Case Western Reserve University

Case Western Reserve University is an independent research university located in Cleveland, Ohio's University Circle, a 500-acre, park-like home of more than 40 cultural, medical,           educational, religious, and social service institutions on the eastern edge of the city. Case holds membership in the Association of American Universities and is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, as well as by several nationally recognized professional accrediting associations. Founded in 1826, the university offers undergraduate and advanced degree programs in more than 60 fields of study through the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Graduate Studies, and professional schools of dental medicine, engineering, law, management, medicine, nursing, and social work.

Case enrolls more than 9,800 students - 44 percent in undergraduate programs, and the balance in graduate and professional programs. Among the university's nearly 1,200 international students are representatives of 85 nations, including 250 students from India seeking degrees in engineering, management, the biomedical sciences, and other fields. The university has more than 110,000 alumni across the United States and around the globe.

The full-time faculty numbers over 2,600, virtually all of whom hold the doctorate or other appropriate terminal degree. Among the university's former students and faculty are fourteen Nobel laureates. The university also employs more than 3,100 full-time staff members, making it one of the largest employers in Northeast Ohio.

Research: One of the premier research universities in the U.S., Case Western Reserve receives approximately $400 million annually in external awards for research, consistently ranking among the top 20 private universities in federal research expenditures. Many faculty members have gained national and international attention for their important contributions to advancing knowledge and human understanding. Key interdisciplinary research areas identified as priorities in the university's strategic plan include human health and infectious disease; advanced materials; energy and the environment; exploring the nature of innovation through the study of culture, creativity, and design; and social justice and ethics.

Community Engagement: Case Western Reserve's academically focused community engagement strategy aligns the university's core mission - the production of knowledge and the creation of a transformational educational experience for our students - with a desire to remain a significant community resource for the improvement and enhancement of Cleveland and the Northeast Ohio region. University activities and programs contribute to the quality of life in the city and help to generate $1 billion for the regional economy through employment, construction, community leadership, and program development and oversight.

International Partnerships: The academic interests of the university's faculty, staff, and students reach every region of the world. At the university level, Case has entered into memoranda of understanding or other agreements with literally dozens of institutions in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The university's international partnerships deal with some of the most urgent issues of the day, from the war crimes research conducted in the School of Law to the Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit, which helps companies, entrepreneurs, and industry associations turn the world's social and ecological issues into bona fide business opportunities. Many of Case's international partnerships are in the health sciences. The Center for Global Health and Diseases in the School of Medicine is a national leader in NIH-supported studies of the major infectious diseases of developing countries. The appointment in 2009 of an Associate Provost for International Affairs represents a major step in fulfilling the university's goal of advancing its international programs.

Mark E. Coticchia

Mark E. Coticchia is Vice President for Research and Technology Management at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) where he directs CWRU's research agenda and technology commercialization priorities, including research administration, technology transfer, Case "Technology Ventures, and the Science and Technology Applications Center. He also serves as the Senior Economic Development Advisor to the University System of Ohio, and is an international expert for the World intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialized agency of the United Nations.

Prior to joining CWRU, Mr. Coticchia was Senior Director of Redleaf Group, Inc., an early stage venture capital firm. His responsibilities included the development and management oI a global University "Technology Innovation / Incubator Operation that included seed-level investment activities.

From 1997-2000, Mr. Coticchia served as Director of Technology "Transfer at Carnegie Mellon University and served as an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship.

Ile received his M.S. and B.S. degrees in Industrial Engineering and Management, and Civil Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh; and has subsequently been honored by his alma mater for outstanding achievement and exceptional leadership ability.

He serves on the board of directors and advisory boards of several high technology companies and not-for-profit organizations and is a co-founder of Lycos, Inc.

Mr. Coticchia is the author of several books on technology management and is a frequent speaker to international audiences from industry, government, and academia.