CSU Ventures, Innovation Center of the Rockies Enter Commercialization Partnership

Online, May 1, 2012 (Newswire.com) - The Innovation Center of the Rockies has entered into a commercialization partnership with CSU Ventures to accelerate the creation of new businesses based on Colorado State University faculty research.

"Our partnership with CSU Ventures will match top faculty and graduate researchers with our network of more than 1,000 mentors and advisors, one of the largest entrepreneurial support systems in the country," said ICR Executive Director Tim Bour. "This agreement represents a major milestone in forwarding ICR's statewide mission to match technology to markets and turn invention into new Colorado businesses through our commercialization process."

The ICR will work with CSU Ventures staff to develop the intellectual properties holding the most promise for commercialization within a variety of markets supported by ICR including Bioscience, Cleantech, Engineering, Aerospace and IT/Software. Patterned after the relationships already in place with the University of Colorado and the Colorado School of Mines, the ICR will expand its advisor network in Northern Colorado, and within CSU's nationally known areas of expertise in Agriculture, Veterinary Sciences, Water and Cleantech. The partnership will also encompass a national network of organizations within the Clean Energy Alliance (CEA) helping to commercialize technologies funded by Department of Energy SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grants.

"This partnership symbolizes the nationwide movement toward pooling academic and business community resources, regionalizing entrepreneurial support networks, and preparing university students for today's globally competitive workforce" said CSU Ventures President Todd Headley. "The continuing build-out of Colorado's entrepreneurial ecosystem of university research, industry leadership and venture investment is a big win for everyone."

CSU Ventures manages all technology transfer operations at Colorado State University, including "Supercluster" research in cancer, infectious diseases and clean energy. For more information, visit www.csuventures.org.

About the Innovation Center of the Rockies
Founded in 2005, the Innovation Center of the Rockies is one of America's premier entrepreneurial support organizations. With its highly specialized team of mentors and advisers, the ICR defines a new model for business incubation across key industry sectors holding the most promise for the community, global economies and the environment. Located in one of the most dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystems for early-stage companies, the ICR blends the resources of business and academia to optimize opportunities for the technologies and companies of the future. For more information, please visit: www.innovationcenteroftherockies.com

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