A new program in "Engineering Ventures" will be developed by the College of Engineering at Wayne State University as a result of a $500,000 endowed fund established by alum James (Jim) Anderson. The unique program will be designed to provide engineering students the leadership and entrepreneurial skills necessary for the formation of successful new ventures.

Anderson, a 1966 WSU civil engineering graduate, was working at Wayne State's Center for Urban Studies when he founded Detroit-based Urban Science in 1977. He pioneered numerous computer- generated mapping solutions, overcoming software, hardware, math problem-solving and data obstacles to achieve powerful market analysis techniques for the auto industry.

During an early period in the computer age, Anderson created new color dot-mapping software after repeatedly being told it could not be done. He credits this experience for his success as an entrepreneur building Urban Science. The experience also forms the basis of his generous gift to the College of Engineering.

"The University and the College greatly appreciate Jim's vision," said Interim Dean Ralph Kummler. "Jim understands that young engineers are more likely to become entrepreneurs if they receive excellent guidance, encouragement and skills. We are, indeed, fortunate that he is eager to build upon his great success as an entrepreneur by developing this program to create opportunities for others to follow an entrepreneurial career path."

The fund will support both research and education in Engineering Ventures, which will:

Identify students with high potential for pursuing an entrepreneurial career
· Train students using inter-disciplinary methods and scientific problem-solving tools in a real-world environment that also develops interpersonal and other non-technical skills necessary for success as an entrepreneur, and

· Mentor students so that they can develop a realistic career plan that includes entrepreneurial ventures.

"This marks the beginning of a new relationship between Urban Science and Wayne State University," Anderson said. "It is an investment in the future - and future entrepreneurs - because it will provide not only the tools necessary for their success, but also the guidance for obtaining financial support for start-up ventures."

After 26 consecutive years of growth, Urban Science has 300 employees in 9 offices worldwide with more than $50 million in annual revenues. The company appears on the Detroit Crain's Business Private 200 list of privately held companies ranked by revenue located in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw and Livingston counties.

Anderson, who also received a master's degree in civil engineering with a minor in operations research in 1970 from Wayne State, built Urban Science into a bridge between the worlds of science and business, particularly marketing. The company combines science and real-world experience to improve client distribution channel efficiency and reduce costs. The company serves the world's top companies in the automotive, retail, financial services and banking industries.

"I received excellent preparation to be an entrepreneur at Wayne State because the faculty love, live and teach in the real world, instilling drive, determination, and survival skills," Anderson said. "But, this new program will establish a new benchmark in education of the principles involved in forming successful ventures."

Wayne State is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to more than 33,000 students in metro Detroit. The College of Engineering, with more than 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students, offers a wide range of accredited engineering disciplines. Its graduates represent a large force in Michigan industry and the engineering field.