UW tech centers could help learning, jobs

GREEN BAY - Some changes may be in store for the University of Wisconsin system, including campuses in our area. For the last two days, the UW Board of Regents met and reviewed a number of ideas, including one that could bring some new resources to Northeast Wisconsin.

John Katers, an environmental engineer, works at ENCAP, a Green Bay company that turns waste from paper companies into mulch products.

"There's no better place to learn than a place like this," said Katers.

Katers is also an associate professor at UW Green Bay. During the last few years, he's helped connect students to work at ENCAP.

"Generally research and development for us. John gives us some leads on kids who have some wonderful technical expertise who come in and help us in product development, market development, and who hopefully can be here a long time," said ENCAP president Chris Calawerts

In the future, companies like ENCAP and others could have more opportunities to work with UWGB. A UW System task force is recommending seven campuses, including Green Bay and Oshkosh, form emerging technology centers, places for research and training.

"I think it's a great idea. I mean personally looking at the people that I work with everyday at the university, there's a lot of talent there, there's a lot of creativity, there's a lot of entrepreneurial spirit and I think some of that can be helped along through some of these investments that the state would make," said Katers.

The centers goals are also to develop technology and create jobs.

The idea is one of about two dozen the UW Board of Regents got a chance to look at this week. No word on if or when the board will take a closer look at the proposal.

But, even without the emerging technology center at UWGB, John Katers will continue connecting students to hands on opportunities.

"In many regards the students come with a lot of new ideas. They ask a lot of questions, and they challenge what we're doing and that's great," said Katers.

The UW proposal calls for a total of seven emerging technology centers throughout the state. For the centers to get up and running in four years, it would cost nearly $8 million.

If you'd like to learn more about UWGB's partnership with Green Bay companies, click here for a UWGB blog about it.