The Charlotte Research Institute turned to a familiar face Tuesday when it appointed its second executive director, Bill Wilhelm.

Wilhelm has been leading the institute on an interim basis since June, helping to get UNC Charlotte researchers working on more partnerships with regional businesses to develop new products and ideas.

With a doctorate in mechanical engineering, Wilhelm has worked on both sides of the spectrum throughout his career -- teaching at universities and co-founding his own company with a fellow UNCC researcher.

"My big focus will be to continue developing the research centers and intellectual capital on campus, and making a stronger effort to reach out to the business community," he said Tuesday.

In the short term, Wilhelm hopes to get more of those area businesses tapping UNCC's resources on campus, especially in the new Center for Optoelectronics.

Within 10 years, he hopes the school's researchers have similar equipment, funding and recognition as their counterparts at the more established and more famous Research Triangle Park near Raleigh.

UNCC created the institute after a 1999 study by the Charlotte Chamber found Charlotte was the nation's only major city without a major research university within 90 miles.

Since 2000, the institute has had a who's who of Charlotte executives advocating for it on its board of directors, including Wachovia Corp.'s Ken Thompson, Duke Power's Ruth Shaw and General Dynamics Corp.'s Linda Hudson