WiSys' large clientele and vast geography has historically created a challenge for its core staff: How can a small group of people effectively support more than 12,000 faculty, staff and administrators and 108,000 students spread over 65,000 square miles? The foundation set out to resolve this challenge in October 2014 with the launching of its Regional Associate program. Now, two years later and with a complete team of Regional Associates, the program is showing a profound impact on WiSys' activity.

From its conception, the essential goal of the RA program was to ensure each regional comprehensive campus in the UW System had a representative on campus about once a week to meet face-to-face with innovators. WiSys accomplished that goal with the complete RA team of Dr. Kristen Ruka serving Western WI, Dr. Tony Hansen serving the southern region and Dr. Mads Gjefsen serving the central and east central parts of the state. Each Regional Associate has a physical office on each of his or her comprehensive campuses and each has also formed important connections with the two-year Colleges in his or her regions.

Now that its primary goal has been met, the statewide effects of the RA program have become clear. WiSys saw record numbers of invention disclosures in both years since the program began, and the regional associates have been responsible for bringing WiSys to the awareness of hundreds of new innovators.

Collectively, the team has given dozens of presentations to academic departments, student groups and administrators on each campus as well as leading several special events like the UW-Platteville Prototype Hackathon, the UW-Eau Claire Quick Pitch Competition, an on-campus visit from the USPTO and many Applied Research Grant workshops.

This year, the Regional Associates will work closely with WiSys Student Ambassadors on each campus to continue hosting campus events, creating lasting relationships with innovators on campus and helping UW System faculty, staff, students and alumni bring their ideas to life.