2018 Issue

74 materials and outdoor product sectors. The space includes over 20,000 square feet of office and lab space, conference rooms, and dedicated space for manufacturing, research and development projects. Specialized equipment in- cluding 3D printers, a laser cutter, OMAX Waterjet, CNC mill and lathe is available. Memberships are available and include a day use rate for those just needing short term access to the resources. The Innovation Center provides a central point for col- laboration for startup businesses working with aerospace materials, advanced composites and other projects where access to this very precise equipment would be advanta- geous. As it is in close proximity to established commercial and defense contractors, as well as Hill Air Force Base, entrepreneurs can find promising opportunities. The new facility is the first building outside the base being developed as part of a public-private partnership by the Air Force and Sunset Ridge Development Partners. USTAR is the anchor tenant in this new development. USTAR Incubation Enterprise Besides the Innovation Center, other facilities that comprise the USTAR Incubation Enterprise include the BioInnovations Gateway (BiG), the Utah Nanofab, located in the USTAR So- renson Molecular Biotechnology Building on the University of Utah (the U) campus, and the Synthetic Biomanufacturing facility, located on the USU Innovation campus. BiG, a strategic partnership between USTAR and the Granite School District, is a life science incubator for emerging biotech and medical device companies. Tenants have access to pri- vate or shared office and lab space, specialized equip- ment, and services tailored to startup operations. The program also works with students to provide hands- on real-world experiences, helping prepare the next generation of entrepreneurs and scientists. The Utah Nanofab is accessible to all Utah-based aca- demics and companies at the same base pricing levels through programs supported in partnership with USTAR. It provides a clean environment, expertise, and equip- ment necessary for micromachining, microfabrication, and nano-scale semi-conductor materials. It is located in the USTAR building on the U campus. The labs offer process equipment with advanced capabilities in pattern genera- tion, photolithography and thin film deposition, and have An intern prepares samples for analysis at BioInnovations Gateway (BiG), USTAR’s life science incubator. The unique academic training ground at BiG provides internships for appropriately trained high school students with companies in the incubator. This provides students with real-world experience as well as networking opportunities with industry experts. Credit: USTAR characterization capabilities to include surface analysis and nano-imaging. The USU Synthetic Biomanufacturing facility, located in the USTAR BioInnovations Center in Logan, houses advanced life-science laboratories and provides researchers the resources to seek cures for a range of human and animal diseases. It is a world-class fermentation facility and was designed to conduct proof of concept, optimization and pilot scale studies for the production of synthetic bioprod- ucts through bacterial fermentation. Other USTAR Grants and Programs USTAR’s competitive grant programs help address gaps in Utah’s technology ecosystem. Other USTAR competitive grants include the Technology Acceleration Program (TAP), the Utah Technology Acceleration Grant (UTAG), and the Science Technology Initiation Grant (STIG). The TAP is a USTAR competitive grant that supports private sector tech- nology development for Utah-based companies. Proposed work can include research and development, proof of con- cept, product validation, and product development. TAP grants are used to accelerate technology development and commercialization in startups and emerging companies. Both UTAG and STIG are focused on university research. USTAR also supports small businesses who want to apply for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) federal funding for research and development activities through its USTAR SBIR Center. The office has a better than 25 percent success rate where the national average is between 14-17 percent. USTAR also has two satellite offices; one in Utah County and one in Southern Utah to support entrepreneurs throughout the state. About USTAR The Utah Science Technology and Research (USTAR) initiative was formed in 2006 to meet the vision of the governor, legis- lature, and business community in the state of Utah to lever- age science and technology innovation to expand and diver- sify the state’s economy. USTAR conducts technology-based economic development through a number of programs and services including competitive grants and entrepreneur services. Information on all USTAR programs can be found by visiting www.ustar.org or emailing ustar@utah.gov . Ivy Estabrooke, PhD Ivy, USTAR executive director, took the helm of USTAR almost four years ago and has been instrumental in forging the agency’s new di- rection. She has over a decade of experience developing and executing high risk/high payoff technology programs for economic development and national security. She is a neuroscientist by training with degrees from Smith College, Georgetown University and the National Defense University.