The Office of Innovation & Commercialization was developed in 2021 to unify all of the innovation and commercialization activities at the university to comprehensively support the campus and community. Through the office and its partners, all types of resources are available to support innovation development at every point along the path to commercialization and broader societal benefit. We encourage you to reach out if you think we may be able to help you or if you are just curious about what we do.
What We Do
Technology Transfer
Technology transfer is the process that universities and other academic institutions use to shepherd ideas from the lab to the marketplace — from evaluating and protecting discoveries to commercializing the inventions through new and existing companies.
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Startup Support
New companies require tremendous amounts of resources and support to launch and thrive. OIC is here to help UTPB startups connect to those resources and also to support outside startups to better engage with the unique opportunities available at UTPB.
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Industry Collaboration
For faculty looking to connect and collaborate with industry, and for industry looking to identify research capability and expertise at UTPB, OIC can help connect the dots and make introductions. We are a facilitator across all industry sectors, for opportunities near and far.
More details coming soon
Product Development
Through the facilities and partner relationships at OIC, we can support small and big businesses alike with developing new products to benefit society. We support customer discovery, early stage design, and manufacturing and prototyping capability.
More details coming soonOur Spaces
Center for Energy and Economic Diversification
The Center for Energy and Economic Diversification, also known as the CEED, is a hub for innovation and commercialization in the region. The building is designed to create a bridge between the academic education and research taking place on campus with the community and business industry off campus. The programs housed at the CEED are intended to foster big ideas and creativity, and provide space for entrepreneurs to have an opportunity to collaborate and learn from industry professionals. The CEED includes the UTPB Office of Innovation & Commercialization, the Small Business Development Center, a Business Incubator with private offices and coworking facilities, a variety of event spaces for all kinds of activities, laboratory space, and the Prototype Lab, a makerspace for developing prototypes of new technologies.
UTPB Makerspaces
Innovation Lab @ Dunagan + Prototype Lab @ CEED
UTPB now has two makerspaces located on campus - the Innovation Lab @ Dunagan Library and the Prototype Lab @ CEED, which are both equipped with 3D printers, 3D scanners, laser cutter/engraver, vinyl cutter, a 3D scanner, and a variety of hand tools, so that artists, creatives, makers, and entrepreneurs can construct whatever they can imagine. The makerspaces are free for students, faculty, and staff, and are also accessible to the community for a small monthly fee. The equipment is all hands-on, so once you receive training to operate the equipment safely, the tools are made available for you to use whenever you like. Stop in or schedule a tour to start creating today!
Our Partners
Events
The Midland Entrepreneurial Challenge is an annual business plan competition open to entrepreneurs who are operating (or plan to operate) their businesses within the Midland city limits. $500,000 in prize money is generously sponsored by the Midland Development Corporation. The program runs over 6 months in the fall and winter each year.
VISIT THE MEC WEBSITE
Past Events
Food Entrepreneurship Seminar
On October 16th, 2023 at the CEED Auditorium, OIC held a food entrepreneurship seminar for aspiring or established food entrepreneurs looking for assistance launching mobile food businesses, brick and mortar restaurants, and food products. Our guest speaker was Tracie Shelton with Alamo Kitchens out of San Antonio Texas. This event was held in collaboration with the Small Business Development Center, Midland Development Corporation, and the Black Chamber of Commerce of the Permian Basin.
View the Flyer
IP Workshop
On Friday April 1st, the Office of Innovation and Commercialization hosted an IP workshop in collaboration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, UTPB Blackstone LaunchPad, the UTPB SBDC, Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts, and the IP Law Section of the State Bar of Texas to bring 16 different intellectual property professionals to UTPB to educate the community about intellectual property. The day was broken into three sessions including a general education session about the basics of intellectual property, followed by breakout sessions in four areas: (1) software, (2) mechanical/electrical inventions, (3) consumer products, and (4) art, and ending with 1-on-1 sessions with the different speakers so everyone could get specific questions answered.
Download/View Presentations