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.
