More than 300 Expected for Open House Showcasing Vision for University of New Haven’s Center for Innovation and Applied Technology

More than 300 individuals from across industry, academia, government, and the nonprofit sector are expected to visit the University of New Haven on Thursday, Nov. 13, for an Open House showcasing the vision for the University’s pioneering Center for Innovation and Applied Technology that is being created adjacent to its main campus in West Haven.

“This is an opportunity for us to illustrate how our vision for redefining industry and academia collaboration will create new opportunities for our students as well as the companies that will be looking to hire our graduates,” said University of New Haven President Jens Frederiksen. “Higher education is in need of a reinvention, focused on skills-building, real-world learning, and industry collaborations that prepare the elite global workforce of the future. It is our mandate to respond by delivering a return on investment that is commensurate with the commitment students and families are making. This approach is the driving force behind the mission of the Center.”

The Center will be located in a 130,000 square foot commercial space directly adjacent to the University’s main campus in West Haven. ��ɫAV purchased the property and 12-acre lot at the end of 2024. It includes the former home of the iconic discount property store Railroad Salvage, which closed its doors over the summer.

In July, the University hired Paul Lavoie as its inaugural vice president of innovation and applied technology to oversee the development of the center. He joined the University after serving as chief manufacturing officer for the State of Connecticut. He has been named one of the .

In September, the University announced it had secured an initial $10 million – toward its goal of raising $25 million – to support the complete renovation of the site and the “white boxing” of the existing space. Renovation of the site is expected to begin in 2026.

The Center will focus on supporting the state of Connecticut’s advanced manufacturing industries and the key intersection of university research, innovation, and workforce development. It will enable private industries to engage the university on an entirely new level.

“Developing our Center for Innovation and Applied Technology is a bold step in bridging academic innovation with industry application,” said Lavoie. “Whether in manufacturing, biotech, data science, or national security, the Center will serve as a hub for industry collaboration that drives innovation and fuels economic growth across the region. Our vision is to stimulate the regional economy by delivering research products in emerging advanced manufacturing areas and providing workforce training to address the demand for skilled professionals and an increasingly dynamic global labor force.”

��ɫAV is currently pursuing master research agreements and corporate partnerships with local, regional, and national entities, building on its reputation of being a sought-after partner for companies across a range of industries.