Partnerships
Critical Connections
In 2003, the School of Business continued its tradition of close partnerships with other units on campus, corporate partners and alumni.
CAMPUS PARTNERS
We play a leading role in several important cross-campus initiatives.
CIBER (Center for International Business Education
and Research)
UW-Madison is one of 30 universities designated as
Centers for International Business Education and
Research. Together, the federally funded centers form
a powerful network focused on globalizing business education
at all levels and providing comprehensive services
and programs to help U.S. businesses in global markets.
In 2003, the UW-Madison CIBER sponsored more than
a dozen conferences on topics ranging from global security
to how fl uctuating currencies affect area businesses.
Other initiatives included supporting a new summer
course in Arabic at UW-Madison, supporting almost 200
of our Business students in a range of overseas academic
programs and joining the Pacifi c Asian Consortium for
International Business Education.
MORE CAMPUS PARTNERSHIPS
INSITE (The Initiative for Studies in Technology
Entrepreneurship)
INSITE seeks to enhance the UW-Madison’s impact
on technology entrepreneurship by promoting fundamental
research in technology entrepreneurship and
leveraging curriculum and program development in
that fi eld. Our faculty collaborate with colleagues in
Agricultural and Life Sciences, Engineering, Law,
Letters and Sciences and related fi elds. In 2003,
INSITE and the Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship
launched an Interdisciplinary Lecture Series on
research related to technology entrepreneurship and
a Policy Lecture Series for policy makers, leaders and
entrepreneurs on implications of research on technology
entrepreneurship.
The G. Steven Burrill Technology Business
Competition
Since 1998, a unique campus-wide competition at
UW-Madison has encouraged interdisciplinary teams
of students to develop business plans for technologybased
fi rms that they then present to a panel of venture
capitalists and other experts. In 2003, 10 teams
competed for more than $22,000 in prizes. A business
plan for a process that creates electricity from
biomass products won fi rst prize and $10,000. The
competition is supported by the University of Wisconsin-
Madison Technology Enterprise Cooperative, the
School of Business, the College of Engineering and the
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Major funding
is provided by G. Steven Burrill, a 1966 graduate of
the School of Business.
The UW E-Business Institute
Several faculty members of the school are actively involved
in the UW E-Business Institute, a new campuswide
initiative launched in 2003 to enhance economic
development in the state by enabling e-business transformation
of Wisconsin’s core industry clusters. Based
at the College of Engineering, the Institute aims to help
Wisconsin industries develop a better understanding of
how Internet-enabled technologies and practices can
enhance their competitive edge in global markets.
DOING BUSINESS IN AND WITH CHINA
The school reached out to the business community in a variety of ways in 2003, including dozens of The school reached out to the business community in a variety of ways in 2003, including dozens of workshops, conferences and seminars.
No American manufacturer today, large or small, can ignore China, whether as a source No American manufacturer today, large or small, can ignore China, whether as a source of components, products or R&D—or as a market. While large companies have been of components, products or R&D—or as a market. While large companies have been doing business in and with China for decades, small and mid-sized firms are now getting doing business in and with China for decades, small and mid-sized firms are now getting into the game.
A day-long regional conference, “Doing Business in and with China: Lessons Learned A day-long regional conference, “Doing Business in and with China: Lessons Learned by Small and Mid-sized U.S. Manufacturers” was held October 29, 2003. The timely by Small and Mid-sized U.S. Manufacturers” was held October 29, 2003. The timely forum brought together diverse concerns, facts and insights about the role China plays forum brought together diverse concerns, facts and insights about the role China plays in the global marketplace, especially from an American perspective. Speakers from in- in the global marketplace, especially from an American perspective. Speakers from industry and academia discussed China’s growing economic presence, future capabilities, dustry and academia discussed China’s growing economic presence, future capabilities, advantages and disadvantages of working with Chinese companies and shared their ex- advantages and disadvantages of working with Chinese companies and shared their experiences interacting with Chinese manufacturing and government representatives. periences interacting with Chinese manufacturing and government representatives.
More than 150 individuals from Wisconsin companies and higher education attended More than 150 individuals from Wisconsin companies and higher education attended the conference. It was organized by the business school’s Erdman Center for Manufac- the conference. It was organized by the business school’s Erdman Center for Manufacturing and Technology Management and sponsored by several organizations, including turing and Technology Management and sponsored by several organizations, including the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER), Kraft Foods the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER), Kraft Foods and Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP). and Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP).
