U Chicago Publishes Story on Commercialization; $20M Innovation Fund
John Flavin stands in the Harper Court “Skydeck” illuminated by a spotlight. Around him, in a loose semicircle, about 100 onlookers fill the 12th-floor space with a buzzing intensity. Flavin draws them in. “Everybody huddle up,” he says. “Let’s form a scrum.” Four UChicago research teams are at the Skydeck to receive Innovation Fund awards […]
Allied Minds Plans London IPO; University Spin-outs to Benefit
Allied Minds, a U.S.-based company that commercializes research and inventions from universities, plans to raise about $140 million of capital from investors in a London listing, it said on Tuesday.
University of Iowa Accepting Pre-Proposals For Commercialization GAP Fund
The University of Iowa Research Foundation announced today that it will begin accepting applications for its Commercialization GAP fund program. The UIRF Gap Fund is a phenomenal example of a proof of concept and seed fund managed and sustained by university foundation/tech transfer management through a campus-wide integrated approach through its Centers for Enterprise programs.
University of Houston Professor Invents App to Diagnose Skin Cancer
The University of Houston division of research backed Dr. George Zouridakis with $50,000 in gap funding to support proof of concept work and to upgrade the app software for commercial application. Questions remain about the accessibility (or justification) of use by the general public with the associated cost of the necessary dermoscope hardware ($500). However, […]
MIT MISTI GLobal Seed Funds enable mult-disciplinary, multi-university collaboration
MISTI Global Seed Funds grants enable participating teams to spend time together, either at MIT or abroad, with the aim of developing and launching joint research projects. To date the funds have supported 304 projects through awards of $6M. This program is in line with the future vision of an open university approach with lower […]
Maryland TEDCO Gets $500K in State Funding For Rural Innovation Program
The Maryland Technology Development Corp. will receive $500,000 in state funding during fiscal 2015 to operate its well-received Rural Business Innovation Initiative program. Previously, RBI2 had been funded at a lower level through federal dollars or directly by TEDCO.
TAKEOFF Seed Fund Launches in Malta
In Malta there is no shortage of good ideas for innovative products and services, nor is there a lack of talented people capable of taking these ideas to market. What is often missing is the practical support and initial funding necessary to take the innovations to a stage where they can attract investment or the […]
Wales launches £7.5m fund to invest in up to 50 university start-ups
A new £7.5m equity seed fund backing technology start-ups and IP rich university spin-out firms in Wales has been confirmed.
Report challenges the role of public entities in innovation funding
Great example of what we are up against in securing continued innovation support from public entities. There is a natural, and understandable, tension in maintaining long-term commitment from sources that require tangible near-term, demonstrative impact for their supporters. It starts with shifting focus from a narrow, financial ROI mind-set to a larger discussion on community-building, […]
UK Tech-out Fund (TSF) Announces Up To £1M Loans to Spin-outs
Local Partnerships has launched a fund to provide public sector spin-outs with access to loans to invest in technology to improve health and social care services. The loans, which will range in value from £250,000 to £1 million, will help spin-outs gain access to finance that they would otherwise be unavailable to them in the […]