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A proven powerhouse for generating new technologies and high-tech startups, the University of Arizona has realigned its organization to provide focused incubation services for early-stage companies built on University of Arizona intellectual property . As key leaders in Arizona’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, the University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) and Tech Launch Arizona (TLA) have long collaborated to create a seamless continuum of support for startups—from student-led ventures, to the research labs, to scaling businesses. Tech Launch Arizona, the unit of the Office for Research and Partnerships that commercializes innovations stemming from university research and innovation, has launched over 160 startups since its inception in 2013, by working with entrepreneurial U of A innovators and providing services such as intellectual property protection, innovation marketing, technology licensing and venture development services for startups.
The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI), has been successfully providing incubation services to startups from across the community for over 22 years under the scope of Tech Parks Arizona. Tech Parks Arizona encompasses three innovation hubs—the UA Tech Park at Rita Road, UA Tech Park at The Bridges, and the University of Arizona Center for Innovation —which provides multiple purpose-built environments that enable businesses to ramp up operations and scale efficiently. UACI has built a dynamic environment that supports 50 –75 startups at any given time —creating one of the region’s strongest engines for entrepreneurial growth and is the state’s longest continuously operating incubator.
Together, the TLA and UACI collaboration has fueled innovation and strengthened Southern Arizona’s capacity to launch and scale successful companies. To meet the needs of a growing innovation ecosystem, UACI will continue to serve science and tech ventures, while Tech Launch Arizona increases its engagement with startups built on University of Arizona intellectual property.
TLA will now directly offer incubation services for startups built around University of Arizona intellectual property, guiding campus-born technologies all the way from discovery to market. UACI will continue its role as a leading resource for community and regional science and tech entrepreneurs, providing the people, place, and programming that expands opportunities for startups throughout the broader innovation ecosystem.
This strategic realignment reflects the expansion of the ecosystem and the university’s growing focus on maximizing the success of its startups and the impact of innovation stemming from research.
“This growth into the incubation space is a natural and logical step for TLA,” said Derick Maggard, director of startup incubation and growth, who leads the new TLA incubator team. “Our startup incubation program leverages our existing relationships with the startup teams moving through our Venture Development program, bringing a deep wealth of experience and connections to working with these early-stage high-tech and deep-tech companies.”
Since startup teams will already have gone through the TLA process as they move through IP protection, licensing, and launching a company, moving on to incubation will be a seamless and targeted experience.
Under the leadership of Executive Director Casey Carrillo, UACI will continue to support science and tech startups through its 28-point UACI Program Roadmap©, an extensive digital resource hub, subject matter experts, and mentors-in-residence to companies spanning from local to global.
“Our commitment to empowering business growth and success remains at the heart of what we do,” said Casey Carrillo, Executive Director of the University of Arizona Center for Innovation. “UACI aligns closely with the University of Arizona’s land-grant mission—ensuring accessibility to tribal, rural, and urban communities to create opportunities that uplift the potential of every entrepreneur we serve and fuel the Arizona economy through homegrown economic development.”
This strategic shift ensures that both university-generated technologies and community-built science and tech ventures have the resources, expertise, and connections needed to thrive, strengthening Southern Arizona as a hub for high-tech entrepreneurship.