University of New Haven Names Manufacturing and Economic Development Expert as Inaugural Vice President of Innovation and Applied Technology

Paul Lavoie, the State of Connecticut’s chief manufacturing officer, has been appointed as the University of New Haven’s first vice president of innovation and applied technology. Lavoie will oversee the formation of the University’s pioneering Research and Development (R&D) Park. The R&D Park will be located in a reimagined 130,000-square-foot commercial space located directly adjacent to the University’s West Haven campus.

Last year, Lavoie was named one of the Top 5 Chief Manufacturing Officers in the world by Manufacturing Digital Magazine, joining leaders from Michelin, General Motors, Ferrari, and Johnson Controls.

"Paul is a visionary and forward-looking leader who has an exceptional background in driving innovation and ingenuity. He is the ideal individual to execute the vision for our R&D Park."President Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D.

The University’s new R&D Park will be focused extensively on the areas of advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, robotics, automation, machine learning, and biotech, as well as industry 4.0 and 5.0. The University envisions a broad collaborative supporting the R&D Park, with partners including private companies, government entities, K-12 schools, the cities of West Haven and New Haven, and a variety of organizations such as AdvanceCT and CT Center for Advanced Technology.

“I have long admired the University of New Haven and its commitment to preparing its graduates to excel in the careers of the future,” said Lavoie. “President Frederiksen’s vision for the University is as captivating as it is inspiring. I am excited to advance that vision through the formation of this unique R&D Park. I am confident this project will provide tremendous opportunities for students and companies to excel in the economies of the future.”

“Paul is a visionary and forward-looking leader who has an exceptional background in driving innovation and ingenuity,” said President Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D. “He is the ideal individual to execute the vision for our R&D Park — a vision that provides the next generation of an elite workforce for Connecticut with transformational hands-on learning experiences. This is an unprecedented economic development opportunity, with the promise of catalytic impact across the key industry sectors that have traditionally defined Connecticut’s core economic and comparative advantages.”

President Frederiksen said the University has established a legacy as a private school with a public mission, earning an outstanding reputation for providing elite talent to the Connecticut workforce and specifically to the sectors of advanced manufacturing and applied technology. The University has longstanding relationships with Sikorsky, General Dynamics, Medtronic, Otis, RBC Bearings, Pratt and Whitney, Lee Company, and Raytheon Technologies.

While the University of New Haven has grown tremendously in recent years, infrastructure for research and hands-on learning spaces remain at a premium. In 2024, the University purchased the former Railroad Salvage property, which features a 130,000-square-foot commercial space, and the surrounding 12 acres of land on Campbell Avenue, located directly across the street from the University’s main campus.

The R&D Park strategically aligns with Connecticut’s need to support advanced manufacturing, applied technology, and the defense industry. It will engage stakeholders in academia, government, and industry by leveraging the ingenuity and diverse perspectives of faculty, students, business leaders, and industry experts. The focus will be on expanding applied research, addressing practical challenges, and preparing the elite workforce of the future

“Through our R&D Park, the University of New Haven will emerge as a key player in promoting education and applied research in the areas of smart manufacturing, cyber threat intelligence, artificial intelligence, automation, and machine learning,” said President Frederiksen. “It will encompass all technical and technology-related fields across disciplines to advance our mission of being a leader in providing externally focused curricula for workforce development, research, and impactful community outreach initiatives.”

A Connecticut native, Lavoie was appointed by Governor Ned Lamont as the chief manufacturing officer for Connecticut in February 2022. The chief manufacturing officer position was created to coordinate efforts from the state and private sector to expand manufacturing in Connecticut. In November 2022, Lavoie assumed responsibility for the state’s economic development efforts for its clean economy, including offshore wind.

Lavoie has extensive industry experience, including as general manager at Carey Manufacturing in Cromwell, Connecticut. Prior to Carey, Lavoie owned two businesses and served in senior-level positions at publicly traded and privately owned businesses. He serves as the board chair of the Connecticut Wind Collaborative; co-chair of the Governor’s Council on Women and Girls Subcommittee on Education and STEAM; an advisory board member of the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System; and an advisory board member of the UConn College of Engineering.