BY JILLIAN SOMMERS
FROM INCUBATION TO INNOVATION A 20-year legacy of supporting startups that fuel Arizona’s economy
For two decades, the University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) has been fueling Southern Arizona’s economy by serving scalable science and technology startups.
TechConnect | FALL 2023 | 07
UACI has helped pave the way for innovators to move products and services from the lab to the marketplace while building the highest concentration of startups in any Arizona incubator program through decades of earned credibility. The center currently supports more than 70 startups, 62% of which are minority-owned. Additionally, 26% of UACI’s startups are women-owned, which is high above the 6% national average for an incubator. Over the past 20 years, milestones have led to numerous jobs, tax revenue and increased economic prosperity for the region. In 2021 alone, with 51 startups in the program, UACI’s work resulted in a $35.3 million economic impact for Southern Arizona plus an additional $2 million in tax revenue. As The University of Arizona’s incubator network, UACI supports innovations resulting from university research or founded by UArizona alumni accounting for roughly half of the startups in the program. UACI also supports startups from the community and
abroad by connecting businesses with the expertise of UArizona, a Tier 1 research institution with more than $824 million in research activities. The center’s success is driven by robust resources and specialized infrastructure. It represents a best-practices environment utilizing good laboratory practices and flexibility where startups can “rent-a-bench” to expand their laboratory space while ramping up operations to support growth. Programs are fully customizable to suit the unique needs of each startup. The UACI 28-Point Roadmap is a comprehensive guide directing entrepreneurs through critical steps of building a business. To offset some of the financial demands of being a startup, UACI created the Sponsored Launch program with various organizations and municipalities to support a year of incubation services that fast-track business development and uncover innovative solutions for business and societal challenges. As a Power Connector, UACI supports U.S. Department of Energy projects opening doors for renewable energy product inception, financial backing and market reach. The center is one of a handful of organizations to earn the notable Soft Landings designation from the International Business Innovation Association. For businesses from around the globe, UACI serves as a strategic location for those seeking an entry point into the U.S. market.