Creating and Entrepreneurial Eco-System in Southern Arizona

Bruce A. WrightThe University of Arizona

EDA Regional Training Conference 2012

Arizona – Coming to the Game Late

• No State strategy for technology innovation, commercialization or entrepreneurship

• Lack of Legislative support for tech commercialization

• State Universities lacked a effective tech transfer process

• Limited venture capital in the state• • Only one business incubator in the state

• Start-up leaving state to find executive teams and funding

Adopting a Strategy

• Conduct statewide assessment of strengths and weakness – Flinn Foundation and Battelle Institute

• Build on the research strengths (core competencies)of the Universities and Research Center

• Develop a regional strategies/blueprints/roadmaps

• Target efforts toward key industries – aerospace and defense, bioscience, optics, renewable energy

Meeting the Challenge

• Adoption of a Statewide and Regional Bioscience Roadmaps

• Reform of UA and ASU Tech Transfer Systems – UA Tech Launch and Technopolis

• Expansion of Research Parks – ASU Research Park, UA Tech Park, Phoenix Bio District, UA Bio Park

Meeting the Challenge

• Establishment of university based Incubators – Technopolis at ASU, NACET at North Arizona Univ. and Arizona Center for Innovation at UA

• Focused Research Centers – T-Gen in Phoenix, Critical Paths Institute and Bio 5 in Tucson

• Reorganization of the Arizona Department of Commerce – establishment of Arizona Commerce Authority and for start-up companies

Southern Arizona Response

• Multi-dimension approach – Entrepreneurship recruitment and training– Technology commercialization– Business start-up– Capital creation– Market expansion

• Engaging the key players – industry, university, private sector – Bioscience Leadership Council of Southern Arizona

The Biosciences in Southern Arizona Oro Valley is rapidly emerging as a regional biotech center

with major new and expanding facilities – Roche / Ventana Medical Systems, Sanofi, and UA’s BIO5 - Oro Valley

The Biosciences in Southern Arizona University of Arizona, home of the BIO5 Institute, Health

Sciences Center, Biosphere 2, and Tech/Bio Parks, has spun out >30 companies since 2005

Bio Industry --Regional Impact

• Biosphere 2• Bio 5 Oro Valley• UA Campus Agricultural Center • Arizona Cancer Center• Arizona Health Sciences Center• Bio 5 - Main Campus• UA Main Campus• UA Bio Science Park• UA Tech Park• Innovation Park• Southern Arizona Veterans Health Care System• University Physicians Hospital• Tucson Medical Center• Critical Path Institute• Carondelet Neurological Institute• Arizona Center for Innovation• BioIndustry Organization of Southern Arizona• Canyon Ranch Institute• LifeLegacy Foundation• Muscular Dystrophy Association• Research Corporation for Advancement of Science• Research Corporation Technologies• Weil Foundation• Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation

• University Governed Community Asset

• Research Parks & Incubators

• Non-University Governed Community Asset

• Bioscience Organization/Foundation

Bioscience Matrix

• Conduct a series of self studies – Battelle Institute Southern Arizona Roadmap, OECD Study, OURP industry Analysis

• Adopt Economic Development Blueprint by TREO with a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship and bioscience industry development

• Establish world class bioscience research organizations – UA Bio 5 and Critical Paths Institute

Bioscience Matrix

Southern Arizona Assets

• University of Arizona – top 15 research university with strength in the bio and life sciences

• Presence of industry giants – Roche (Ventana Medical) and Sanofi-Aventis (Selectide)

• UA Tech Park – one of the top 10 research parks in US

• UA top rated McGuire Entrepreneurship Program

The Initiatives

• TREO adopts Economic Blueprint with focus on entrepreneurship and innovation

• Establishment of Desert Angels –funding for start-ups

• Training for entrepreneurs – Idea Funding, Start-Up Tucson, Innovation Day at UA, AZCI Mentored Launch/Commercial Reality

Expansion of AzCI Programs and Facilities

Turning Innovation Into Business

Startup WorkshopsDiscovery

non-resident

UA Startup ClinicsPartner Workshops

Mentored LaunchEarly-stage assessment

semi-resident~ 3 months

Services include: venture assessment; workshops;

coaching for launch; prep for incubation; and Pitch Day

Shared office space

Next Step Full Incubation

Tenant TrackNew Graduates

Transition spaceDiscounted lab space

Commercial RealityFull incubation support

Resident~ 24 months

Services include: venture assessment and progress tracking; workshops; coaching and individual mentoring; immediate access to

extended resources; tailored support through panel and brainstorm sessions; branding and launch support; pitch and

presentation events.

