The RAND Corporation and the University of Southern California announced a partnership on Monday that is designed to encourage collaboration between the institutions on research projects, educational programs and staff recruitment.
USC President Steven B. Sample and RAND President and CEO James A. Thomson signed an agreement creating the partnership at a reception at USC’s University Park Campus.
The partnership agreement creates a framework for researchers to hold joint appointments at RAND and USC, as well as for researchers at either institution to lead projects based at the other institution. The the agreement also opens the door to possible joint educational programs and possible joint recruitment of faculty and research staff.
One of the goals of the partnership is to foster joint research projects focused on the challenges facing the greater Los Angeles region.
“This partnership brings together two leading research institutions to benefit the entire region,” Thomson said. “We look forward to a successful and productive collaboration between RAND and USC.”
“We’re also very pleased to join with RAND in a strategic alliance aimed at improving people’s lives and well-being,” Sample said. “By combining the intellectual capital and unique resources of our two world-class institutions, we can work together to find solutions to urban challenges in areas such as transportation, security, infrastructure, public health and education.”
The agreenent marks the first formal relationship between USC and RAND, although researchers from the institutions have collaborated on projects in the past.Recent collaborations include a national conference on the future of terrorism risk insurance, which was held at USC and attracted participants from across the nation.
