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Completed construction on the NYS Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences in downtown Buffalo, photographed January 2021. (Photographer: Douglas Levere)
Completed construction on the NYS Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences in downtown Buffalo, photographed January 2021. (Photographer: Douglas Levere)

Cuomo, Hochul announce opening of University at Buffalo's new downtown incubator

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Fri, Mar 19th 2021 05:35 pm

Incubator at Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences will accelerate startups from formation to market launch

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the University at Buffalo on Friday announced the grand opening of UB's new business incubator in downtown Buffalo. The Incubator at the Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences is designed as a collaborative and diverse network that provides entrepreneurs with the support and tools needed to move from concept to formation to profit.

"New York state is working tirelessly to increase commercialization of new technologies that will ultimately grow private investment and jobs where the ideas originated," Cuomo said. "The Incubator @ CBLS brings together the best and brightest in the tech industry and will grow Western New York's innovation economy, helping us build back stronger from the COVID crisis and move the regional economy forward."

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said, "Buffalo has a storied legacy as a robust center of innovation. The University at Buffalo's Incubator @ CBLS will further add to this legacy by providing the ecosystem needed to support entrepreneurship, and cultivate and nurture startups. New York remains committed to growing the tech economy, creating good paying jobs in Western New York, and leading the way for a better post-pandemic future."

The Incubator @ CBLS is one component of the larger innovation hub, a $32 million initiative funded by New York through Cuomo's Buffalo Billion initiative that supports startup formation and growth in partnership with UB, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Jacobs Institute, Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute (HWI) and Kaleida Health.

UB President Satish K. Tripathi said, "The University at Buffalo has always been committed to tackling society's greatest challenges, and our innovations have enhanced people's lives in Western New York and around the world. Now, with this new incubator in the heart of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, we are able to further advance our mission by dramatically accelerating the commercialization of our faculty's research breakthroughs, while providing our students with an ecosystem that fosters the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders in our region and beyond. We're so grateful to our state leaders for their enthusiastic support of our work and their sustained commitment to the vibrancy of Western New York."

Christina Orsi, UB associate vice president for economic development said, "We are seeking diverse teams who are pioneering innovation in their business ventures – those who value inclusion and equity and bring unique ideas and experiences that help them to be more innovative and successful. We encourage entrepreneurs who are eager to connect and collaborate with other startup founders, UB students and business mentors to contact us about opportunities."

Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President and CEO-designate Eric Gertler said, "The Incubator @ CBLS brings together ideas and research in a supportive environment designed to boost entrepreneurship and advance startup businesses. It's an example of how New York's universities are hubs of innovation that can fuel and accelerate our post-pandemic recovery and help build for the future."

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center President and CEO Candace S. Johnson, Ph.D., said, "We are proud to partner with New York state and all the innovators and entrepreneurs who are contributing new ideas and energy that have the potential to improve lives both in Western New York and across the world."

HWI CEO Dr. Edward Snell said, "We are excited to have innovative, entrepreneur-led companies next door in the Incubator @ CBLS to take advantage of Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute's structural biology services including our new Cryo-EM Center."

Jacobs Institute CEO Bill Maggio said, "We celebrate the opening of this unique Incubator. The Jacobs Institute applauds efforts to provide state-of-the-art facilities, coupled with entrepreneurial expertise and student talent, funding sources, and more. The innovation hub will facilitate commercialization for a variety of start-ups in the region."

Completed construction on the NYS Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences in downtown Buffalo, photographed January 2021. (Photographer: Douglas Levere)

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The 42,000-square-foot startup accelerator contains co-working space, conference rooms, a high-tech event space, collaboration areas, dedicated office suites, lab space and a full kitchen. Entrepreneurs can collaborate in an open workspace or rent a single dedicated desk, then scale up to full private offices as their teams evolve.

For life sciences and other companies in need of lab facilities, the Incubator @ CBLS features wet and dry labs, with extensive equipment and instrument access – amenities that are unique compared to other local incubators.

In addition to its square-footage and amenities, the Incubator @ CBLS offers companies an extensive network of business mentorship, training and support. UB staff and entrepreneurs-in-residence will coach startups and curate connections to faculty and technical experts, student talent, funding and investors, equipment and technologies, and business leaders.

A press release stated, “Benefits and services for Incubator @ CBLS tenants translate into substantial cost savings, including the ability to operate tax-free through STARTUP-NY, which offers new and expanding businesses the opportunity to operate tax-free for 10 years on eligible university campuses, and access to legal services through the UB Entrepreneurship Law Center.”

Orsi said, "For years, UB's incubator in Amherst has supported Buffalo's entrepreneurial ecosystem. The addition of a new incubator downtown enhances the opportunity to collaborate and connect our region's bold thinkers, dreamers and doers to affordable membership, flexible space and short-term leasing options. With a combination of facility, expertise, equipment and student talent, this is a unique place to help companies significantly accelerate their growth by moving their innovations from idea to market."

Those dedicated to growing a business in Western New York are invited to take part. Entrepreneurs can explore incubation space and inquire now at buffalo.edu/incubators.

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