NCInnovation Connect Engineering and Prototyping Services at West Carolina University And UNC System Faculty
This week, NCInnovation is connecting faculty and project teams across the UNC System with engineering, prototyping, reverse engineering, and testing services available through Western Carolina University’s RAPID Center—helping researchers move ideas toward real-world application without leaving the system. The RAPID center is a research and development center located in WCU’s College of Engineering and Technology, that supports businesses, industry, and entrepreneurs developing new products and processes.
“The RAPID Center is a department within the College of Engineering and Technology, and we are a research and development center designed to partner with businesses, industry, and entrepreneurs to develop new products and processes,” said Monty Graham, Director of the WCU RAPID Center. “We help people go from an idea—the cocktail napkin sketch—to an early-stage prototype, so they can have something in their hands to show stakeholders.”
NCInnovation’s regional model helps applied university research closer to commercialization. For many faculty teams—particularly those outside traditional engineering disciplines—the RAPID Center fills critical gaps in product design, prototyping, and iterative development.
“We are tech-agnostic and work across disciplines,” said Meagan Coneybeer, Senior Director, West Regional Innovation Network, NCInnovation. “Researchers often have deep expertise in their field but lack engineering or design capacity. The RAPID Center brings that skill set to the table—particularly in 3D design and prototyping—helping round out research teams and accelerate progress.”
The RAPID Center provides fee-for-service engineering support designed to translate concepts into functional, testable products. Core services include:
Mechanical design and prototyping (CAD modeling, fabrication, testing
Electrical design and prototyping (schematics, printed circuit boards)
Reverse engineering of mechanical and electrical components
Mechanical and electrical testing, including material testing and specialized power semiconductor testing
Industrial 3D printing
The RAPID Center supports project teams by providing engineering analysis, design iteration, and prototyping that informs feasibility and next steps. “Having a resource like the RAPID Center creates real value,” said Kym Verhovshek, West Regional Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR), NCInnovation. “Entrepreneurs and researchers know what they know—but this kind of engineering capability helps them think through immediate, mid-term, and future states. It’s a powerful example of community-based innovation support in Western North Carolina.”
The RAPID Center operations on a fee-for-service model, with projects quoted at a fixed, flat-rate cost. Initial consultations—typically about 30 minutes—are offered at no charge.
All projects are protected under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), and clients retain full intellectual property ownership at project completion.
The Center’s four full-time engineers work year-round and are not bound to the academic calendar, allowing for rapid engagement and flexibility.
“We’re a small team, which makes us agile,” Graham said. “We’re able to respond quickly and work projects into our workload without sacrificing responsiveness.”
Faculty, researchers, and UNC System project teams— particularly those with timelines that do not align with the academic calendar or who lack local infrastructure—are encouraged to contact the WCU RAPID Center for an initial consultation.
Tim’s Take: As we previously reported, NCInnovation announced funding for four projects at UNC Asheville. Data shows that Western North Carolina receives the least amount of research and development funding compared to the rest of North Carolina. NCInnovation is working to fix this imbalance, unlocking and empowering innovation across the region, which will lead to economic growth.
