Collaboration Critical to Recent Local TBED Initiatives

Arizona Universities Partner to Create Joint Biomedical Campus

In an economy in which nearly every public university across the country is facing tighter budgets, the presidents of the three state universities of Arizona – the University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University – have decided the best way to expand and improve the state’s biomedical research capabilities is to jointly form a single biomedical campus in downtown Phoenix. According to an Oct. 1 article in the Arizona Republic, the Arizona Biomedical Collaboration will facilitate coordination of research and encourage better interaction among student, faculty and other researchers. The project also should yield biotech spinoffs and additional economic development benefits for the city. ASU and UA have committed a combined $27 million toward the Arizona Biomedical Collaboration facility, which is expected to house as many as 15,000 students.

Accelerator Expanding at Idaho State University

Contributions totaling $1.8 million from the state, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, and Pocatello Development Authority, are financing an expansion of the Idaho Accelerator Center to add additional labs and research facilities for the study of minute, subatomic particles. Established in 1994, the uniquely designed center is located at the business and research park of Idaho State University. The expansion will allow the center to strengthen its nuclear research partnerships with private companies spun out of INEEL-generated technologies.

Indiana Venture Center Will Support Entrepreneurship Statewide

The Indiana Venture Center (IVC), established through a partnership of five Indiana universities and the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, is expected to begin offering entrepreneurship services across the state this month. Located in Indianapolis near the IUPUI campus, the center was developed to assist a variety of local business founders, such as entrepreneurs taking high-potential ideas to market, owners of rapidly-growing companies needing assistance with expansion efforts, and leaders of large, established firms who are interested in implementing innovative ideas. The focus of the Indiana Venture Center's efforts will be high-potential, technology-related firms and ideas. IVC received its conception and initial funding of $3.0 million from a successful Indiana University alumnus. CICP is providing an an additional $500,000 to help get the effort off the ground.

Ground Broken for Western Kentucky New Economy Center

Construction began in mid-September for the Murray State University Innovations and Commercialization Center (ICC). Serving the 20 counties in western Kentucky, the center is designed to house start-up businesses, providing technical and managerial support to emerging entrepreneurial activities. Additionally, the $1.5 million center will seek funding for innovative products, processes and increased use of technology. The focus of the ICC includes telecommunications systems management, an Energy and Environmental Consortium, early educational exposure to entrepreneurial training, and training for start-up businesses. The center also will include a business incubator aimed especially at technology and information-based businesses and will serve as one of four regional offices for the state’s New Economy initiatives.

St. Paul Biotech Incubator Closer to Reality with $1M Corporate Donation, $500K from City

The 50,000 sq. ft. biotechnology incubator proposed in St. Paul near the University of Minnesota moved a giant step forward last month with the pledge of a $1 million cash and in-kind donation from the 3M corporate foundation. In addition, the St. Paul City Council approved a $500,000 contribution last week. Already having secured funding from the state and Xcel Energy, the University Enterprises Laboratories (UEL) incubator is expected to house up to 30 start-up biotech firms, many of which will be spawned from university research. The $21 million project calls for purchasing and renovating a former department store office and warehouse facility to create the incubator and an additional 80,000 sq. ft of lease space for four to six larger biotech companies. The UEL is a public-private partnership formed in 2001 between the University of Minnesota's College of Biological Sciences and the Carlson School of Management, the University of Minnesota Foundation, the City of St. Paul and the State of Minnesota.

Greensboro Center for Innovation Development to Be Run Jointly by Two N.C. Universities

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and N.C. A&T State University are creating a Joint Millennial Campus that will have two locations totaling approximately 150 acres. To be collectively called the Greensboro Center for Innovative Development, the north campus will be home to the planned Institute for Training, Research and Development. Initially, it will target the needs of school systems, business and industry, and various health services and social agencies in the region. Plans for the south campus include a science research park. Areas of research will come from key academic areas of both campuses, including the physical and life sciences, engineering, technology, food and nutrition, and other applied sciences. The south campus will be part of the N.C. A&T research farm.