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Herbert Henry Dow may have spent most of his career in Midland, Michigan, but he first made a name for himself right here at the Case School of Applied Science. Dow, the "man with a million ideas" and founder of Dow Chemical Co., first came to Case as a young undergraduate student in 1884. The two institutions have been inextricably linked ever since.
Since the school was founded to develop new ways of thinking about the sciences and engineering, it's not surprising that, during his years at Case, Dow met the kind of brilliant and like-minded individuals that would help him form and realize his vision. Dow was still a student when he developed an efficient method for recovering bromide contents from natural salt brines. It was in this area that Dow Chemical established its early reputation.
It is very likely that the involvement of Case faculty members like Professor Charles F. Mabery in the early bromine, petroleum and aluminum industries sparked the young Dow's interest in similar fields. In addition to the mentoring Dow received in the laboratory from Mabery and his colleagues, he received substantial monetary support upon graduation. The original 1895 Dow Chemical Co. investors - Dow, James T. Pardee, Albert W. Smith and Cady Staley - read like the Case Differential, a sort of yearbook of the day.
The relationship between Dow Chemical and Case has extended well beyond the lives of the early pioneers of the two institutions. Look no further than the A.W. Smith Building, Staley House, Charles J. Strosacker Auditorium, Herbert Henry Dow Professorship in Science and Engineering, Cady Staley Professorship in Engineering and C. Benson Branch Professorship in Chemical Engineering for reminders of Dow's continued impact on Case. Similarly, Case graduates have served as valued employees of Dow Chemical since its founding.
Although it may be the most historic example, Dow Chemical is hardly the only company to be spawned from Case people and ideas. An aggressive technology transfer program has landed Case among the top 10 nationally for many key indicators in the field among institutions with comparable levels of research funding.
According to the latest survey of universities with a maximum of $250 million in research funding, Case ranks:
- 5th nationally in terms of university-based start ups
- 6th in income derived from technologies developed at the university and licensed to outside companies
- 7th in terms of invention disclosures
- 8th in licensing income as a percentage of research funding
- 10th in overall levels of research funding.
Among all universities during the period, Case ranked 13th in terms of start-ups, 23rd in licensing income, 24th in licensing income as a percentage of research funding, 38th in invention disclosures, and 55th in total research funding .The survey was conducted by the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) and covers the period July 1, 2002-June 30-2003, the latest period for which data is available.
Perhaps the most unique of Case's recent start ups is Lake Effect Innovation, a consulting company founded by students in Case's pioneering Master of Engineering and Management (MEM) program. The students took the advice of professor Gary Wnek, who suggested that instead of focusing on individual projects for a class, the students form their own company which would allow them to perform individual functions in that context.
"It takes more than just a technical background to solve problems in industry," says Wnek, co-director of TiME and Joseph F. Toot Jr. Professor of Engineering. "Business leaders said, 'Give us technically talented engineers who can impact their employer immediately by being adept at the business side of things.'"
Wnek and his students may very well be on to something. Lake Effect has already landed one Fortune 500 contract and is close to landing its next. Perhaps another Herbert Henry Dow is at Case right now.
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