Hartford Business Journal

32 Hartford Business Journal • April 6, 2020 • www.HartfordBusiness.com WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS 2020 Maric leads UConn's research, innovation and entrepreneurship By Liese Klein Special to the Hartford Business Journal A s an engineer, Radenka Maric has seen her work incorporated into cutting-edge car engines that tap into hydrogen fuel cells for power. As a senior executive at the Univer- sity of Connecticut, Maric has seen her work both in the institution's burgeoning research portfolio and the proud faces of graduating under- graduate and graduate students. "People can make a difference when they have education and knowledge," Maric said. "For me, it's a guiding principle to help as many people as I can get educated." Maric brings her passion for both education and engineering into her position as vice president for research, innovation and entrepre- neurship at UConn. She manages a staff of 250 and oversees the univer- sity's $260 million in research pro- grams at the Storrs main campus and UConn Health in Farmington. Along with UConn President Thomas Katsouleas, Maric aims to double the university's research spending over the next decade. "She's a dedicated researcher, a very, very good executive and a very good leader for our research enterprise," said S. Pamir Alpay, UConn associate dean for research and industrial partner- ships. "UConn is not just an educational institution — invention happens at UConn," Maric said. "There is a lot of creative work, a lot of startup com- panies, … and those startup compa- nies are going to have a huge benefit for the economy of Connecticut." Maric attributes her success both in the lab and the executive suite to time spent at startups and a lifelong love of science. Born in the former Yugoslavia, she developed an inter- est in technology and clean energy as a young child when she took note of the clouds of pollution produced by diesel cars and trucks, then in widespread use in Europe. "I was always passionate about the environment," Maric said. "Every time I passed by a car and smelled the exhaust, I was thinking there needed to be a more elegant solution." After graduating from Belgrade University, the young scientist headed to Japan, where the advance- ment of clean-energy technology was a national priority. She spent 12 years at the Univer- sity of Kyoto working on hydrogen fuel-cell innovations before heading to the United States in 2001 to work at a clean-energy startup. She then served as head of the Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation at the National Research Council Canada in Vancouver. UConn's pioneering research his- tory in hydrogen fuel cells and the warmth of STEM faculty members helped bring Maric to Storrs in 2010. In addition to work with students and her own research, Maric's cur- rent responsibilities include guiding the Innovation Partnership Building at UConn Tech Park, a center for ac- ademic-industry collaboration with more than $80 million in industry and federal research projects. She also heads the Technology Incuba- tion Program, the state's largest university startup effort. Maric balances her administrative duties with an active research port- folio including major grants from the Department of Energy. During her career she has been awarded more than $40 million in research funding, published more than 300 articles and registered six pat- ents, in addition to establishing an "industrial-scale" facility at UConn to fabricate clean-energy materials. Maric is also focused on the men- tal health of students at all levels who struggle with financial and emotional issues. She established the Dr. Radenka Maric Graduate Fellowship last year to both provide financial assistance and a forum for social interaction and professional development. Radenka Maric Vice President for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship University of Connecticut What's been your biggest profes- sional accomplishment so far? The main theme of my career has been fostering collaborations with partners around the world. From Japan to Georgia, in indus- try and academia, with com- panies big and small — build- ing networks to achieve more together has been my greatest professional accomplishment. What's your next big goal? When I came to academia from industry, my goal was always to work with young people and in- spire their creativity and innova- tive nature. My goal is to support diversity and inclusion of all kinds at UConn and in Connecti- cut, because I truly believe educa- tion is a right, not a privilege. What legacy do you want to leave after your career is over? I hope that my legacy is two- fold. I hope that my efforts help more women reach leadership roles and not settle or give up their dreams after graduating from college. As a scientist and inventor, I hope that cars of the future will run on the clean-energy, fuel-cell technologies I've developed. Sustainability is the foundation of both of these dreams — I hope my legacy supports environmen- tal and cultural sustainability that will make the world a better place. How do you maintain success? For me, there are four keys to suc- cess in business that are really quite simple: Always work hard, com- municate well and often, build trust and a network that supports your goals, and never let fear of failure determine your course of action. What are your keys to maintain- ing work/life balance? Balance comes from nurturing your creativity alongside your professional goals. As business women, we don't always have lots of time for creative pursuits. Prioritizing creativity, even for a few moments here and there, nurtures us as people and is incredibly valuable for success in our careers and personal lives. PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED

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