The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) is an incubator network on a mission to grow scalable startup ventures that fuel the Arizona economy. UACI supports science and technology companies at all stages of development in Southern Arizona and around the globe.

We connect those we serve to the people, programming and places that will help them take their companies from idea to market. This is accomplished by guiding startups through a continuum of education and activity using a 28-point structured roadmap program.

UACI & Tech Parks Arizona

UACI is part of Tech Parks Arizona, the place where early-stage startups and established tech giants collaborate within flexible, technology-rich workspaces to advance innovation. Tech Parks recruits major companies to connect with the UArizona and locate at either UA Tech Park or UA Tech Park at The Bridges. UACI then provides business leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers and students with the programs and resources they need to innovate and scale rapidly.

Tech Parks Arizona and UACI are key to the innovation continuum developed by UArizona’s Research, Innovation and Impact (RII) office. Together we create a complete knowledge ecosystem.

RII expands the University’s research enterprise to include “impact” in its mandate. This is done by creating industry and public partnerships and moving inventions and technologies to the marketplace. When we bring discoveries to market through the creation of new companies, we translate research activities into innovations that impact the world.

UACI & University of Arizona

UACI is also connected to the University of Arizona (UArizona). UArizona is a Tier 1 research university ranked among the top 20 public universities nationwide with more than $734 million devoted to research activity annually.

In partnership with the university, we help nurture a culture of discovery and innovation to help faculty, students, and corporate and business partners gain a competitive advantage. UACI is proud to be affiliated with the university and support its global leadership in commercializing new technology, launching startups and creating corporate collaborations that contribute to Arizona’s robust entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The university educates students through programs such as the McGuire Center of Entrepreneurship at the Eller College of Management and FORGE. Research institutions also perform tech transfer, which leads to the launch of startups that need support to grow. The office responsible for the commercialization of University of Arizona inventions is Tech Launch Arizona.

Startup companies come to UACI from local to global innovation ecosystems, including:
  • University Technology Transfer Operations
  • Ideas generated by UA alumni
  • Ideas generated by innovators with no university affiliation
 
UACI Infographic-Illustration PODS 2023
UACI helps entrepreneurs connect to the resources of the University of Arizona, facilities at the Tech Parks and the greater Tucson community.

 

 

History

Launched in 2003, UACI is distinguished as one of Arizona’s leading incubation organizations and the longest continuously running incubator in the state. UACI is proud of its direct service to more than 200 companies, impact on thousands of entrepreneurs and leadership in building Arizona’s innovation ecosystem.