Industry-Driven, Research-Based

Innovation Management Solutions


The Center for Innovation Management Studies (CIMS) represents a one-of-a-kind convergence of academia and industry. Its purpose is to study technological innovation and its management, disseminate that knowledge, and help companies apply it to achieve bottom-line results. CIMS is dedicated to fostering a collaborative environment among scholars, researchers and business executives. Its location helps advance this mission: CIMS is housed in the College of Management at NC State University's Centennial Campus, located in the vibrant, technology-rich Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina.

"I was blown away by the depth and breadth of innovation knowledge, both academic and practical, that I saw at the CIMS meetings I managed to attend. My only regret was not being able to attend the last few meetings."

Paul Lurie

Advisor, Novel Drilling & Innovation
BP (retired)

 

The cornerstone of the CIMS approach is its Innovation Management (IM) Framework. CIMS developed this construct to help make complex, interrelated challenges easy to visualize and understand. The IM Framework takes the mystery out of innovation management by breaking it down into elements that can be learned, practiced, measured and ultimately improved. And it's designed to help manage all business functions at all points along the value chain-not just the R&D division. At CIMS, the IM Framework is the foundation for many of the assessments, tools, programs and training it offers members and clients.


CIMS is currently supported by the National Science Foundation, the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science and NC State. It also receives support from corporate sponsors, who in turn benefit from access to cutting-edge research results, opportunities to network with other members and experts, training and onsite visits by CIMS staff.

CIMS was created in 1984 at Lehigh University to fund academic research on topics chosen by industrial research & development managers. Its goal was to better understand the technological innovation process and how it could be managed more effectively. 25 years later, CIMS has sponsored thousands of hours of research, held scores of workshops and conferences, published hundreds of papers and improved the balance sheets of dozens of companies.

Contact us to learn more about CIMS or to become a CIMS member.