Marketing /innovation healthcare exec to speak at Whitman March 30

Marketing /innovation healthcare exec to speak at Whitman March 30March 24, 2009Amy Schmitzaemehrin@syr.edu

The Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University will host a guest lecture by David Eilers, vice president of business development for Blue Highway, on Monday, March 30, at 7 p.m. Eilers will speak on “Accelerating Products to Market: Applying Open Innovation in Healthcare” in Room 102 of the Whitman School building. The lecture, part of the Whitman Marketing Spring Speaker Series, is free and open to all SU students, faculty and staff.

The open innovation model acknowledges that in today’s world of widely distributed knowledge, companies cannot afford to rely entirely on their own research but should instead buy or license processes or inventions (e.g. patents) from other companies. In addition, internal inventions not being used in a firm’s business should be taken outside the company (e.g., through licensing, joint ventures, spin-offs).

Throughout his career, Eilers has pioneered new products and opened new markets, including the Personal Pan Pizza at Pizza Hut, home satellite dishes, commercial chinaware and healthcare. Blue Highway, located in SU’s Center for Science and Technology, is an advanced R&D subsidiary of Welch Allyn.

The Whitman Marketing Spring Speaker Series brings to campus prominent local and national marketing executives to teach and interact with students, and share their real-world experiences.

Media queries can be directed to Amy Schmitz, director of communications, Whitman School of Management, at (315) 443-3834 or aemehrin@syr.edu.