Blake Belch Brings a Commitment to Service to NCInnovation’S Fayetteville Hub
By Michelle Fiscus, Senior VP & Chief Communications Officer
Long before Blake Belch began working with university researchers, he knew he wanted to serve. Growing up as the son of a veteran, he developed an interest in the military that would eventually shape his career. Today, as NCInnovation’s Hub Director supporting Fayetteville State University and UNC Pembroke, he sees an opportunity to connect that commitment with helping North Carolina research create practical solutions and economic opportunity.
“The opportunity to advance technological innovations for the warfighter while also delivering economic wins for the state made it easy for me to join NCInnovation.”
Belch’s path to NCI has given him experience with both university research and the communities that could benefit from its application. At the U.S. Army Research Office, he served as a Research, Intelligence, and Technology Protection Officer, supporting the Army’s extramural research enterprise. Working at the intersection of university research, national security and technology protection gave him firsthand knowledge of the research process and the importance of protecting and advancing emerging technologies.
As a Regional Director in the U.S. Senate, he worked with communities, government leaders and economic development partners throughout southeastern North Carolina on federal policy and regional priorities. Those relationships and his familiarity with the region now inform his work at NCI.
Belch also serves as an intelligence warrant officer in the North Carolina Army National Guard and holds a Master of Public Administration. His combined military and civilian experience informs his interest in defense innovation, technologies with both military and civilian applications, and opportunities to connect North Carolina researchers with federal mission needs.
The Fayetteville region offers a distinctive setting for that work. Belch points to Fort Bragg, experienced military professionals, defense companies and organizations addressing complex operational challenges as regional strengths. Fayetteville State University and UNC Pembroke contribute faculty expertise and research with potential applications within and beyond the defense community. He wants to help build the partnerships that connect those assets with promising university projects.
For researchers considering what comes next for their discoveries, Belch emphasizes that support is available.
“One of the most important things we can do is help researchers understand that they don't have to navigate commercialization alone.”
Through NCI, researchers can access funding and commercialization support while connecting with industry expertise, intellectual property resources, potential customers and entrepreneurs. At the hub level, Belch helps researchers think through the pathway from an academic discovery to something that can be used in the real world.
His existing regional relationships offer a starting point. In his previous position, Belch worked closely with the Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation and saw its efforts to attract investment and create job opportunities. He hopes the hub can contribute to that work by connecting companies coming into the region with university researchers, available talent and the wider innovation community.
He is also interested in the possibilities surrounding Laurinburg-Maxton Airport. Its aviation infrastructure, industrial footprint and location within the region are assets he would like to explore for potential applications in aviation, aerospace, advanced manufacturing and defense.
These interests reflect Belch’s view of commercialization as an economic development strategy. When research becomes a product, licensed technology or new company, it can create demand for engineers, scientists, technicians, manufacturers and business professionals. He hopes some of those opportunities will take shape in the same communities where the discoveries began.
“My long-term vision is for the Fayetteville Hub to become a trusted front door for innovation in this region.”
In that vision, researchers know whom to contact when they see potential applications for their work. Businesses and government partners have a place to seek university expertise or emerging technologies. Economic development organizations can turn to the hub as they work to attract companies, develop new industries and generate jobs.
For Belch, building those connections is how the Fayetteville Hub contributes to NCI’s statewide mission: helping researchers in the Sandhills and southeastern North Carolina access the expertise, relationships and commercialization resources that can move their ideas toward practical application and create opportunities in the communities where the research began.