Universities are a maze. We solve the puzzle so your organization can focus on what matters.

Universities are extraordinary engines of research & discovery — but they’re also complex and slow-moving. They are built for inquiry. You are built for speed. For these reasons and many others, university-industry collaborations often stall out and disappear into the maze of institutional process and bureaucracy.

Labyrinth Partners Consulting (LPC) has the solutions. Owned and operated by former university research executives, LPC has the insider knowledge of how universities operate, what motivates them, and where progress gets stuck. We’ve spent our careers inside the labyrinth, and now we guide others through it.

What do we do exactly? We act as your operator - translating and transacting with universities for you so you don’t have to. We remove barriers and manage the entire process from first contact to deliverable. Our frameworks for collaboration work because they begin and end with the strong communication and relationships necessary to get what you need done…at the speed of business.

We work on your behalf to build, manage, and accelerate productive research partnerships with universities—so you get what you need.

Aerial view of a round hedge maze with pathways and a central tree, surrounded by greenery and a gazebo.

Our Philosophy

  • Clarity over complexity. University relations require professionals who understand how universities work and how to move them forward.

  • Speed with substance. We build partnerships that are structured to deliver business results without compromising academic rigor.

  • Alignment, not bureaucracy. We design governance frameworks - how decisions are made, responsibilities, progress measurements - ensuring incentives match outcomes on both sides..

  • Impact at scale. Our work strengthens institutions, regional economies, and the industries that depend on them.

Hedges shaped into a maze with winding pathways.

Who we Work With

  • Companies & Consortia seeking access to cutting-edge research, technology, and talent without getting lost in university bureaucracy.

  • Government Agencies & Labs aiming to accelerate research & innovation through streamlined academic collaboration.

  • Universities & Research Leaders ready to professionalize operations, diversify funding, and deliver measurable impact.

Our Role

We’re not lobbyists, brokers, or consultants who “advise and disappear.” We are operators — building and managing research partnerships that produce tangible outcomes, faster.

Our Team

Portrait of a middle-aged man in a navy suit, white shirt, black glasses, smiling on a city sidewalk with trees and parked cars in the background.

  • Co-Founder I Managing Partner

    Jennifer served in progressive leadership roles at the University of Cincinnati beginning in 2016, culminating in her appointment as Senior Associate Vice President for Research: Strategic Programs & Initiatives from 2023 to 2025. In this role, she led the conceptualization, establishment, and operationalization of major enterprise-level research programs and investments designed to advance the university’s strategic research priorities. Her portfolio included the development and launch of Digital Futures, the National Security Research Institute (NSRI), the Institute for Transportation Infrastructure and Workforce Development (ITIWD), and BioFutures—each representing cross-disciplinary, high-impact collaborations that strengthen the university’s research enterprise and partnerships.

  • Co-Founder I Chief Technical Officer

    Pat is a former Ohio Eminent Scholar and professor of Chemistry at the University of Cincinnati. He served as the Vice President for Research for the University of Cincinnati from 2016 through 2025. Throughout his 30+ year scientific career, he has partnered with numerous companies to deliver technical and scientific advances to move their business forward. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a lifetime member of Phi Kappa Phi.

Partner Tesimonials

  • Patrick Binning - PhD...Labyrinth Partners Consulting testimonial

    Astro Defense Solutions

    “Pat and Jennifer are strategic thought leaders who understand how to align major research investments with our nation’s priorities. Their vision for the National Security Research Institute, including the development of its Space vertical, was both timely and forward-looking. By positioning the Institute to be administration-agnostic, they effectively future-proofed it to ensure continued relevance, funding, and national impact.”

    — Dr. Patrick Binning, National Security Space Expert; Instructor, Johns Hopkins University; Former Executive, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

  • Vicki Pugh...Labyrinth Partners Consulting testimonial

    Advancement Experts

    LPC truly understands both the academic and industry sides of research collaboration. I have witnessed the clarity, persistence, and deep institutional knowledge they bring to every project.  They work strategically, inclusively, and swiftly to move projects forward and have a special ability to bring together academic, industry, and community institutions. 

    — Vicki Pugh, CEO, Advancement Experts

  • Peter Hoffman...Labyrinth Partners Consulting testimonial

    Elevated Advisors

    “Pat and Jennifer bring a rare blend of strategic vision, operational discipline, and the ability to unite academia, industry, and government around a common goal. Their leadership was essential to the establishment of UC’s National Security Research Institute. They not only rallied the right researchers and external advisors but inspired us all to move away from business as usual and engage in something truly significant — creating a foundation for long-term national security impact.”


    — Peter Hoffman, Founder & President, Elevated Advisors, LLC; Retired Executive, The Boeing Company


  • Beth Robinson...Labyrinth Partners Consulting testimonial

    Colliers

    “LPC are exceptional connectors who truly understand how to translate the value of university research to the broader community. Time and time again, they have impressed me and others with their ability to listen, engage, and bridge academic and non-academic audiences which has made a positive difference in the community.”

    — Beth Robinson, Senior Vice President, Colliers

  • Mark Policinski...Labyrinth Partners Consulting testimonial

    OKI Regional Council of Governments

    “Without Pat and Jennifer leading the ITIWD project, OKI would not have provided its support and financial commitment. They are trusted partners who have delivered great results for a number of joint UC Research/OKI projects. Their leadership, drive and ingenuity in establishing the  Institute clearly have been the reason it has garnered growing interest from the transportation and technology sectors.”

    -Mark Policinski, CEO, OKI, Regional Council of Governments