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Victoria Hayes
President and CEO
Research Triangle Institute
www.rti.org
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Victoria F. Haynes, President and CEO, Research Triangle Institute
1. What changes has your laboratory seen in 2009 in the wake of the Recovery Act and the change in federal administration?
We welcomed the administration’s return to scientific research and its investment in science through the Recovery Act. Given our broad research agenda at RTI, stimulus funding provided opportunities across all our programs areas, including social sciences and life sciences. To date, we have been awarded nearly $17 million in stimulus funding, with nearly $4 million of that for funding in our engineering and technology center. This funding significantly accelerated our energy and environmental research programs, particularly programs focused on clean coal, biomass conversion to liquid fuels, and carbon capture.
2. What changes do you expect to see in your 2010 R&D operating budget compared to 2009?
We are expecting modest growth in our business in 2010. The Recovery Act will continue to drive some of this growth on the government side of the business, and we are hopeful that the economic recovery to generate new commercially-funded projects.
3. What effect has the economic recession had on your labs’ operations?
We have been fortunate thus far. The quality and diversity of our research portfolio and our close relations with government clients have enabled us to take advantage of many new and emerging opportunities in areas ranging from health care to energy research. While we try to balance our portfolio between government and private sector clients, clearly the government sector has been the major source of stability for us in these uncertain times. However, one significant impact of the recession has been the lack of venture capital to fund start up technologies. This means fewer partners who are able to invest in new, promising technologies.
4. If you were impacted negatively by the economy, what, if any, signs of recovery do you see?
We are beginning to see a rebound in confidence and proposal activity with commercial clients; both are encouraging signs.
5. Has your staff recruitment situation changed over the past year?
We continue to seek top talent in specific areas across the business despite the slow-growth environment. Groups focused on energy and climate change are hiring aggressively.
6. What are the most important relationships your laboratory has with academia, industry, or government labs?
We have many critical partnerships, and highly value all of them. As an organization founded by the University of North Carolina system and Duke Univ., we particularly value our academic relationships in the Research Triangle region. In the energy sector, we formalized this relationship by creating the Research Triangle Energy Consortium, or “RTEC”, with Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, and NC State Univ.
7. How have these relationships significantly changed over the past year?
The competitive environment in the R&D sector increases the importance of alliances with strategic partners. This allows us to provide the best value for our government and commercial clients. In the past year we have been active in strengthening RTEC and developing novel approaches to teaming in several other research sectors.
8. Has your lab’s focus changed over the past year with regard any or all of the following research areas: energy research, homeland security, or climate change?
There has been clear growth in the energy research and climate change areas. Aside from the opportunities in the United States, we are pursuing international projects also in these areas.
9. What hot new technology at your lab is making waves?
We have developed a novel light conversion technology for use in solid-state lighting which improves the energy efficiency and light quality possible with these devices. The technology is based on the use of nano-scale fibers and quantum dots, and is the result of a three-year DOE-funded program.
