cougar Business Alliance[[#_ftn25|^{^[25]}]] seeks to facilitate continued alumni participation with current students. Participation includes quarterly meetings to provide an opportunity to meet area Cougar business owners and improve camaraderie and business. Members include small business entrepreneurs that have successfully started their own business or franchise and want to stay connected to the greater entrepreneurial mind of WSUV

Through funding from the M.J. Murcock Charitable Trust[[#_ftn26|^{^[26]}]] the robotics lab at WSUV is developing an interdisciplinary renewable energy option track[[#_ftn27|^{^[27]}]] in the robotics program to bring together students from mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science to study the future of renewable energy. 

= Regional and local economic development efforts Local Economic Development Efforts =

In October of 2013 Washington State University Vancouver helped the city of Vancouver receive a designation as an Innovation Partnership Zone. “The state Department of Commerce named portions of Vancouver and Camas as an Innovation Partnership Zone, or IPZ. It's an important designation, in part, because it gives the region additional leverage in seeking grant dollars to help pay for projects aimed at growing digital technology industries.”[[#_ftn28|^{^[28]}]]  A possibility of this designation is the opportunity to develop incubator space for grad students to come work with new companies.  The IPZ’s overall goal is to establish a framework for collaboration between higher learning institutions and industry, particularly new companies. 

A collaboration between the CMDC program and the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site allowed for students and faculty to create a mobile storytelling project.[[#_ftn29|^{^[29]}]]

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