Innovation in times of uncertainty

Purpose - This paper aims to describe innovations at the Games+Learning+Society Center to explore the future of education. Design/methodology/approach - This paper is an overview of several published studies and design interventions. Findings - Commercial partnerships, particularly generating copyrightable materials can maximize impact and diversify research funding, but they also run counter to the culture and purpose of many research universities. Research limitations/implications - Researchers interested in forging new partnerships to maximize impact might explore relationships with commercial entities but be aware that they are running counter to the grain of most institutions and goals. Other universities of different sizes, ages and orientations may have different results. Practical implications - Building private partnerships requires different staffing and skill sets than traditional research. Guidance for staffing key roles and projects are provided. Originality/value - This paper is a reflection on unique research initiative that generated revenue and helped shape a subfield of education.