Agreement can foster partnerships with the private sector
BOULDER, Colo. — The Colorado Innovation Corridor, a new platform to connect premier, federally funded labs with private industry, will be co-anchored by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL). The partnership is designed to foster economic development and job creation.
UCAR and NREL will be linked to private companies through the global marketplace collaborations at FORMATIV’s new World Trade Center (WTC) Denver Development in the city’s River North neighborhood. FORMATIV is the Denver-based real estate development firm behind the WTC Denver Development.
“The resources associated with these two labs are unlike anything else in the world,” said Eric Drummond, president of global strategy and chief legal officer of FORMATIV. “We are absolutely thrilled to have them as founding partners of The Innovation Corridor.”
UCAR manages the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) on behalf of the National Science Foundation. It plays a central role in raising awareness of the value of continued federal investment in the lifesaving, economically critical work provided by the Earth systems science community, including improved forecasts of weather, water, climate, and solar storms.
The Innovation Corridor will develop connections among the national labs, FORMATIV, and the private sector, providing scientists with an opportunity to demonstrate the newest technology and meet with potential business partners and investors.
“Private companies throughout the Front Range and beyond will now be able to harness breakthroughs by our scientists more effectively, thanks to this new partnership,” said UCAR President Antonio J. Busalacchi. “The Innovation Corridor will leverage cutting-edge science in ways that will generate jobs, advanced technologies needed to protect life and property, and boost U.S. competitiveness in the global economy.”
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FORMATIV is a dynamic real estate and community development company that works to create transformative commercial and mixed-use projects. Its team focuses on building innovative business and community-based ecosystems in Denver and globally.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s NREL is the federal government’s primary laboratory dedicated to research, development, commercialization, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research manages the National Center for Atmospheric Research under sponsorship by the National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.