For Immediate Release
September 17, 2014
RESEARCH VALLEY, TX – The Research Valley Innovation Center (RVIC), an innovation and entrepreneurship center for biotech, clean energy and information technology startups, announced the opening of “The Garage” today on the campus of Texas A&M University. The Garage provides an attractive, creative environment where emerging technology companies in the Research Valley, as well as those located outside the area can become connected to community-university technology commercialization stakeholders across the region.
The 1,779 square foot open innovation and co-working space custom designed by Singleton, Zimmer, Haliburton Architecture with generous support from Wilton’s Officeworks is located at the Texas A&M Institute for Preclinical Studies (TIPS). Functional space in The Garage includes a private office, an open innovation studio setting, two private test bay workspaces, and an innovation lounge with an “old school chalk board” for brainstorming.
“The Research Valley is maturing as a regional innovation ecosystem,” said Todd E. McDaniel, Interim President and CEO of The Research Valley Innovation Center. “The Garage offers a membership-based landing zone for emerging technology companies spinning out of Texas A&M (student, faculty, researcher), as well as opportunities for emerging technology companies outside the university to get connected here in the Research Valley.”
The Garage is founded upon innovation economic development relations between The Research Valley Partnership and Texas A&M University with funding support from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF). Dr. Glen Laine, Vice President for Research at Texas A&M University said, “The Garage is a great example of how Texas A&M and the Research Valley Partnership are working together to create facilities and programs to increase research funding and commercialization opportunities here at the University, while bringing a positive economic impact to the Research Valley.“
Providing incubator/accelerator support to early-stage emerging technology ventures is a top priority for the TETF. “The Garage is a great addition to the Research Valley and an example of the type of innovation infrastructure early-stage companies need, including access to mentors and instruction about how to develop a product and business plan and how to pitch investors,” said Terry Chase Hazell, Director of the Texas Emerging Technology Fund. “The added value proposition for The Garage is gaining access to the Research Valley’s network of mentors, entrepreneurs and investors across Texas and around the world.”
For more information on becoming a member of The Garage contact Charles Martinez, Vice President Innovation Development for The Research Valley Partnership at [email protected].
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The Research Valley Innovation Center (RVIC), formed by the Research Valley Partnership, Inc., is a nonprofit organized exclusively for the purposes of advancement of science and broadening the technology industrial base, creating or maintaining jobs, and generating new sources of economic benefit in the Research Valley.
Media Contact: Todd E. McDaniel, Interim President/CEO, The Research Valley Innovation Center 979.260.1755 or [email protected]