Director's Note
Dear Reader,
This month, we recognize a big win for one of our clients, ASAKE Biotechnology, who landed a large grant to continue to develop their therapeutic. We also announce a new partnership with a community organization, a state funding opportunity, and continue our series in recognition of our 40th year of creating economic development through the support of entrepreneurship.
As always, if you or someone in your network has an idea for a new tech or tech-enabled venture, be sure to get in touch. We want to help! And, if you are inspired by the work that we do in support of entrepreneurship to spur economic development, please give. Keep innovating,
Stacy Strauss
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IC Client NewsIC Client Awarded Major NIH Grant IC client ASAKE Biotechnology, LLC, in collaboration with Ohio University (OHIO) researchers, has been awarded a $2M Phase II National Institute of Health (NIH) grant for their novel Dual Action Molecule for Treating Type I Diabetes project.
Nearly 9M people globally suffer from Type I diabetes. ASAKE and OHIO research teams, led by Dr. Shiyong Wu and Dr. Craig Nunemaker respectively, have been investigating a lead compound for the development of a Type 1 diabetes novel therapeutic that will enhance insulin content and secretion, leading to decreased blood glucose levels and the potential reversing of disease progression without the need for additional insulin treatment. This is one of a very small number of therapeutic approaches to showcase these results, and the new funding will enable the continued study of the compound with the goal of preparing for clinical trials and drug development.
ASAKE Biotechnology, LLC researches and develops novel health therapeutics with a focus on infectious diseases, diabetes, and cancer. They specialize in biosynthetic technology and synthetic chemistry as well as emerging technologies including Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTAC).
We congratulate ASAKE Biotechnology, LLC and the OHIO team for this significant achievement and look forward to continuing to support their efforts.
To learn more about ASAKE Biotechnology, LLC, click the link below.
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IC Partner Program TechCred Application Open
If your company needs to upskill your workforce, consider utilizing state funding to supplement your resources. No matter what industry you work in, technology is having an impact on the future of your business and the nature of your work. TechCred helps Ohioans learn new skills and helps employers build a stronger workforce with the skills needed in a tech-infused economy. Many of these trainings can be completed online!
The TechCred application window opened on July 3, 2023, and will close on July 31, 2023, at 3:00 p.m.
For more information on the TechCred Program, click the link below.
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IC PartnershipIC Proudly Supports Copperheads The IC recently became a sponsor of the Southern Ohio Copperheads baseball team, a community-owned, OHIO student-operated endeavor. The non-profit organization is run by OHIO undergraduates in the College of Business and Scripps College of Communication, and it is a year-round experience to plan, implement, and run a minor league-type sports organization.
The team is a member of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate Baseball League and the season runs through July. If you are in the area, be sure to check out a game for a fun and family-friendly event!
For more information about the Southern Ohio Copperheads and to review their schedule, click the link below.
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IC 40th Anniversary Spotlight on IC Founders As the IC celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, we spotlight founders Dr. Charles Ping and Dr. Wilfred Konneker (pictured) for their pioneering vision. They sought to leverage the resources of Ohio University (OHIO) to benefit the economic vitality of the local region. They established the IC in 1983, making it the first university-based business incubator in Ohio and just the 12th in the U.S.
Dr. Ping was the 18th President of OHIO, serving from 1975 to 1994. During his tenure, he led OHIO to its then-highest enrollment of 25,000 and oversaw two separate fundraising campaigns that raised $22.6 million and over $132 million, respectively. Dr. Ping's work in establishing a general education curriculum and increasing the university's prominence as an international student destination were among his notable achievements.
Dr. Konneker earned a bachelor of science in chemistry in 1943 and a master's in physics in 1947 from OHIO. He received his Ph.D. in nuclear physics from Washington University in St. Louis in 1950. Dr. Konneker was a pioneer in the nuclear medicine field, using radioisotopes for diagnosis and therapy. He founded several companies, including Diagnostic Hybrids, Inc., a then client of the IC, which developed and manufactured lab-testing kits to quickly screen for viral infections such as herpes and H1N1. The company, which was also co-founded by two OHIO researchers, was purchased by Quidel Corp. for $130M.
Dr. Ping and Dr. Konneker met through the OHIO Alumni Association and shared a belief in the university's ability to aid in the economic development of the southeast Ohio region. After significant research and feasibility studies, their vision was realized, the IC was launched, and Dr. Konneker served as the director from 1983 to 1991.
Over its 40-year history, the IC has assisted over 300 companies that have created more than 3,000 high-paying jobs. The center's economic impact to the region is still significant to this day.
Today, the IC continues to steward Dr. Ping and Dr. Konneker's vision, mission, and unwavering support for entrepreneurs and the southeast Ohio region.
To read more about the IC, click below.
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07/12
AFWERX Academia Days AFWERX is collaborating with the APEX PIA and Air Force Materiel Command/Commander's Accelerated Initiatives (AFMC/CDX) for the upcoming 2023 Academia Days. The intent of this event is to engage with academic researchers across the country to convey Department of the Air Force (DAF) needs and methods of working with the DAF on relevant funding opportunities. For details, click below.
07/18
OLS Engineering Networking Event Join Ohio Life Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, McDonald Hopkins, The Mullings Group, and Spartronics on July 18 at 4 pm in Cleveland for drinks and appetizers to network and connect with peers in the Ohio life sciences ecosystem. There will be focused conversations on the engineering talent development environment. Networking will follow a roundtable discussion. For details and to register, click below.
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Ongoing EventsSBDC Events
The Ohio University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides no-cost, confidential business assistance to for-profit businesses in Athens and the surrounding 12-county region. They host sessions on a variety of topics designed to help small businesses succeed. Learn more and check out their calendar of July events via the link below.
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Ongoing EventsMBAC
The Minority Business Assistance Center (MBAC)'s mission is to advance business opportunities for minority and small disadvantaged business enterprises and provide market access that leads to sustainable business relationships. They also host monthly training sessions on a variety of topics. Learn more and check out their calendar of July events via the link below.
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ABOUT US
The Innovation Center is the recipient of the 2019 Randall M. Whaley Incubator of the Year Award (InBIA) and the 2022 Rural-Based Entrepreneurship Center of the Year Award (InBIA). The center was also ranked the third-best University-Based Incubator in the U.S. (UBI Global Ranking 2015- 2017) and was named the 2016 Rural Incubator of the Year (InBIA). The IC offers virtual and/or onsite expert business development assistance, office and laboratory space, conference rooms, and connections to resources to assist entrepreneurs with launch and growth. For details and availability, please visit the website or call (740) 593-1803. MAKE A GIFT
The Innovation Center provides valuable business incubation resources to fuel the economy in Athens, Ohio, and the surrounding region. Your gift supports its work to connect entrepreneurs with the resources needed to grow businesses and create jobs in Southeast Ohio. Give now! FUNDERS
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