UA Center for Innovation Facts

The UA Center for Innovation is a business incubator and innovation center that fosters early-stage companies. Created in 2003, the UA Center for Innovation is the longest-standing business incubation program in Arizona.

The UA Center for Innovation is a unit of Tech Parks Arizona which operates the UA Tech Park at Rita Road and is developing the UA Tech Park at The Bridges. Tech Parks Arizona creates the “Interactive Ground,” that connects the University, community, and industry in the pursuit of technology innovation and commercialization.

The UA Center for Innovation's customized programs are aimed at technology- and science-based companies in various development stages. Over 100 startups have participated in the UA Center for Innovation program. They have raised over $30 million in funding throughout the years. Through the UA Center for Innovation, entrepreneurs:

• Develop and execute a successful business strategy
• Receive mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs
• Take products from idea to market
• Connect to the resources of the University of Arizona and the Tucson community
• Access state-of-the-art facilities and equipment

The UA Center for Innovation program empowers companies to...

...Develop and execute a successful business strategy

The UA Center for Innovation's program provides hands-on assistance to move a venture to the next level of business development.
The focus is on assisting companies to:

• Identify and understand their target markets
• Engage customers with their product or services
• Attract funding
• Develop marketing material
• Develop and evolve their product from prototype to market
• Attract and assemble the right management team

The UA Center for Innovation has a library of training modules based on lean launch principles. It utilizes coaching and mentoring to customize programs. The UA Center for Innovation offers a series of workshops developed to educate entrepreneurs in an interactive cohort setting. The UA Center for Innovation Incubation Workbook provides guidelines to put the lessons into practice.

...Receive mentorship from successful entrepreneurs

The UA Center for Innovation provides access to successful entrepreneurs and mentors who share their experiences to guide the startups on their customized path to success. Companies benefit from:

• Intense, progressive sessions with an in-house mentor to establish milestones and work with the entrepreneurs to achieve their milestones
• A volunteer mentor network with extensive industry-based experts as well as general business advisors
• A network of specialized service providers who have experience working with startups

...Take products from idea to market

The UA Center for Innovation provides a one-stop environment where companies can develop and evolve their products from idea to production. The UA Center for Innovation helps companies to:

• Utilize an on-site prototyping center
• Customize manufacturing
• Test, evaluate, and validate new technology
• Access specialized facilities and equipment at the University of Arizona

...Connect to the resources of the University of Arizona and the Tucson Community

The UA Center for Innovation offers companies connectivity to the University of Arizona and its people and resources including Tech Parks Arizona. Companies gain:

• Access to the UA innovation ecosystem including faculty inventors, experienced industry mentors, and subject experts.
• Access to the National Science Foundation I-Corps program

UA Center for Innovation supports a mix of both university and community technology startups, creating a rich and diverse collaborative culture that inspires and encourages further innovation.

UA Center for Innovation is an established and integral component of the entrepreneur ecosystem in Southern Arizona. UA Center for Innovation clients gains community exposure through partnership events including PitchDay, IdeaFunding, Startup Weekend, and the Innovative Minds Challenge. UA Center for Innovation is:

• An active member of the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA)
• Founding member of the Arizona Business Incubation Association (AZBIA)
• Partner with Startup Tucson and Innovate UA for joint programming
• A close associate of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

...Access state-of-the-art facilities and equipment

UA Center for Innovation offers access to an 18,000-square-foot managed facility that includes offices, wet and dry laboratories, a video conference room, a secure computer server room, and meeting spaces.

UA Center for Innovation is located within the UA Tech Park, one of the largest employment centers in the region, hosting over 40 companies that employ nearly 6,000 skilled workers. UA Tech Park is located in the suburban environment of Tucson’s rapidly growing southeast side. It is adjacent to Interstate 10 and just a short drive from downtown Tucson, the University of Arizona’s main campus, and Tucson International Airport.

UA Center for Innovation provides a collaborative and connected environment for companies to “plug-and-play.”

Office package Includes:
• Individual furnished semi-private or private office
• High-speed internet (1 hard-wired line)

Laboratory package (wet lab) includes:
• Dedicated wet lab bench with a fume hood
• Chemical storage
• Access to shared laboratory equipment

Laboratory package (dry lab) includes:
• Access to shared laboratory equipment
• Dedicated high-quality workbenches (suitable for optical work)
• Compressed air
• Anti-static floors

Prototyping lab includes:
• 3-D printer uPrint SE Plus
• Programmable DC Power Supply
• Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)
• Soldering station
• Oscilloscope
• Other electronics prototyping equipment

All UA Center for Innovation laboratories have:
• Good Lab Practices (GLP) certification
• Flexible power configurations
• Operational oversight by an on-site lab manager

Additionally, all companies in the UA Center for Innovation program have access to:
• Reception services
• Mailbox/mail service
• Listing on UA Center for Innovation website
• Conference and classroom space
• 24/7 site security/secure infrastructure with 24-hour access
• Fax machines, copy machine, printer, conference phones, kitchen, and janitorial service

FOCUS AREAS

UA Center for Innovation focuses on supporting clients in the following categories:

• Startup ventures
  • Early-stage startup ventures from the University of Arizona (UA), based on UA intellectual property and/or led by UA faculty, staff, or students
  • Startup ventures that are community-based with initial proof-of-concept and business model
• Technology sectors which reflect the University and Southern Arizona’s strengths in the following key industry sectors:

UA Center for Innovation is open to all technology companies.

INTERESTED IN PARTNERING WITH THE UA CENTER FOR INNOVATION?
Visit our website and fill out an application at https://techparks.arizona.edu/UACenterForInnovation or call us at 520-382-3260
Feel free to email us at info@uacenterforinnovation.org

9040 S. Rita Road, Suite 1270
Tucson, Arizona 85747