History

Named by Ohio Board of Regents as an Ohio Center of Excellence for Biomedicine and Healthcare

Awarded inaugural i6 National Innovation Award as one of the nation’s best approaches to technology commercialization and entrepreneurship for its Innovative Solutions for Invention Xceleration (ISIX) method, in collaboration with The University of Akron Research Foundation, by the U.S. Commerce Department, National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation

Selected to lead an $8 million project to develop medical sensor technology by Ohio Wright Center for Sensor Systems Engineering & Ohio Third Frontier

Created the Akron Functional Materials Center, with The University of Akron, to work with global companies and investigators in biomaterials and polymers through a collection of open source, high-tech facilities and tools

Launched the national “Value-driven Engineering” effort to marry American creativity and innovation to advance U.S. medical device development past increasing foreign competition

Led “Accountable Care Community” initiative, supported by $1.5 million in funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as a diverse collaboration to reduce the impact of chronic disease and empower patients

Selected by U.S. Food & Drug Administration for groundbreaking collaboration to support and develop regulatory science for the safe and effective use of biomaterials in medical devices

Opened new 40,000-square-foot facility, located in the heart of the Akron Biomedical Corridor, that is a combination of research, product development and training facilities unique to Northeast Ohio and among the leading centers of its kind in the country

Filed more than 250 life science patents within partnership since inception

Contributed to the creation of more than 450 jobs, since institute’s inception, increasing the Akron’s research and clinical capacities

Launched innovative programs, such as the BioInnovation Design Course and Women’s Entrepreneurship Program with The University of Akron, to develop new technologies, companies and diversity of entrepreneurs

Partnered with other Ohio and global entrepreneurially focused institutions, such as St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, Lubrizol, Slovenia’s Centre for Excellence Polymer Materials and Technologies and Beijing Pharma and Biotech Center to expand the model of innovation and commercialization that leads to new products