Arkansas State University creates ‘innovation system’
JONESBORO, Ark.—Justin Barnes has a plan to improve car security. But to bring that idea to life he needs the space and tools to work.
That can be hard without spending a lot of money.
There is now another option open to Northeast Arkansas residents—Arkansas State University’s new A-State Innovation System. It aims to help innovators develop products to market from start to finish.
“Just having something like this available to students and the community is a boon for innovation,” said Barnes, a junior electrical engineering major from Jonesboro. “Where can you go and find a CNC machine, a 3D printer and laser cutter—all these tools that are stocked?”
Barnes has been using equipment on campus, but he said it will be nice to have an additional space that is accessible in Jonesboro because this type of space is typically found in larger cities. The closest ones to Northeast Arkansas are in Memphis and North Little Rock.
The Jonesboro Sun reports that A-State Innovate is located at three different sites in Jonesboro: The Garage, a makerspace and collaboration space at 219 S. Church St.; The Shop, a machine shop and wood shop on the ASUNewport-Jonesboro campus; and The Lab, a research facility located within the Arkansas Biosciences Institute on campus.
Makerspaces are spaces where people can gather to create, invent, and learn. In libraries, makerspaces often have 3D printers, software, electronics, craft and hardware supplies and tools, and more.
“We are excited about it because it is an opportunity not just for our students, faculty and staff to come together but an opportunity for our community to come together as well,” Chancellor Kelly Damphousse said in a ceremony Monday at The Garage. “… I am excited about how we can reconnect to the community in an even greater way. I thought it would be useful to provide some background context of coming back downtown.
“1909, VC Kays started Arkansas State University—back before it was even a university—downtown, not far from here,” he added. “It is really important for us to come back downtown and to have a presence here in this location. It is very important for Arkansas State and the community to come together in places like this to learn more about each other and see how we can help each other succeed.”
The July 17 ceremony, which included remarks by Gov. Asa Hutchinson, marked the opening of The Garage. The Lab is already open, while The Shop is still under construction.
The $1.39 million project was paid for through a $500,000 i6 Challenge grant through the U.S. Economic Development Administration and $886,967 in-kind matching funds.
Area residents will pay a monthly membership—it is $50 at The Garage and will include discounts for students and veterans—to use the facility. Ty Keller, the innovation system’s director, said his goal is to help thousands, although 300 members would be an awesome number.
“Is that feasible, I don’t know, but we have the resources to make it happen,” Keller said, adding the challenge will be assisting members. “It turns out lot of people have ideas, but a lot of people don’t have money so we’ve got to make connections and be able to help them folks get launch.
“To me that is the big deal,” he added. “You don’t want a good idea to die because they don’t have $10,000 so we’ve got to help prepare them for things like if they are going to the bank or apply for a grant they need to have solid business plans and be able to locate financing.”
Keller has already worked with 10 to 15 people, including Gentry Tipton of Bono. Tipton plans to become a member as he works to produce and market a firearm accessory.
“I made my part by hand initially because I made it for myself to utilize,” Tipton said. “It was like pulling teeth because I just had simple hand tools.”
He needed help to produce and market the accessory. Keller has helped him through the process of getting a design patent and a local fabricator to create a part for the patent process.
“You have to know who to start with and who to trust,” he said. “If you are just shooting at the moon with what is available, you are not always going to have optimal attention to your project or to your idea. So, it is nice to know people.”
It is that connection to local resources that Tipton said makes the innovation system invaluable.
“Where can you go and find a CNC machine, a 3D printer and laser cutter—all these tools that are stocked?” —Justin Barnes, junior electrical engineering major, Arkansas State University