(Tucson, Arizona) On Tuesday, March 6, the University of Arizona (UA) will host its ninth annual Innovation Day at the UA. The event celebrates the UA’s success in technology development and innovation by highlighting the research achievements of students, staff, and faculty.

Innovation Day will open with UA at the Leading Edge, a session that will showcase the cutting edge research of leading UA faculty members. The session will take place in the Kiva Room at the UA Student Union Memorial Center from 9:30am-11:30am. It will be chaired by Dr. Len Jessup, Dean of the Eller College of Management.

This year’s Leading Edge researchers have demonstrated excellence in the areas of technology and innovation.

• Eric A. Betterton, Ph.D. focuses on atmospheric and environmental chemistry exploring an atmospheric model to forecast wind-blown dust from natural and man-made sources. This research supports the development of dust forecasting technology for health and traffic advisories.
• Leslie Gunatilaka, Ph.D. explores novel compounds synthesized by exotic plants from the arid zones of Asia, S. America and the Sonoran desert, and evaluates these compounds for medicinal value.
• Larry Head, Ph.D. specializes in systems and industrial engineering. His research on priority based traffic signals is working to save the lives of fire and rescue first responders.
• Sharon Megdal, Ph.D. concentrates on state and regional water resources management and policy. Her work on environmental water needs, aquifer recharge and assessment, and planning to meet future water needs of growing, semi-arid regions contributes to improved development and understanding of state water management strategies.
• James T. Schwiegerling, Ph.D. is developing a design for an accommodating intraocular lens, which behaves just like the flexible human lens in the eye, which can be used as a replacement in cataract surgery.
  

The celebration of University of Arizona innovation will continue with the Technology Innovation Awards Luncheon, which honors an outstanding faculty member and student for their achievements in translating original ideas from the laboratory to the marketplace. A special video titled “Thinking the Impossible” will premier during the luncheon and highlights how the UA has been a global leader in scientific and technological innovation for over a hundred years.

Following the luncheon, the Innovation Showcase provides an opportunity for participants to interact with UA departments, start-up companies from the Arizona Center for Innovation, as well as get an early glimpse at the business plans of students from the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship.

For more about Innovation Day at the UA please visit www.innovation.arizona.edu. All activities are open to the public. The event fee is $30; a discount for UA faculty, staff and students is available. The registration deadline is February 24, 2012.

Innovation Day at the UA is organized by the Office of University Research Parks and the Arizona Center for Innovation in partnership with the UA’s Senior Vice President for Research, UA External Relations, Office of Technology Transfer, and the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship.

Innovation Day’s title sponsor is Research Corporation for Science Advancement. Other sponsors include: Arizona Commerce Authority, Arizona Tech Council, BizTucson, Hecker and Muehlebach, PLLC., Strategy 1, and Tucson Electric Power.

Innovation Day at the UA is an official Arizona Centennial Event as well as a signature event of the Arizona SciTech Festival.            

Above photo: Ken Marcus, UA Tech Park Director; Bruce Wright, Associate VP of University Research Parks; Joann MacMaster, Director AzCI; Governor Janice Brewer; Council Member Shirley Scott; and Dr. Henry Koffler, President Emeritus UA officially dedicate the Arizona Center for Innovation.

On January 18, 2012, the Arizona Center for Innovation (AzCI), a technology business incubator located at the UA Tech Park in Tucson, dedicated its new facilities.

AzCI helps local entrepreneurs and inventors transform their innovative ideas and discoveries into successful high technology companies.

The dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by more than 150 community and university leaders. The audience heard remarks from Governor Janice Brewer, State of Arizona; President Eugene Sander, University of Arizona; Bruce Wright, UA Associate Vice President for University Research Parks; Henry Koffler, President Emeritus, University of Arizona and Chair, Arizona Center for Innovation Advisory Committee, and Joann MacMaster, Director, Arizona Center for Innovation. 

 “The Arizona Center for Innovation is part of the engine that will power us into Arizona’s second century,” said Governor Brewer. “This is an investment that will bring novel technologies to the marketplace, create high-wage jobs and expand and diversify the economy of southern Arizona.”

 In July 2010, Governor Janice Brewer announced a $1.5 million state grant for the Arizona Center for Innovation (AzCI).   The purpose of the grant was to advance the technology commercialization efforts of AzCI.  Using these funds, AzCI revamped its innovative business development curriculum as well as expanded and upgraded its office and laboratory offerings. 

 AzCI expanded its business program including new workshops, video tutorials and an interactive website.  By providing more content electronically, AzCI is able to provide 24/7 support for its clients.  The incubator also published a new business development manual, “Incubation Workbook: Navigating Innovation from Concept to Commercialization” that provides clients in the early phases of business development with a step-by-step guide on how to set-up and develop their company as they get started. 

 AzCI also increased it physical offerings.  AzCI’s new space was specially designed to suit the needs of start-up companies.  The Arizona Center for Innovation occupies 18,000 square feet of space in Building 9040. 

 An interactive area, known as the Collaboration Center, was designed to allow for clients and mentors to meet and collaborate.  There are also ten semi-private client offices, state of the art video conference room, a computer and internet server room, a workspace for copying, filing and storage, as well as a library and administrative offices.  The Center’s new entrance is more prominent giving it a more visible presence in the building and Park and a direct route to laboratory space. 

 The Center’s  wet lab space, which includes fourteen laboratory benches, was also upgraded to include a new prep lab, along with new equipment including: a Bio-Safety Cabinet, Nanopure water system, UV/Vis-spectrophotometer, incubator, autoclave, oven, centrifuge, biological microscope, top loading balance and more. 

 The AzCI team has been expanded to include an on-site lab manager to insure the consistency, reliability, quality, and integrity of testing and development.  AzCI’s has adopted Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards which is an industry standard for conducting non-clinical research and drug development.

 Dry labs were added to provide incubator companies the opportunity to work on product design.  These labs include a portable class 100 cleanbooth, fume extractor, stereoscope with digital camera, portable dehumidifier, eight pre-wired benches and compressed air.  The design of the labs allows clients to configure the space to meet their research and development requirements.

 “The updated programs and facilities have created a dynamic environment that inspires, encourages, and empowers new entrepreneurs, leading to new business growth here in Tucson,” said Joann MacMaster, director for the Arizona Center for Innovation.  “We are focused on providing the best support possible for each individual company we support.”

 The Arizona Center for Innovation was founded in 2003 with 2,300 square feet of space. Throughout the years, AzCI has assisted over fifty clients.

 The Arizona Center for Innovation (AzCI) is a nonprofit business incubator, helping entrepreneurs and inventors transform their innovative ideas into successful companies in Southern Arizona.  AzCI is located at the UA Tech Park. Interested companies should contact AzCI at (520)382-3260 or visit our website at www.azinnovation.com.

 Office of University Research Parks (OURP) plays a significant role in economic development with a focused approach on utilizing research parks and business incubators as technology development and commercialization tools.  OURP accomplishes this by creating environments that support and promote research, education, technology innovation and commercialization, and high technology business development and attraction.  OURP oversees the UA Tech Park, UA Bio Park and the Arizona Center for Innovation.