Semi-private full service office and access to wet/dry lab facilities and equipment

Next Step Community Success

AzCI: Programs

• Founded 2003• Strong community and national partners• Focus on targeted industries• To date, 60 successful companies, 50% UA• 2011: 19 companies, 45 jobs, $2million +

LUCEOME Biotechnologies

Arizona Center for Innovation

Arizona Bioscience Park

Land Uses

• Education• University

housing• Research, office

and commercial space

• Hotel• Open space

E

UH

E

E

RD1RD2

H

RD1RD2

RD1

ESTEEM High School

Excellence in Science

TechnologyEngineering

Entrepreneurship & Math

ESTEEM High School

• Dual educational pathways – technical and academic curriculum

• Academic programs administered by TUSD

• Technical/vocational programs administered by JTED

• Admission open to students from throughout Pima County

• Adult education programs • Internship and work study programs

link to Bio Park companies

Next Steps

• Tech Launch Arizona -- re-engineering UA tech transfer process – focus on proof of concept, licenses, patents

• Arizona Business Incubation Association – network of the state’s incubators – sharing best practices and programs

• Develop of the UA Assist Program – extending entrepreneurship training , business incubation services and industry cluster formation assistance to communities throughout Southern Arizona

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New Since ’02New research institutes & entities (sampling)

TGen

Critical Path Institute

Biodesign Institute at ASU

International Genomics Consortium

Partnership for Personalized Medicine/ASU Center for Sustainable Health

UA BIO5 Institute

UA College of Medicine-Phoenix

Science Foundation Arizona

SABRE

TGen North

Institute for Advanced Health

Health Transformation Institute

Arizona Biomedical Collaborative

Arizona Cancer Center Skin Cancer and Cancer Health Disparities Institutes

Scottsdale Healthcare Virginia G. Piper/TGen Clinical Trials Program

Biosphere 2

New Since ‘02New Schools and Education Programs (sampling)

NAUTeach

TGen Helios Scholars Program

STEM Education Center

Vail Academy and High School at UA Science & Tech Park

Statewide: High school-based bioscience academies

Phoenix Union Bioscience High School

Copper Ridge Math and Science Academy

Paradise Valley STEM High School

ASU Biodesign Internships

UA BIO5 Internships

Wildcat SchoolArizona Science CenterPathways Program

Bisgrove Scholars Program

Helios BI05 Jr. BIOTECH Project

Helios BI05 Jr. BIOTECH Project

Helios BI05 Jr. BIOTECH Project

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New Since ‘02New Incubators/Accelerators (sampling)

Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology

ASU Impact Accelerator

Arizona Center for Innovation

Surprise TechCelerator

Chandler Innovations

BioAccel

Gateway Community College

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New Since ‘02New Facilities (sampling)

UA BIO5 Oro Valley

UA BIO5 Institute

Banner Alzheimer’s Institute

Biodesign Institute at ASU

Flagstaff Innovation Center

Arizona Bioscience Park

ASU ISTB 1-4

NAU Applied R&D Building

Phoenix Biomedical Campus

St. Joseph’s Neuroscience Tower

Phoenix Children’s Hospitalexpansion

Glendale Community College life sciences building

Paradise Valley Community College life science building

Mayo Collaborative Research Building

UMC Cancer Center

Diamond Children’s Medical Center

SARRC Research Center (2012)

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New Since ‘02New or Expanded Major Companies (sampling)

Banner M.D. Anderson Cancer CenterCancer Treatment Centers of America

Caris

Celgene

CovanceInNexus

Roche/Ventana Medical Systems

Sanofi-aventis

VisionGate

W.L. Gore

Monsanto

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Fast GrowthArizona’s bioscience performance, 2002-present

Jobs

Firms

U.S. +11%

+20%U.S.

Arizona +28%

NIH

GrantsU.S. +54%

Arizona +32%

Arizona +65%

Top-10 States +35%

Source: Battelle, 2011

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