Applied research means studying practical problems with the goal of finding real solutions. Unlike pure research, which looks at theory, applied research often leads to new products, processes, or technologies that help industries and society improve.
University collaboration plays an important role in applied research in the United States. In states like North Carolina, public universities do a lot of research and development (R&D). These universities do research that is both scientific and ready for commercial use. Funding from groups like NCInnovation is very important. NCInnovation is a non-profit group that helps university researchers by giving financial grants and support, helping their work move from labs to the market.
In 2023, NCInnovation gave $13.6 million to fund 17 research projects at 12 North Carolina public universities. These grants support projects that already have proven ideas but need more work to become commercially useful. This funding focuses on real-world uses in healthcare, agriculture, and environmental technology. These investments help universities grow their research impact and help North Carolina’s economy.
Agricultural technology is an important area where applied research helps a lot. Keeping animals healthy, increasing crop yields, and reducing harm to the environment are key goals. At universities in North Carolina, many projects work on these problems.
For example, Dr. Zachary E. Russell from Appalachian State University and his team made a robotic microscope with AI that can find parasites in livestock faster and more accurately. Parasites in cattle and poultry can cause big losses for farmers and affect food supplies. Normally, finding parasites needs expert workers and takes a lot of time. This AI microscope automates the work, reduces mistakes, gives faster results, and lowers testing costs.
Another NCInnovation-funded project aims to make pesticide use more efficient. This helps protect crops while reducing harm to the environment. These new ideas are needed because farming must meet growing food demand without hurting natural resources.
These technologies from public universities help farmers cut costs and meet rules and expectations for quality and safety.
Applied research also helps develop new therapies in healthcare. As diseases like Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and pancreatic cancer increase, better treatments and tools are needed. Universities in North Carolina study these health issues.
One project by Dr. Jeffrey S. A. Stringer and his team at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill created a low-cost portable ultrasound. This device works with smartphones and tablets. It lets pregnant women in remote or poor areas get prenatal care, which was hard to find before. More than two million women in the U.S. live in areas without good prenatal services. This device helps find problems early and allows quick medical help, which improves health for mothers and babies.
At East Carolina University, researchers have made a digital platform to treat stuttering. It uses AI to give speech therapists personalized treatment plans. These custom therapies improve how well treatment works by adjusting to each patient’s progress.
Other projects work on medicines for diseases like Alzheimer’s and fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These studies show how university research helps public health with new technology and better medical care.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and workflow automation are now key parts of applied research. They help process data faster, get more accurate results, and let healthcare and agriculture workers focus on more complex tasks. AI supports both research and real-world use.
In agriculture, AI tools like Dr. Russell’s robotic microscope cut down on the need for expert workers and speed up decision-making. Automated robots in labs can quickly check many samples to find parasites before they spread. This improves productivity and lowers losses, helping farmers operate better.
In healthcare, AI makes time-consuming tasks easier. The AI platform for stuttering therapy makes treatment plans by analyzing patient data patterns, which improves outcomes. AI in portable ultrasound devices helps users without special training take images that specialists can check remotely. This gives more people access to expert care without traveling far.
Workflow automation also improves office work in medical practices. Tasks like answering phones and scheduling appointments can be managed by AI, which lowers mistakes and reduces workloads. Companies like Simbo AI provide phone automation that handles calls quickly and correctly. This technology can route calls, give information, make appointments, and let staff focus on clinical work, which helps patients and operations run better.
NCInnovation’s model helps move university research to business use. They make sure university discoveries don’t just stay academic but reach the market. This happens through many review steps, including outside expert panels and checking market demand, to fit projects to real needs.
By focusing on public university researchers, NCInnovation ensures taxpayer money supports public institutions that serve the community. Their $500 million fund offers grants without taking ownership in the inventions, so universities keep full rights. This support helps innovation grow over time and creates jobs by encouraging startups based on university work.
North Carolina’s public universities produce technologies that improve healthcare, farming, and manufacturing. For healthcare leaders and IT managers, these new tools help improve patient care and practice efficiency.
Healthcare administrators and IT managers need to know about university-backed applied research because these innovations affect how their departments work. Portable, low-cost medical tools lower equipment expenses and increase outreach. AI therapy platforms help clinicians plan treatments better without extra work.
Automation in both office and clinical work offers chances to improve workflow, cut mistakes, and better patient communication. AI phone services like those from Simbo AI work well with electronic health records and practice software. They help manage appointments, reminders, and patient questions easily.
Investing in university-led research means new innovations will come faster. Administrators should watch developments from top universities and groups like NCInnovation to prepare for changes that can simplify work and improve health results.
Applied research done through university teamwork plays an important role in improving agricultural technology and healthcare in the U.S. Supported by groups like NCInnovation, researchers at North Carolina’s public universities create solutions with practical uses. These include AI tools that improve diagnosis and treatment. For healthcare leaders and IT managers, these innovations offer ways to improve patient care and simplify management with modern AI-powered tools and devices.
NCInnovation is a non-profit organization based in Research Triangle Park, NC, designed to accelerate the commercialization of innovation from North Carolina’s public universities.
NCInnovation approved $13.6 million in funding for 17 research projects across 12 North Carolina public universities.
NCInnovation supports applied research projects that have achieved proof of concept and show commercial promise in various fields, including agriculture technology and therapeutics.
Only university researchers from North Carolina’s public universities are eligible for NCInnovation grants.
Grant applications undergo a rigorous evaluation involving a multi-phase review process with pre-applications, full applications, external expert panels, and market fit assessments.
Examples include AI-based livestock parasite identification, a digital platform for treating stuttering, and portable ultrasound devices for prenatal care.
NCInnovation aids researchers in advancing discoveries through the R&D process toward commercialization, enhancing collaboration between universities and industries.
NCInnovation aims to drive job creation and economic growth throughout the state by supporting university research with commercial applications.
Funded projects target diverse health issues including Alzheimer’s treatment, speech disorders, and drug-resistant bacteria.
The funding model relies on interest and income from a $500 million State-funded endowment, enabling non-dilutive grant funding for university research.
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