Portal Innovations Partners with the University of Chicago at Hyde Park Labs to Launch New Science Incubator
August 01 2024 - 11:04AM
Business Wire
Portal Innovations, a national venture creation and development
platform, is partnering with the University of Chicago’s Polsky
Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation to design and manage a
science startup incubator at Hyde Park Labs.
The UChicago Science Incubator will encompass approximately
22,000 square feet at Hyde Park Labs, with an anticipated opening
in Q2 2025.
The joint effort will help translate early-stage concepts into
commercial opportunities in the areas of life sciences, quantum,
AI, and climate and energy tech. Portal will manage the design,
buildout, and support programming in collaboration with the Polsky
Center. Portal will oversee day-to-day lab operations to provide
seamless growth opportunities for science startups.
John Flavin, Founder and CEO of Portal Innovations said, "We are
thrilled to partner with the University of Chicago, a storied
institution that has fueled scientific breakthroughs in biotech,
energy, quantum, and beyond. With science moving quickly, it’s
necessary to connect academic researchers with private industry
including entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and corporate
partners to commercialize innovation while attracting and retaining
talent locally.”
The new offering from Portal – Powered by Portal – helps address
a growing need to translate ideas into commercial outcomes at
research institutions, national labs, and medical systems that have
high caliber faculty and researchers who are developing
transformative technologies.
“The partnership between the University of Chicago and Portal
Innovations underscores the significance of collaboration between
academia and industry. By working together, we are better equipped
to support our researchers and scientists in advancing their
scientific research and innovation toward impact through
commercialization,” said Juan de Pablo, Executive Vice President
for Science, Innovation, National Laboratories, and Global
Initiatives at UChicago.
Hyde Park Labs will be connected to Portal’s growing national
network of ecosystems consisting of infrastructure, capital, and
talent focused on scientific translation to fuel commercial
breakthroughs. With access to state-of-the-art facilities at Hyde
Park Labs and a world-class academic community at the University of
Chicago, researchers and entrepreneurs will have the resources they
need to drive groundbreaking discoveries and bring new technologies
and products to market.
“Continuing to expand our offerings and capabilities is key to
our mission of translating innovative ideas and technologies from
the University of Chicago ecosystem to the world – and this
announcement is the latest in support of that,” said Samir Mayekar,
Managing Director of the Polsky Center.
Located at the corner of 52nd Street and Harper Avenue, Hyde
Park Labs will deliver approximately 303,000 square feet of
world-class laboratory and office space near UChicago’s main campus
and the University of Chicago Medical Center. The building is
expected to be completed in late 2024 and will create the advanced
lab infrastructure needed to support a science and technology hub
on the South Side.
About Portal Innovations
Portal Innovations is a premier venture creation and development
platform that bridges scientific ideation through commercial proof
of concept by delivering crafted capital including seed funding,
specialized equipment, programming, and lab space along with
management expertise to high-potential early-stage companies. For
more information visit www.portalinnovations.com.
About Powered by Portal
Powered by Portal is a new platform that provides services to
research institutions for design, launch and management of start-up
labs along with programming activities to promote a community of
innovation. This platform addresses a growing need to translate
ideas into commercial outcomes at research institutions such as
universities, national labs, and medical systems that have high
caliber faculty and researchers who are developing transformative
technologies.
About the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and
Innovation
The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation advances
innovative ideas and technologies from the University of Chicago
ecosystem to the world. We are dedicated to supporting students,
faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as other entrepreneurs and
community-based small business owners in navigating the complex
process of bringing new products, services, and research to market.
For more information, visit polsky.uchicago.edu.
About the University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a leading academic and research
institution that has driven new ways of thinking since its founding
in 1890. As an intellectual destination, the University draws
scholars and students from around the world to its campuses and
centers around the globe. The University provides a distinctive
educational experience and research environment, empowering
individuals to challenge conventional thinking and pursue
field-defining research that produces new understanding and
breakthroughs with global impact.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240801622158/en/
Portal Innovations: Nick Pennebaker
nick.pennebaker@portalinnovations.com
Darwin Minnis Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
darwinminnis@uchicago.edu