JCATI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dr . Mehran Mesbahi
Growth and innovation in Washington ’ s aerospace industry is on Dr . Beth Hacker ’ s mind . It is also foremost on the minds of the nine-member board for the Joint Center for Technology Aerospace Innovation ( JCATI ), four public universities in Washington , and hundreds of aerospace businesses in the state .
Hacker is the program manager for JCATI and has been since 2014 . Along with Executive Director Dr . Mehran Mesbahi , the organization has funded 153 faculty-led university projects and has distributed $ 12.8 million allocated for aerospace economic development from the state legislature . The funding , according to Hacker , is meant to be , “ short term targeted funding and rapid project turnover for economic development . We are meant to be seed funding , not long-term ( funding ).”
34 NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS
Mesbahi has a dual role . He is faculty at University of Washington and is a J . Ray Bowen Endowed Professor in Engineering Education , Aeronautics and Astronautics . He also represents JCATI as the executive director . Hacker said that as he attends meetings statewide with other university faculty and professors , “ He is one of them ,” and speaks their language .
The money is paid to the universities to mature a technology brought to them from private industry . It pays stipends for graduate students along with funding for development with faculty and undergraduate students . Industry , both small and large companies in the State of Washington within aerospace , can apply for university-led development of their idea .
If the project is within the aerospace realm , it can touch manufacturing , transportation , energy , space technologies , and more .
Another goal is to provide aerospace-focused opportunities for engineering students . Through the JCATI funding , students are exposed to direct industry development in a variety of realms . They work hands-on , most for at least a one-year term , to develop and validate ideas . The students may be engaged with other disciplines as they learn how to develop a product that could eventually impact Washington ’ s aerospace industry through commercial development .
Some of the projects funded by JCATI in 2021 include industry partners and the university conducting the work .
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