What are the Benefits of Membership?
Depending on membership level, benefits can include:
- Participation in the Industrial Advisory Board (IAB). IAB will advise WEST Center on future research directions, projects, and technology development.
- Ability to conduct protected and confidential research and development at WEST.
- Invitation to WEST annual meetings, update conference calls, workshops, technical conferences and planning teleconferences.
- Access to WEST Facility space & technology with expedited project or service negotiation.
- Access to WEST publications and reports (outside of protected IP).
- Interaction and mentorship opportunities with students, post-doctoral fellows, and faculty.
- Information on graduating students, interns, and employment assistance.
- Display of company logo on website, brochures, reports.
- WEST partnership opportunities for external funding, such as Federal (i.e., Department of Energy, Department of Defense, National Science Foundation) and Foundation grants (i.e., WateReuse Research, Water Research, Water Environment Research).
What are Member Expectations?
- Payment of WEST membership dues for a minimum of three years.
- Participation in WEST review meetings.
- Communication with the WEST management and principal investigators through Board representatives and assigned mentors or liaisons.
How do Members Conduct Research at WEST Center?
Industry members develop projects in collaboration with University of Arizona faculty. Faculty establish a research enterprise to conduct member research through the University's Sponsored Project process.
How is Intellectual Property Handled?
Ownership and protection of Intellectual Property (IP) is negotiated on a project basis, prior to the initiation of specific research. WEST Center takes care to protect the determined intellectual property rights of all parties.