Chief Innovation and Partnership Officer
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Milwaukee
After more than 17 years leading the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Research Foundation and helping launch the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center at UWM, Brian Thompson was named chief innovation and partnership officer of the university in 2023. He leads the initiatives linking the university to corporate partners for research and talent. Among UWM’s recent successes, Microsoft Corp. announced this spring it will establish a manufacturing-focused AI Co-Innovation Lab on the campus, which aims to serve 270 Wisconsin companies by 2030. Thompson is also co-principal investigator on the Milwaukee Innovation Corps program, sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
Education: Bachelor’s and master’s, Purdue University; MBA, UCLA
Your secret talent: “I enjoy integrating complex information into informative graphics. These include ecosystem maps and process diagrams that we use to cultivate partners and guide strategy.”
Favorite movie: “‘Saving Private Ryan’ is among my favorite movies because I’ve taken numerous leadership lessons from Tom Hanks’ character.”
Thing to learn this year: “I’m on an artificial intelligence learning journey that includes not only tools available to individuals, but also the many ways in which researchers and educators can and are using AI to enhance their work.”
Favorite Wisconsin destination: “Rock Island State Park. And, of course, UWM.”
