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The University of Iowa’s Office of Innovation serves UI faculty, staff and graduate students regardless of department or title. Our guidance, insight, and support are here to help inventors travel the continuum from idea to impact. 

We offer a support system for innovators. We’ll support you along the entire length of the innovation continuum from idea to impact. The Office of Innovation is here to help you: 

  • Leverage our experience and expertise 

  • Network you to industry experts that complement your strengths 

  • To transform your idea via design and prototyping support 

  • We offer startup office and laboratory space 

  • Entrepreneurs in Residence and consultants  

  • Connections to external industry experts  

  • Seed Funding, non-dilutive gov’t funding, and connections to Venture Capital and angel investors 

Commercialization is the process by which an idea develops into a product, service, or company that generates economic value. It can take many possible forms. You don't have to know what form that might be to get started, or even believe your idea has commercial potential. Our team is trained and experienced to uncover those opportunities with you.

If you are a faculty, staff or graduate student interested in seeing your invention impact patients, an industry, or consumers, the commercialization pathway is a mechanism to see your research transformed into impact. Everyone has great ideas, but executing a brilliant idea is challenging. Either via a startup company or by licensing inventions to industry, commercialization can have a tremendous impact on society and can be extremely fulfilling personally, professionally, and financially. 

Yes. You can take your idea from a simple sketch to something tangible with the help of Protostudios’ state-of-the-art design and rapid-prototyping facility. With offices in MERGE, UIHC and the Physics building, we have a wide variety of resources, equipment and expertise to support your vision from design to prototyping to manufacturing. 

No. The Office of Innovation is focused on the translation of research into real world impact. We work closely with the Vice President of Research’s office, but our focus and funding is used to support translation. 

Absolutely. We are ready to help inventors refine their vision and seek its full potential. Often the most important support we offer is connecting you with entrepreneurs who have successfully blazed an innovative trail in your discipline.  

We welcome you to help “pay it forward” and grow our Hawkeye community by sharing your expertise. We seek successful entrepreneurs and inventors who know all about rolling up your sleeves and driving innovation.