Boulder Innovation Center

The Boulder Innovation Center works closely with the University of Colorado Technology Transfer Office to launch new businesses based on University technologies and intellectual property. The Boulder Innovation Center Technology Transfer Program is designed to serve the specialized process of moving inventions and ideas from the academic setting to the commercial world. To accomplish the goal of University technology commercialization, the Boulder Innovation Center carries out a broad range of activities:

• Community Portal to University Innovation
• Commercial Feasibility Studies
• Management Recruitment
• University of Colorado Student Interaction

Community Portal to University Innovation
By bridging the gap between the academic and entrepreneurial communities in the Boulder area, the Boulder Innovation Center serves as an accessible and user-friendly portal through which local entrepreneurs and businesses gain access to University technology and intellectual developments. The Boulder Innovation Center sponsors public events to introduce the latest University of Colorado innovations (technology and concepts) to the local business community. For example, the Boulder Innovation Center sponsors an annual CU Technology Showcase providing a venue for university inventors to share their technologies with the Boulder business community. Please visit our Events page for more information on this and other events we sponsor with the Technology Transfer Office.

Commercial Feasibility Studies
The Boulder Innovation Center works closely with the Technology Transfer Office to identify university technologies with commercial potential. The Boulder Innovation Center harnesses a variety of resources to accomplish this goal. We select a program manager with relevant domain expertise to oversee a review of the potential for commercialization. The program manager and Boulder Innovation Center Advisors collaborate with University of Colorado faculty to explore various markets for their work. Additionally, the Boulder Innovation Center draws upon a network of venture capitalists, industry specialists, and business leaders to focus outside expertise on all projects. The ultimate goal is always the commercialization of university technology. For current projects, please visit our Projects page.

Management Recruitment
The Boulder Innovation Center actively recruits successful entrepreneurs and educates them regarding the potential of new university innovations as a starting point for new commercial ventures. Boulder Innovation Center staff members routinely meet with entrepreneurs to learn about their interests and future plans. Whenever possible, entrepreneurs help to assess the viability innovations that directly relate to their areas of interest.

University of Colorado Student Interaction
The Boulder Innovation Center involves students from the University of Colorado LEEDS School of Business’s Deming Center for Entrepreneurship and the University of Colorado Law School’s Entrepreneurial Law Clinic to help with the launch of new business ventures based on university technology and intellectual property. For example, the Boulder Innovation Center staff mentor and supervise interns from the LEEDS School of Business. Students conduct market assessments of selected university technologies. Interns and Boulder Innovation Center staff measure the robustness and market potential of the technology and determine the appropriate commercialization path. Technologies deemed to have commercial potential are selected as the basis for creating a business plan. When appropriate, MBA students are given the opportunity to build upon completed feasibility studies as part of a business planning class. Boulder Innovation Center Advisors and additional business community leaders often work closely with students throughout this process.