UNT Health recently renewed and expanded its partnership with TechFW to advance technology commercialization, support early-stage innovators, and boost the region’s growing health innovation ecosystem.
Backed by funding from the Texas Legislature, the collaboration aims to connect researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors to speed the development of new technologies that can move out of the lab and into real world applications.
Established in 1998, TechFW is a nonprofit organization that supports entrepreneurs and startups across North Texas. A partnership agreement with UNT Health was first signed in 2006.
“At UNT Health, we’re committed to improving lives through research, innovation and discovery. We are pleased to renew our collaboration with TechFW,” Dimitrios Karamichos, Ph.D., VP of research and graduate studies at the academic medical center, said in a statement. “This partnership broadens opportunities for our faculty, students and startup founders to advance discoveries that can drive meaningful progress in health.”
Strengthening ‘innovative pathways’
UNT Health and TechFW said the agreement enables them to “develop programs that strengthen innovation pathways, prepare researchers and founders for successful commercialization, and provide structured access to entrepreneurial training.”
The partnership has supported a number of successful ventures, including Ayuvis, Memsel, Cx Precision Medicine, ACDET, ZS Pharma and Resonant Sensors. These companies represent a variety of opportunities for engagement, including faculty and student involvement, lab space, Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) support and other collaborative efforts, UNT Health said. In 2015, ZS Pharma earned extraordinary success for the partnership, culminating in a $2.6 billion acquisition.
“TechFW is excited to work alongside UNT Health to support the researchers and entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of health and technology in North Texas,” TechFW Executive Director Caitlin McMinn said. “Together, we’re growing an environment where innovators can thrive.”
The partnership will share milestones and track progress to enhance continued collaboration. Leaders from both organizations said that the initiative will further strengthen North Texas as an emerging hub for health innovation, translational research, and high-impact startups.
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