As published in CURE News, December 2004.

Lab Space Available at UConn Farmington's TIP

This is the first in a series of articles on the activities of UConn’s Office of Technology Commercialization.

About 1900 square feet of lab space, with adjoining offices, has recently become available in Farmington for use by companies approved to participate in the University of Connecticut’s Technology Incubation Program (TIP). The space will rent for the bargain price of $12 per square foot, according to Rita Zangari, executive director of the program.

Space is also available at Avery Point, Zangari told CURE News in a December 13 interview.

TIP offers new technology companies lab and office space with access to university researchers, facilities, and equipment, and to a variety of business and university services to help insure their success. Along with the Center for Science and Technology Commercialization and the UConn R&D Corporation, TIP is part of the University of Connecticut Office of Technology Commercialization. The three programs provide a variety of resources to support entrepreneurs as they begin patenting and licensing and move to funding and commercialization.

“To be admitted to TIP, a company should be technology-based and have some synergistic relationship to UConn,” Zangari said. “A business might have a current or historical technology linkage to the university – for example, if it has been formed around a university-developed technology. Or perhaps the business is collaborating with university faculty to develop a new product or technology.”

	Dr. C. R. Ramanathan of MAK Scientific.

Applicants must be willing to share information with the TIP committee and commit to developing a full business plan, as outlined by TIP, within two years of occupancy, Zangari said. They are also expected to give priority to other Connecticut locations when they are ready to leave the incubation space.

TIP oversees 3500 square feet at Storrs, 3,500 square feet at Farmington, and 3,600 square feet at Avery Point. The program provides tenants shared business services, access to library and computer networks, animal facilities, and equipment and instrumentation, as well as connections to faculty, researchers, and scientists, among other offerings. “Flexible leases, networking opportunities, and shared services make incubator sites an attractive alternative for very small companies that often face uncertainty and need to focus on their business without becoming isolated,” Zangari said.

Current TIP tenants include:

• MAK Scientific, investigating medications based on cannabinoid technology
• Inframat, a nanotechnology company developing biosensors
• Evergen Biotechnology, founded by UConn Professor Jerry Yang to improve dairy productivity
• I’mPACT Word, a Japanese spin-off working with UConn’s Dr. Steve Suib to develop plasma assisted catalytic technology (PACT)
• Sensor Research, developing biological agent and pathogen detection systems
• Hepaticus, developing a patented technology for diagnosing and treating liver disease

TIP fits within the larger Office of Technology Commercialization at UConn, where Bruce Carlson is managing director. Since 2002 Dr. Ian Hart has been director of industrial initiatives at UConn, with responsibility for establishing TIP. He is also associate dean for research and advanced studies in the College of Agricultural and Natural Resources at UConn.

	Dr. Rajesh Thotapally of MAK Scientific.

Zangari was appointed executive program director of TIP last July. Previously she was deputy commissioner in the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development. Before that she spent 27 years in a variety of business-related senior positions in State government.

“Connecticut is well-positioned for growth of its technology sector and programs, and UConn’s TIP will help the state retain its edge,” Zangari said.