The union underscores the deepening connection between the university and industry
Irvine, Calif., Jan. 25, 2024 — University of California, Irvine’s Resilience and Adaptation Development in California initiative, which deepens university–industry engagement to drive innovation and answer climate challenges, has entered a strategic partnership with Karma Automotive. Fueling a shared commitment to a climate-resilient future, Irvine-based Karma’s involvement in RADiCal demonstrates how UC Irvine is engaging industry partners to join the climate action initiative.
RADiCal, administered through UCI’s Beall Applied Innovation, is a model for collaboration that allows Karma to have early looks into climate research and utilize the expertise of a diverse, multidisciplinary team across sustainable practices at UCI. It aligns Karma with strategic commercialization opportunities, including early-stage funding, and immerses the company within a network committed to climate action, sustainability, and social innovation. The partnership empowers Karma to influence and lead transformations within the automotive landscape, both short- and long-term, underscoring a focus on responsible practices and community.
UCI Chief Innovation Officer Errol Arkilic said, “The partnership with Karma Automotive leverages our region’s strengths toward tangible solutions for climate-related challenges and highlights UCI’s commitment to deepening our work with industry. We invite other like-minded Southern California companies to join us on this exciting journey.”
For UCI and the RADiCal initiative, Karma Automotive’s partnership presents the ability to magnify the impact of research applications by moving them from the campus into the market. As part of Karma’s engagement with RADiCal, the company gifted $100,000 to UCI’s Proof of Product program. PoP funds support commercialization of promising research projects and is a key inflection point between the University and its partners in industry. The partnership reinforces UCI’s brand, and the region, as a leader in sustainability and climate action.
Karma Automotive President Marques McCammon said, “At Karma, we’re committed to driving innovation centered around sustainability and strengthening communities. Aligning with UCI’s RADiCal initiative helps us meld our vision for the ultra-luxury automotive marketplace with forward-thinking research and real climate action opportunities. Our partnership is designed to provide responsible stewardship for reestablishing a more natural harmony.”
