Governor Announces Launch of University of Buffalo Innovation Hub

June 3rd, 2019

Governor Cuomo announced the official launch of the University at Buffalo’s Innovation Hub. The Innovation Hub is funded through a $32 million Empire State Development grant commitment from New York State, and supports innovation at UB and its leading research partners, including Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Jacobs Institute, Hauptmann-Woodward Medical Research Institute and Kaleida Health.

Several updates on the advancement of the Innovation Hub were shared with attendees and affiliates at the event, with developments coming in three key areas:

The planning, design and renovation of UB’s New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences into incubation and entrepreneur support space is underway and expected to open in early 2020. The space, which will be a designated START-UP NY-eligible location, will be made available to companies affiliated with UB and partner organizations. The university will also utilize various portions of the facility for entrepreneur support programs, events, education and related services.

Initial investments through the Innovation Hub’s $13.5 million fund have commenced with a focus on fueling proof-of-concept opportunities and pre-seed/seed growth. As a result, seven proof of concept accelerator fund awardees have been selected, and the fund is expected to ramp up activity later this year, with additional funding announcements expected soon.

Outreach engagement and support programming to best serve and guide founders and startups through the various phases of development is underway. This outreach, curriculum and programming is being introduced and implemented.

Governor Cuomo said:

“Western New York’s world-class academic institutions, like the University at Buffalo, are proven catalysts in the development of dynamic life science and technology hubs across the state. Through strategic investments and local partnerships, this Innovation Hub will bring together the very best and brightest in the tech industry, growing the region’s innovation economy for generations to come.”