NCInnovation has announced plans to establish an innovation hub on the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) campus to support local researchers.
 
The Durham-based nonprofit group aims to help researchers at North Carolina universities commercialize their research products.  Along with UNCW, the organization also announced new hubs at Appalachian State University and Fayetteville State University, according to a news release issued by the UNC System late last month.
 
The three new hubs join existing innovation centers at East Carolina University, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and Western Carolina University. Nearly half of the UNC System’s 16 universities are now home to NCInnovation hubs.

“It is an honor to have been selected as one of three institutions expanding the UNC System partnership with NCInnovation,” James Winebrake, UNCW’s provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, stated in a UNCW news release. “Our engagement with NCI demonstrates commitment to economic development in our region and also reinforces our commitment to advancing the integration of entrepreneurship within more programs across campus.”
 
Regional directors at each hub will provide local researchers with applied research support. The hubs also aim to connect NCInnovation grant recipients with industry and business services to advance their research towards commercialization, the news release stated.

Although UNCW and NCInnovation are still working out the details of the agreement, a university spokesperson said a full-time director is expected to be hired for the Wilmington region hub, which would be based out of the university's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

According to the spokesperson, establishing an on-campus hub means more dedicated resources and support will be available for local researchers. The director would meet regularly with researchers to assist with grant applications and other NCInnovation services. The nonprofit also has plans to launch more support programs for area researchers.
 
Justine Reel, UNCW’s interim associate provost for research and innovation, highlighted NCInnovation’s role in bridging the gap between research and commercialization.
 
"The NCInnovation relationship has been invaluable to UNCW in helping innovators take their projects to the next level,” Reel stated in the release. “NCI has addressed the 'valley of death' funding issue while providing support, connections, and mentorship to UNCW researchers."
 
Last year, the North Carolina Legislature granted a $500 million endowment to the nonprofit to help support commercializing research. In May, UNCW associate professor of chemistry Ying Wang received one of eight grants during NCInnovation’s $5.2 million pilot grant cycle. Wang is developing a vaccine platform that aims to produce a universal and longer-lasting flu vaccine.
 
The next round of NCInnovation grants will be open to all applied researchers in the UNC System. The organization expects to announce the application period soon, according to the release.