Most university innovations require significant development and refinement to generate market interest. Often, the additional work is not academically oriented and instead focused on optimization and continued development. As a result, the University of Utah created multiple technology accelerators to support commercial development of technologies developed by University of Utah faculty.
Center for Medical Innovation
This broad cross-campus collaboration provides design and engineering development support for medical devices and medical device components.
Energy Accelerator
Housed within the Office of the Vice President for Research, this accelerator provides funding and business development support for energy and energy related technologies.
For more information, click here.
L.S. Perry, MD Orthopedics Innovation Center
Housed within the Department of Orthopedics, this accelerator provides resources to move early orthopaedic related medical device concepts, ideas and discoveries through the product development and commercialization process.
University of Utah Therapeutic Accelerator Hub
Formed as a partnership between the Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) and the University of Utah’s College of Pharmacy, this accelerator applies industry know-how to the development, refinement and testing of select therapeutic agents and/or delivery vehicles to refine specificity, efficacy and reduce off target impacts.
For more information, contact Alex Stark,
Startup Accelerators
Accelerator and incubation programs offer a wide range of services to early-stage companies and new entrepreneurs. These programs can give you access to expertise, equipment and physical space, as well as support and guidance. Some are fee-based and involve significant investments of time and resources, while others are grant funded and offer training-focused services. The university constantly explores new partnerships with accelerators. Current partnerships include:
Altitude Lab
Altitude Lab supports early-stage life sciences companies and founders from all backgrounds. Founded in 2020 through a partnership between the University of Utah and Recursion, Altitude Lab has incubated 29 startups to date. They offer over 15,000 square feet of incubation space in Salt Lake City that houses shared and private labs, tissue culture facilities, non-dilutive granting programs, over $1M in molecular and cell biology tools, and extensive site services to manage equipment and train resident scientists.
Badass Labs
Badass Labs is a Bay Area non-profit currently operating two facilities in the greater San Francisco area, and the University of Utah has developed an agreement with Badass Labs to setup a third site in Research Park. They offer core equipment for biotechnology ventures, support services for operational and financial operations, and participation in bulk pricing programs they negotiated with suppliers. They operate under a flexible membership model adapting services and terms to the needs of the company.
Innosphere Ventures
As a product of an Economic Development Administration Build to Scale grant, the University of Utah has partnered with Colorado-based Innosphere Ventures to support a regional life sciences incubator. The incubator offers a 9-month cohort-based training and mentorship program for early-stage life science companies. While the program is fee based, the university has secured a limited number of fee waivers for university affiliated startups. If you are interested, contact Brian Kraft at
