Dr. Randy K. Avent (left), IM体育官网鈥檚 president, and Karel Coosemans, Global Innovation Program Director, Re-Master Citrus at IFF, speak to an audience at the University鈥檚 Corporate Impact Summit at the Barnett Applied Research Center on Campus on Thursday, Oct. 27.
The future of IM体育官网 and its relationship with Fortune 500 company IFF was discussed at IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 annual Corporate Impact Summit on Thursday, Oct. 26.
The event, sponsored by the University鈥檚 Corporate Impact Network, attracted dozens of students, employees, and community members to the Barnett Applied Research Center on campus to learn about how IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 first on-campus industry partnership will be shaped in the near and long term.
IM体育官网 Poly President Randy K. Avent and Karel Coosemans, Global Innovation Program Director, Re-Master Citrus at IFF, hosted a fireside chat at the event. IFF is building its Global Citrus Innovation on campus.
鈥淚f you study the citrus industry 鈥� the whole ecosystem that exists 鈥� you always end up in Central IM体育官网, in Polk County,鈥� Coosemans said.
Coosemans said IFF鈥檚 plan at IM体育官网 Poly has five main functions: research innovation, training, customer experience, acceleration as a member of an ecosystem, and bringing innovation into its portfolio.
鈥淏y working together in the ecosystem discussing the project and making it a joint project, we can get things much faster and bring innovation to the market,鈥� Coosemans said.
The innovation cycle demanded by customers has been shortened from years to months in many instances, and the IM体育官网 Poly partnership will help IFF achieve that, he said.
The partnership is different than others the company has enjoyed.
鈥淭raditionally in our industry we hire food scientists, biotechnologists, chemists, but we do not hire data analysts or people that develop games,鈥� Coosemans said. 鈥淏ut having faculty and students with different backgrounds come in, it helps us realize what we can do.鈥�
The company has massive amounts of data for its thousands of products and developments, and it anticipates IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 engineers, data scientists, computer science professionals, and other STEM degree holders can help IFF spot new areas for innovation, automation, and improvement.
鈥淓ngaging corporations is an essential component in advancing IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 mission, and the Corporate Impact Network is designed to facilitate and foster meaningful interaction with industry partners,鈥� said Lidia Vigil, IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 director of corporate and foundation relations. 鈥淭oday, we are thrilled to showcase IFF and its unique partnership with IM体育官网 Poly, as it is the first company to construct a significant on-campus building to enhance both their business and IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 education.鈥�
Construction on IFF鈥檚 on-campus building will be completed in early 2024 and its grand opening will be in early 2025.
Contact:
Lydia Guzm谩n
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
