Noted faculty entrepreneur Andrew Singer to lead OVCRI efforts in entrepreneurship and innovation

CSL faculty member Andrew Singer has been named Faculty Fellow for Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Strategies in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and

Innovation at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Singer, the Fox Family Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has started several companies, regularly teaches courses on entrepreneurship, and is an expert in Signal Processing, Communication Systems, and Machine Learning algorithms and systems. Over the more than two decades he has been on the faculty at Illinois, he has been a substantial contributor to, and participant in, the vibrant innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem at Illinois.

“Dr. Singer is one of our most innovative faculty members, and he understands entrepreneurship inside and out,” said Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Susan Martinis. “Andy’s perspective will help coordinate our activities across campus and strengthen programming that supports new ideas, new innovations, and new ventures.”

Dr. Singer, who most recently served as the inaugural Associate Dean for Innovation & Entrepreneurship in the Grainger College of Engineering, led the Technology Entrepreneur Center for more than a decade, where he oversaw the creation of the Bachelor’s degree in Innovation, Leadership and Engineering Entrepreneurship and the creation of the Innovation Living and Learning Community, among a host of other innovation and entrepreneurship programs and activities. He has co-led the Campus Roundtable on Entrepreneurship and is deeply engaged with the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI), teaching classes in Chicago as a part of the Engineering City Scholars program. As a University of Illinois System Presidential Fellow, he focused on broadening the participation of women and underrepresented groups in innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems. Dr. Singer regularly serves as an expert witness in high-profile patent and intellectual property cases for the United States International Trade Commission and in federal district court.

As a Faculty Fellow, Singer will develop a strategic plan and implement programs that build a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation across campus. He will develop capital projects that will complement the success of EnterpriseWorks, including the graduation facility and translational research facility. He will also recommend opportunities to develop related programming within and across colleges and interdisciplinary research institutes and serve as an OVCRI representative with the DPI and Illinois Innovation Network (IIN).

“I’m thrilled that Andy has agreed to serve in this newly created role—the campus, the community, and beyond will all benefit from his drive and expertise,” Martinis said.